I just started running two weeks ago and I have been improving at a much faster rate than I had anticipated. I have a great build for running and I wish I had pursued it earlier. Am I too old to really put up some good numbers? By good I mean 15:00 5k or 31:00 10k. I've read where Lydiard started when he was 27 and managed to reach very respectable times.
Absolute not. My High School coach didn't start running until the age of 38. Off the top of my head, I know he ran a 30:26 10k at the age of 44, and a 2:23 Twin Cities Marathon at the age of 45. I guess that goes to show it's never to late.
Some runners don't peak until they are middle aged and typically those are the ones who didn't start running until later. If you put in some serious training you could be just as good as if you had started when you were a teenager, you'll just peak later in life.
But let me get this straight, you started two weeks ago? How fast can you possibly get in two weeks? Not to say you shouldn't be optimistic, I am just wondering if you are making this story up. If you are serious...Good luck. It's never too late to start running. For more information about this kind of stuff check out The Lore of Running by Dr. Tim Noakes. There is a section that deals with this. (It's a huge book so you'll have to do some digging to find the specific section).
You might never reach the times you would have if you had started at age 12, but would a 15:00 5k really be that much worse than a 14:50 you'll never know if you would have done? I'd like to do either one! It's never too late to start.
You have several years of huge gains in front of you since you're so far from peak training. Even some folks who have been training at a high level for years can PR well into their 30s.
There;s a local guy around here who ran about 14 flat 5k in college. He just ran a marathon PR last year of around 2:20...he's 40.
ahhh, but conway is a freak of nature!
I'm not sure if you're joking or not, but of course you're not too old, in fact 27 is a great age to start. I'm 30 now and I started running 3 years ago. In that span I have improved my 10k time by 13 minutes. Most experts say it takes 7-10 years to reach your potential, so you have lots of good years ahead of you.
I appreciate this post. I was too scared to ask the question myself.
I'm 29 and have a good build for running and good endurance, but not much speed. After three years I've lost 30 pounds and am within reach of a 1:30 HM, but I'm on let's run because my goal is to get down to 33-34 min 10k. My plan is just to keep building mileage for another year until I reach about 80 miles per week, and then... read and do the rest of lidiard's book!
do you have a history of aerobic activity? If so a foundation of aerobic development will help kickstart your running. Two main concerns - one, this is new to your body, watch and listen to the signs it is giving you. two, don;t get frusterated, even a sub 4 miler that took a year or two off would need a few month to a half year to get down to 15 flat.
good luck
The good thing is that your body isn't beat up from years of running.
Build slowly.