Anyone else just completely lacking in talent?

While it’s possible you lack talent, 7 months is very little time and there is not near enough information here to analyze. It could be a training issue, a weight issue, and even some of the “greats” didn’t start to show talent until a couple of years into running. Way too many possibilities.

I used to feel the same way. Turned out I just liked longer distances & needed more miles to reach my limits, plus some multi-day races at altitude. Which took 9 years.

maybe you did that in the 1500, maybe you're just BSing, or maybe you're a freak of nature who's no better than someone with no talent because you didnt work hard.

why derail the thread? what does that have anything to do with helping OP improve?

ShilohDoesntCare wrote:

What does a typical easy run look like for you OP?

2 miles at 8:45-9:30 pace. I have yet to run over 3 miles.

Your reading comprehension is lacking. He did not ask how to improve. He was looking for reassurance that we all have different talent levels. He is probably doing that in response to all of the crazy posts about hard work beating talent. My brother and I had the same upbringing and he cared about running and put in some work. Yet he never broke 4:50 in the 1600 while I ran 4:15. He ran 4:35 for the mile at a D3 school while running 70mpw. I got close to 4 minutes in the mile running D1 while avoiding training as much as I could.

Justbad wrote:

ShilohDoesntCare wrote:

What does a typical easy run look like for you OP?

2 miles at 8:45-9:30 pace. I have yet to run over 3 miles.

This could be part of the problem. I typically run my easy runs at around 8:00 pace. Sometime as slow as 8:50. And I'm running sub-19 for 5k. You should definitely slow your easy runs down. Maybe walk for portions of them.

Check out:

to get more info on running paces. I'd say your easy runs should be 10-11min pace. Maybe even slower. Running too fast on easy days is counter-productive and only leads to injury.

Justbad wrote:

As someone who started 7 months ago, I feel like a non-responder who just lacks the cardiovascular talent to get any quicker over longer distances. On top of that, I can't get rid of shin splints. They're f***ing insufferable!

I realize that those who post their times around here are also likely the fastest (only natural), but are there a few brave posters who feel like a fish out of water when it comes to running?

You are way too early to jump to any conclusions about your talent/peak level. No one is very fast after just 7 months of training unless they were physically active before.

I tried to run in my mid 20's after many years of doing absolutely nothing and also had shin splints for 5 years, so I just started cycling and swimming to get in shape. That alone got me close to a 20 min 5k (a highly respectable time for hobby joggers), from originally being unable to run a mile.

Then after I was able to start specific run training, joined great clubs and got good training, my times improved rapidly to a 16:10 5k in less than 2 years starting from a 20:30. I'm still not lighting the world on fire, but am much better than I was when I just had 7 months of training, which was like 25 min 5k level (with minimal running due to shin splints).

Blaming talent is something people do way too much - it's easy to find excuses for bad races and lazy training/cross-training, but truth is most people aren't operating anything close to their limits. Talent ultimately matters at a very high level, but most people who run say only run 18-35 min for a 5k can be much faster.

total shootposting territory now.

don't feed the trolls kids

Agree with Phil, blaming talent or even mentioning it is ridiculous at this stage. Once you have been running 60-100 mile weeks, and are down to 14-15 5Ks, and are wondering why you aren't improving still them bring out the 'lack of talent' card.

7 months in, your still barely running its not lack of talent right now its patience and understanding how it works.

Read some Daniels, pfitzinger, read some old threads on here, read up on the basics, no need for any fancy plans but have an understanding on how the body works. Just enjoy running, enjoy the process and be patient grasshopper.

Ran Xc and track in high school doing all of the right stuff but never broke 19 minutes or 11 minutes. Continued in college and got down to 28:50 and 17:45. Now in late 20s doing 75mpw and racing 29 minutes for 8k and 18 minutes for 5k. College teammates went out drinking and did not care 1/2 as much as me but were racing 25:30 and 15 minutes. Some people are talented but most of us still enjoy it anyway.

Not Everyone Can Run D1 wrote:

Justbad wrote:

2 miles at 8:45-9:30 pace. I have yet to run over 3 miles.

This could be part of the problem. I typically run my easy runs at around 8:00 pace. Sometime as slow as 8:50. And I'm running sub-19 for 5k. You should definitely slow your easy runs down. Maybe walk for portions of them.

Check out:

https://runsmartproject.com/calculator/

to get more info on running paces. I'd say your easy runs should be 10-11min pace. Maybe even slower. Running too fast on easy days is counter-productive and only leads to injury.

I must admit I did run this calculation a while ago, but it was tough to commit to what is essentially a brisk walk. I'll take that more seriously going forward.

You might be surprised at how quickly you are able to increase this pace. One of the main reasons you are getting hurt could be from running too fast. Slow down a bit and increase your mileage. Then you will start to see improvement. Just stay dedicated and remember to have fun. Nobody gets fast overnight.

Soon that brisk walk will turn to a slow jog which will turn into a fast jog which will turn into a run. It just takes some time.

Seven months?

Seriously, you might only be working too hard.

That was my problem when I started.

You have to give yourself a chance to experience the sport for a while.

Try running hard-easy. You run hard, the next day you take it easy.

Coaches are not always right. You might even need to go hard, easy, easy, hard!

Long Runs, Easy runs, strides, speed development, speed endurance specific speed endurance, hills, hill repeats, weight training, rope skipping, nutrition, shoes, there is a lot to learn about this sport. You have run for seven months!

Probably the number one problem distance runners have is they think they have no talent. If that were true, you would never have started.