A little backstory here. I’m a 32yo hobby running male who is 5’8/135lb. A close friend of mine and former cross country runner bet it would be impossible for me to run a sub-17:00 5k or sub-35:00 10k. He might be right, given that I have no competitive experience. At this age I’ve missed out on over a decade of precious training and experience. But since we bet a nice pair of shoes on it (yet to be picked), I shook hands on these improbable goals. There is no time limit for me to achieve this. We both figure the worst that can happen is that my health improves but one day my times decline. Then I’ll owe my friend around $110-150.
Here’s my history: I started running as a hobby around 15 years old, usually 3-6 miles a few times a week. Never timed myself or varied my training and learned zero-diddly-squat about running. From 19-27 I was enlisted in the service so running was mandatory. We would often cover 4-6 miles at a time, several times a week, and based on PT scores I averaged 6:30-6:45/mi each year. During that time my best 5K was ~20:05 (age ~22). Between 27-31 I continued my hobby jogging, 3-6 miles a few times a week. During that time my best 10k was 46:21 (age 31). Again, no legitimate training took place during that time.
But something changed. By the time I completed that 46min 10k I was running more events for fun while also becoming more seriously interested in running as a sport. I read about the history of running, read about the great track and marathon stars of yore, studied about different events, got familiar with the language of running, and made friends with several former collegiate and currently competitive runners at work, etc. My main goal is to test the limits of human endurance and see how far my body can go. I’m losing V02max capacity at around 1% a year right? But from what upper limit that I never really tested? (I actually volunteered to get my V02max tested at the local college and will complete that next month. The professor estimates I have an excellent but not stardom worthy V02max)
Since I began training about 8 months ago I’ve learned a lot. I usually operate on a 7-10 day training program, allowing an extra rest day or two for aches and pains. My schedule includes tempo runs, intervals, track workouts, occasional biking when my knees hurt, strength workouts, daily yoga, a high-quality diet, and 8hrs of sleep a night. I try to run as much as I can when I can, but not so much I’m laid out and can’t run at all. I’ve recently completed a 20:19 5k and 43:44 10k. Fastest mile a little under 6:00. For now my goals are 16:59 - 5k and 39:59 - 10k. After that, see if I can go farther without hurting myself.
So should I throw in the towel and get my buddy a gift card to the local running store? Or am I just fit and trained enough to possibly achieve something a little more than average? Interested on what the consensus of real runners here might be.