My road to Rio

Ok, how about a half marathon then? I think I could tackle the great north run and do pretty well in it. 

Mike take no notice of the negatives, too many people find it easy to say that things cannot be achieved. There may just be one or two who see things differently.

Look at Mo, four years ago if he said he would win any medal against the African runners, who would have listened, but he still went on to train aiming at being the No1 in the world, we're all smart arses now but I'll bet there's not one person on here who thought he would achieve what he has done when he performed in the 2008 Olympics.

No, I'm not comparing performance at all, and avoiding all sense of the ironic, why not compare ambition?

I'm simply saying that whatever your level, when you air an ambitious aim, such as this (and Mo Farah's public ambition to be the world No.1) it is all too easy for everyone else to resort to ridicule, and I stand by my comment that it's a good thing people still aim high, and that trainers will encourage and assist.

Nick, you've had your fun having a laugh along at Mike's expense now, so probably time to drop this faux support now eh?  (your mail to another forumite saying you think Mike is trolling was a slight clue )

Mike's young and keen, which is to be applauded, but the ambition-ometer severely needs to be re-aligned to "realistic".

As for Mo...as I'm sure you're aware, he was already an elite athlete 4 years ago.  He is actually African himself, trains under the best coach in the world, outside the British system, and has spells in Kenya training at high altitude...

Just a few factors in what it takes to become world class.

Tom. wrote (see)

Stevie G - the extra years funding was the required finance to produce the documentary rather than to fund his running training. 

ps right you are squire...i worded it badly...

I may be wrong, but I would have thought if he had any talent he would be running a lot quicker than he is now - also having trained in an earlier life with 800/1500 metre runners who had moved up - he needs to be concentrating on shorter distances to develop speed. Sometimes posts and threads on here bring Charlie Speddings book to mind, (I am sure many have read it) and following his 84 Olympic bronze medal, he used to conduct marathon seminars and the question always seemed to arise what can I eat to make me quicker - always looking for a magic forumla - no one seemed interested in the 16 years hard progressive training he had done. Someone actually asked Mo Farrah what he ate for breakfast that makes hi fast - if only it was that easy.

That said who knows, a little ge may have been unearthed here - but rest assured he will be up against me - I will only be 56 then and I am sure if I train hard enough and take whatever that Belarussian shot putter took!

Mike the best advice you've had on here, and the only realistic advice is to join a good club. I would say take care in choosing, as most advice will be along the lines of what you receive here, people who maybe have not had the chance or the will to achieve can appear dismissive. Take a long hard look for someone who will provide the right balance, good advice on your style, and above all encouragement, it's not that people are dismissive out of malice, it is a human trait to think that you will find it hard to achieve becasue I couldn't do it. It takes a particular kind of trainer to resist this and to move you forward. 

Massive WUM.

Shame on the majority of you for not seeing him for what he is.

Wow this topic has made such a stir in only a day, thanks for all your replies. 

I know there's only a very slim chance I will even make the olympic team, I stated that I hope to make it, and am determined to try my best because I was inspired by Mo's performance, theres other factors to consider to, injures, surrounded by the right people etc. 

Im sorry if I offended anyone, I understand everyone here is a keen runner just like me and have worked hard for most of your lives to achieve your targets, I just hope I can achieve mine, no matter how 'unrealistic' they may be, I will do everything in my power to achieve it.

Have a good nights sleep everyone! 

There's far worse things you could be trying to achieve at 18.

Little Ninja wrote (see)

There's far worse things you could be trying to achieve at 18.

Than trying to become the internets finest troll?

 

 

WUMs don't generally go public with their race results and real name.

They tend to talk about what they've done in training, yet never prove it in races.

Justy strikes me as a naive dreamer. Which isn't the worst crime!

I dont think its mad to have a totally unrealistic, far off goal to aim at. Its the perfect motivation for when you really cant be bothered to go out and train. However, you do need to offset that with some one or two season acheivable goals.

We discussed something similar at the very early stages of the middle ground thread.

I've always thought of it like this:

Dream big, but plan smart

By that I mean break down your dreams in manageable pieces and re-evalutate them often.

Mike I applaud your crazy dreams (I have some crazy ones myself), but you do really need to get a handle on the short term targets because right now they look unrealistic. As others have said a club or a coach will help you do that.

Keep chipping again - you'll get fit having a go as PRF likes to say