I do hate training, but my desire to reach my potential is stronger. I do train at a high level with my workouts, but I don’t look forward to them. It is more like a chore. It feels like a chore mostly because I’m doing them solo. I plan to make better efforts to workout with others at my ability level.
Why would anyone want to train with you? You sound awful to be around. Negative attitude, hates running, wants to quit. Very inspiring...
Lol I’m much more fun to be around when I’m running in a group compared to being grumpy about running solo
I got what I needed from this thread. I appreciate all the feedback. I anticipate this turning into a troll thread, so I’m off. Some people are lifelong runners and are always training at a high level. I do not plan to be in that group, but I do respect the heck out of them. I want to reach my potential which is why Im going to bump up my mileage and give it a go for 6 more months. I don’t think there is anything wrong with having other interests/hobbies I want to pursue. I’m always going to be physically active. Just because I may not have the same passion I used to have, I will always be part of the running community.
Thank you to those that took the time to offer genuine advice, whether that advice was to go for it or quit.
I speaketh the truth wrote:
Retire, quit, cash in your chips, pack it in...whatever you choose to call it.
By you posting this crap on this site tells me that you’re done. If you had the desire you wouldn’t be looking for answers that you want to hear from anonymous people.
So just quit. Jog for health or take up another activity, but stop lamenting about deciding to dedicate yourself to training. If you need such encouragement you won’t find the self-dedication it takes anyway. So call it a day.
This is the correct answer. Sorry OP, but it's true. You are ready for other things in your life.
GBohannon wrote:
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.
Congratulations GBohannon.
I love to hear stories like this.
You can also have several hobbies at the same time.
Running is such a great thing to stay healthy. I wouldn't quit it just because you want to do other stuff too.
You sound like me way back in my late 20s. I had about the same PRs and ran about the same mileage. On 60 mpw I was able to run a 2:28 at St George -- a time that made it possible for me to get the chance to run with an elite level team. I do not regret joining the team, but with my full-time job and inability to let myself truly recover on my easy days I burned out big-time and had to quit after 2+ years. I was able to get down to a 2:27 with the team but I feel I had a lot more in me if I could just get to a start line with fresh legs!
To get to the OPs question, if I had not burned out and I was able to get down to 2:20, would my life be any better/different now? Probably not. I do not think sub-2:15 was ever attainable even in my wildest dreams so making a living off running was not really an option. Having said that, I am proud that I gave it a shot and did my best to find out what I had in me. If I could go back in time I would do it again, except I would be more aware of my fatigue level and not let myself go so deep into an over-trained state.
I think that if you have a passion for running, give it your best shot -- this is your one chance at this so grab it. But be aware that training at that level takes a lot of sacrifice and dedication and it will test your will and your body to extremes.
OP -- do you still like/enjoy running?
If so, then go for it, but you're talking retirement in something that you can do for the rest of your life. 60mpw & 15:20/1:11 is great. That tells me you have the current potential to go sub-2:30. I'm not sure there is too much of a difference in 2:24 or 2:29 depending on who you ask but I would want to find out what I'm capable of if I'm in your shoes. I would train for the 5k-half on 80+ miles/week and see if you can get even faster there. The marathon will always be there. & it's easy to get discouraged if you don't hit your goal right away. Most runners benefit from going through multiple high mileage cycles. It might take some time adjusting but if you can get to 100mpw and go through a few builds after knocking some time off of the shorter stuff, who knows, you might knock on the door of an OTQ. You sound like you're maybe not into the training but if it is something you can have fun with I think you can keep improving.
Ask yourself why you are running marathons? Long term will this benefit your health?
I tend to think that every all out marathon takes your health down about 1%.
If you jog one, that's different. But running a marathon all out has to be a stress and not a health benefit.
---50 years a runner