How do I overcome the regret of not starting running earlier?

Just run baby and live in the moment.

Don't look back man.

Attend a D3 college and continue your running career for another 4 years.

Running is never over, people literally do it into their 70s, 80s, etc. all the time. don't dwell on the past, just try to be excited about the future. If you are always worrying about the past, running is a very stressful sport ("oh man, I could have done A, B, C, and D things better in this race, what a failure") but if you focus on the future ("okay, I can do A, B, C, and D things better in the next race!") its a very fun one. Reflect on that.

bump

"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare."-Juma Ikangaa

I turn 31 in 2 weeks and started running in Spring of 2017. I skated my whole life and partied a lot, smoked a ton of cigarettes. I started jogging with my dog to lose weight and it snowballed out of control from there. I don't think I have natural talent or anything but I can see where you're coming from, I kind of wish I found the love for it sooner too. I definitely missed the team aspect of running, that's for sure.

You didn’t didn’t lose your ultimate fitness by not running in 9th and 10th grade.

I started running in 11th grade and went on to run in the Olympic Trials.

So keep running.

I didn’t start running till 9th grade and never ran in cross country in high school. granted my school didn’t organize track or XC very well and only a couple people on the team were actually good.

Just go out and do what makes you happy. I’m just a recreational runner looking to improve my times and do my best. I have no illusions about ever running competitive times. As long as you’re still improving, that’s what is most important.

By growing up.

Just keep running. You are young and there are many ways you can continue to compete. You are acting as if something is ending, but your life is really just beginning. Focus on the future and what is yet to be accomplished. Be proud that you were part of your school team, many here don't even have that. Focus on the future and make running a part of that future whether it's in college or on a club team or whatever.

So you started running seriously when you were 16 or 17? In your junior year of high school?

I understand where you're coming from but that's not too late.

You can't change the past so no sense in obsessing about it.

track chick wrote:

So you started running seriously when you were 16 or 17? In your junior year of high school?

I understand where you're coming from but that's not too late.

This thread is so LR! A kid barely 18 years old regrets about losing years of running like he’s some 85 year old senior citizen. What’s next a one month baby who regrets he didn’t stay in the womb for an extra two days?

You can run forever. You learned a lesson, now go with it.

I'm 60, I started running in September of 1971 and I haven't stopped.

I started running about 5 years ago, aged 35, and I've just run a 2:23 marathon. It's certainly not too late for you!

Go out for a run and clear your mind

Running is about what you do today/tomorrow.

I'm a masters athlete running marathons in the 2:40s. I was cut from the team in uni. Those ducky guys wish they had my talent now. I know, I've run into them in recent years, trained for a bit with them. Now I place top 10 (sometimes overall) when they were mid-packers. Now they're 2-4 packers (on their gut).

Keep showing up.