A Bit About My Running Journey

During my high school years, I had a strong aversion to running. Even a single mile felt like an insurmountable challenge. It wasn't until I committed to running two, three, or even four miles daily that I began to appreciate the sport. The transformation was astonishing; once I pushed through the initial discomfort, running became much more enjoyable. My newfound passion led me to join my university's track and field team as a sophomore. Attending a small Division III school with around 900 students, I simply asked to become a member of the team.

Initially focused on sprinting and high jump, by my junior year, I developed an interest in mid-distance events, particularly the 400 and 800 meters. In my senior year, I fully embraced distance running by joining the cross country team and shifting my focus to the 800 meters and 1500 meters. My times improved across all events, yet I always felt I hadn't fully reached my potential. This was largely due to my late start in running and frequent changes in my focus events.

Basic Running Statistics

Here are some of my best college times:

• 400 meters: 52.91 seconds
• 800 meters: 2:03.58
• 1500 meters: 4:24.94
• Mile: 4:50.92 (indoors, on a 200-meter track)

From these stats, it's clear that I was quite a distance from achieving a 4-minute mile during my college years. My prior training experience may give me a slight edge as I embark on this new mile training journey. However, as I approach my 30th birthday, I reflect on how my focus has shifted. After graduating, I transitioned to marathon and ultra-marathon training, which has likely boosted my endurance but diminished my speed. It remains uncertain whether I can improve upon my college mile time.

So, what are your thoughts? How close might I get to that elusive 4-minute mile?

An old photo of me from my college cross-country days!