I’m a 16yr old boy from the UK, in the equivalent of Junior yr of Highschool in the US. A couple of years ago I was really fit, fast, healthy etc. Since then I have had awful back,hip and most recently rib/side cramp issues that have completely fucked me. However, I’ve been seeing a new physio, got a new coach/training group and have feeling a bit fitter, (recently placed 131st at English Nationals XC, I should really be top 50) which has motivated me to try and get back to my best and fulfil my potential, particularly with the goal of getting legitimately fast in uni. My stitch/rib issue is getting there slowly.
In general, I am very aerobically unfit right now, and most of the guys in my group (including an English Schools’ 1500m finalist and international triathlete) are only doing 25-35mpw, so I have decide to increase my mostly steady mileage to about 45-50 mpw on my own with hopes of getting in 8:50/4:10/2:00 (3k/1500/800) shape this summer track season. Track workouts will begin in about a month-6wks time, the XC season ends in a couple weeks. I hit 4:24 and 2:09 (3k was a write-off due to chronic stitch) last year off about 15-20 mpw (including a hard track session each week). I currently also play “soccer”, but once the season is over (before track begins in early May) I’m going to quit to focus on running.
I just made this post to start the thread off, I’ll update it each week with my training/racing. Next Saturday I am racing at UK Inter-Counties XC so this coming week won’t be too heavy but I’ll try to get the easy miles in somewhere. Any advice as to structuring my training or dealing with chronic stitch would be great.