You're different coz you are aiming for progress each time you train.
Hobbyist runners like me not so particular, even if run slow I just take it chill and destress session.
You are still fast compared to most hobbbyist runners. I mean I understand for myself that very hard to achieve semi professional standard for running unless had prior background in running during schooling days or a lot of time to train.
Yes to this. The very least we for hobby do is google / youtube for knowledge.......i think even if the knowledge is not totally applicable directly in our cases, it still helps. With this knowledge we play around with things. Eg we know that majority needs to be easy, recovery is ultra impt, sessions/mileage needs to be gradually ramped up, temperature affects cardiac drift etc.
Some people just starting out might be tempted to do their sessions at too high an intensity for their level of fitness. ie the "no pain no gain" thing. Heck even some exercising for long dont monitor, eg my colleagues in office, even those middle age to those in 60s. They just basic basic can liao, not saying there is anything wrong with that of coz.
Side story on the last part - maybe staying active helps, been active in another outdoor hobby that is physical, is non-exercise tho......but still the physical activity does bump up the HR. But that's about it, that's since 2015? Then 2020 mcovid came and after p2 we whacked walking (for me is racewalk) and dabbled in SIT coz i didnt want my kid to grow fat and SIT is supposedly time efficient. But one side thing that may or may not be contributory is that genetically i cannot really grow fat unless if i really go crazy on food, my father same super lean......think i got this from him one.