is picking up running at 20 too late if I wanted to break 15 in 5k?
Would this have been easier if I was say 17 or 18?
Would a runner with the exact same genetics run better times after 3 years of solid training from 17-20 than from 20-23?
is picking up running at 20 too late if I wanted to break 15 in 5k?
Would this have been easier if I was say 17 or 18?
Would a runner with the exact same genetics run better times after 3 years of solid training from 17-20 than from 20-23?
Definitely not, I have a friend who took up running to lose weight in his mid-to-late 20's (was over 200lbs, ended up 140lbs), got down to low 15s within 3 years and then kept it up for close to a decade before slowing down. He also went sub-70 for HM. You've got 6-7 years on him, and you're likely not obese.
Just like you said, it's genetics.
What if you did start at 17 and burned out, got injured, or lost interest for whatever reason, and stopped at 20? There's too many possibilities. Just be happy you found running at 20 - I think it's an awesome age to discover the sport. I didn't for another 10 years, smoking a pack a day for every one of them. I would have loved to be in your shoes.
Dennis Kimetto took up running at age 27 and set the marathon WR at age 30.
(eyeroll)
20 is young, just quickly workout what sort of training is correct and increase slowly over 8 years.
Even 40 is not late