Also,
--You have to be mentally tough
--When I started I had coaches/teammates look at me my like I was delusional (some even straight up told me I was) when I told them how fast I think I can run/ wanna run.
--But I responded back with stories of other athletes who have done what I was trying to do (go from Hobbyjogger elite to legit fast)
--Even I doubted myself alot, it took me a long time to develop the skills to negotiate around that doubt and push it aside
--Never had a break through but I slowly kept improving even when I was sick and injured. I used that as fuel for my fire. If I can keep improving chronically overtrained/sick/injured what can I do when I put it all together?