Retire or train my ass off for low 2:20s?

Your decision is one just about every runner has to make eventually, even world class guys. I remember Seb Coe lamenting in 1984 that he felt he could've run faster over 800 but his window had closed over that distance. I think most runners retire believing they could've gone faster. I know I did.

Remember, it could be a slippery slope. Say you get down to 2:21-2:22. You could find yourself thinking you're close enough to go under 2:20 and you're going to be faced with same decision all over again. Can you walk away if you reach your low 2:20 goal?

Then there's the life balance question, you seem reasonable to understand you'll never make a long term living at sub 2:20 (how many do?), so you have to look at what you could be doing with your life outside of running.

who cares. you clearly love running. stop setting standards for yourself and just let it flow. just run everyday, at an enjoyable distance/time, and let that aggregate. over time, you will get better. no reason why you can't run 2:20. take your time, be patient. best of luck

Why are you doing your workouts on the treadmill? That sounds like an unpleasant chore compared to running outside.

Have you looked for training partners outside of the local club structure? If you can find people to run with three or four days a week instead of none or one, it could really change your perspective. When I have moved to a new location and been without a running club or group, I have found training to be a chore. When I'm running with other people several days a week, running becomes my major social activity. At this point, I'm in my 40's with no hope of setting PR's except for distances that I haven't raced in the past. However, I still enjoy running six days a week. In fact, I'm injured right now and part of the bummer is that I can't go run with the guys.

Doing a few group runs each week makes the solo runs more enjoyable too because they provide some variety. Over the years, my mix of club/team runs, solo runs, and runs with one or two other people has varied, but it's always better to have the variety. Keep in mind that it might be simpler to find the right company for easy runs than for quality workouts. Maybe ask around at local races - I found one of my best training groups by chatting with the guys who had just beaten me in an 8k.

Good luck.

You can quit if you want, and no one will care. But you will know the rest of your life. - John Collins

The increase in mileage has helped many runners, no reason to think it will not help you.

Some M workouts

3x3mi @HM,

4x2mi @ HM,

4mi 3mi @ M then 2mi 1mi @ HM,

10ez 10 @M 2ez

LR @ 95% M

LR with fartlek (30x1min on 1min off)

touch on speed (mi) and 5k-10k pace routinely enough as well.

I'd say the two workouts + 1 LR setup works well for M training, maybe dont worry about skipping one now and then.

It's not fun for a slower guy like myself to see somebody with so much more ability quit before they maximize their potential. I'll be running my heart out trying to break 2:30 on 90+ mpw

best of luck, - RS

Running and running goal should come naturally. If you want just run a marathon and then quit if it goes wrong why don't carry on your actual training and keep racing shorter distances? Adjust your goals to balance your life and be happy.

Givetallugot wrote: I definitely have thoughts that the amount of work required to improve 5 minutes wouldn’t bring that much joy.

Don't enjoy the training itself? If it's not the case, I understand it can be hard to find the motivation.

Option 3: maintain course and let the will to run faster/further come to you, if it ever comes to you.

Being able to run 15 for a 5k as a guy and thinking to retire without running faster than the women's marathon world record is one of the most saddest thing ever

Some people get back into it after taking time off, but it’s important to remember that this may be your only opportunity to see what you can do.

I left the sport fairly young (age 22) because I had other stuff going on in my life career-wise. I was a 4:02 miler at the time. I got into other recreational sports, put on 25lbs. Now age 30, I’m certainly not fat but running is hard. Even running regularly for months, I still struggle to run 7:30s, and breaking 40-mins for 10k would be an ultimate goal.

Although I don’t regret my choices, it’s hard not to sometimes look back and think what might have happened if I had kept up with the sport.

As some one who mostly stepped away from the competitive side of the sport at 29 (and is now 38, although I ran some for almost all of that gap), I would say just enjoy what you're doing now. If racing/training brings you joy, just do it. If it doesn't, no shame in just running for fun and fitness. I've gotten back into running a bit more seriously the last year (a number of 70 mile weeks), and I've found that I really missed it. It might be the same for you. Do I regret backing off when I did. Yes and no. I was newly married and just started grad school. Something had to give and like you I knew I would never even be at a high enough level to make it "worth it".

If you're still single and can swing more training with work, I would say just go for it if it brings you joy. And if you stop and find you still have the itch you can always start again.

It's kind of cool to come back almost 10 years later. Your goals are really different, but it's easier to feel accomplishment. For example I was pretty happy to just run a 2:50 on a moderately hilly course (compared to my 2:36 non-optimal PR from almost 10 years ago). I've been having a lot of fun just seeing what I can do in local 5Ks and a local trail series. Finding a good group at a running store has helped (even if most of the guys I run with are almost 20 years older than I am and we don't get to run together much now that I've gotten more in shape).

Don't use the word "retire" unless you've been a pro runner. Odds are you'll still probably run and likely do some races.

SUPERIOR COACH JS wrote:

Right now with 1:11:10 best half you will probably run 2: 27:20 - 2:30:00

with the kind of 60 miles you told. With me as coach , based on your 15:25 and 1:11:10 and age 29 you will probably reach your dream to run the Olympic trials within a couple of years. And you can stay at 55-60 mpw and don`t have to work your ass off )) Welcome to world class coaching! :)

-COACH J.S -

Love your modesty

Djsndjsnsjeje wrote:

Some people get back into it after taking time off, but it’s important to remember that this may be your only opportunity to see what you can do.

I left the sport fairly young (age 22) because I had other stuff going on in my life career-wise. I was a 4:02 miler at the time. I got into other recreational sports, put on 25lbs. Now age 30, I’m certainly not fat but running is hard. Even running regularly for months, I still struggle to run 7:30s, and breaking 40-mins for 10k would be an ultimate goal.

Although I don’t regret my choices, it’s hard not to sometimes look back and think what might have happened if I had kept up with the sport.

Me too, except I quit at 20. I was actually faster and stronger than ever but I started working and suddenly had money, an apartment, a car and discovered a new life. I started playing more fast twitch sports and gained 40 lbs of muscle.

At 40 I started running again and merely considered it a new career. Believe me, as you get older you begin to appreciate a 6 minute mile pace. Also that looking down on guys who could only run a 5:00 mile was wrong. Someone who can run that is probably in the .01 percent of all people in the world who run.

Agree. We should all be more supportive of everyone that runs, regardless of their speed.

This anti hobby jogger mentality is wrong people. For every one of you that complain about joggers, there’s just as many faster runners that could easily laugh at you.

Do what really makes you happy, really.

Increasing milleage does not always relate to improvement, not even in the marathon. Extending intensity and speeding up extension is what matters. Running economy at race pace.

Anyway, yes, if I were you I'll give it a go. I'll train more, probably more miles, probably more intense. But rather than focusing on the total weekly mileage, I would focus on making my good workouts longer, especially the long runs (without dropping pace) and the race pace reps, doing 5x5k at MP instead of the classic 4x5k, for instance.

I'm 43 now, run 2:29, 2:29 and 2:30 y my last three marathons, out of 40-50 miles week, often with only three sesions a week. 2:29 is my PB, achieved at 41.

For years I tried to run more miles, for only getting injured every 3 months and/or frustrated with lack of improvement. Maybe my problem was lack of rest. With my job and family committments I can only sleep about 6 hours per day. So maybe if you can rest enough, you can train more.

Give it a go man, I wish I were 29!!

I am Sam wrote:

[quote]SUPERIOR COACH JS wrote:

Right now with 1:11:10 best half you will probably run 2: 27:20 - 2:30:00

with the kind of 60 miles you told. With me as coach , based on your 15:25 and 1:11:10 and age 29 you will probably reach your dream to run the Olympic trials within a couple of years. And you can stay at 55-60 mpw and don`t have to work your ass off )) Welcome to world class coaching! :)

-COACH J.S -

Is this guy a genuine coach?

Get me to sub2:30 and I pay you.

I ran 2:30:39 off of 70-75 mpw. Upped it to 100-105 and got down to 2:25:17. The 2:25:17 was a win at a decent sized marathon in my home state. It was the best feeling ever. Worth every step. Go for it, man.

Givetallugot wrote:

I’m a hard worker, but I know I won’t enjoy the training. I guess I can put up with it for 6 months just to see how things turn out. If I don’t get significantly faster (5 min in marathon) then I’m definitely quitting. I’ll always love the sport, but I don’t have the desire to train my butt off knowing I can’t get faster. It is just my personality. I’ll be happy knowing I have everything I had during my prime years.

These two statements are contradictory.

They are also usually the sign of someone who trains too hard too often.

If you hate the training, you're almost surely doing it wrong. In the very least, you don't "love the sport"

Sure I do. I love/respect/will always follow the sport. Plenty of people love football without playing football. I’ve been running since 7th grade. I stay up to date with what is going on in the running world. I get excited about friends, family, acquaintances racing various events. I just feel burned out at the moment and was losing motivation to continue training because I feel like I have peaked. The only way I’ll know if I peaked is by bumping up my mileage and seeing if I get faster. I’ll give it 6 months. If I don’t get faster, then I’ll be done training at a high level and competing, but I won’t completely quit running/exercising. I’ll get into lifting/triathlons/team sports.