i get where you are coming from. But will also say folks all got different hearts, hopes and aims.
My only wish is for people to find an exercise they enjoy and make it a life long habit instead of being influence by the current trend or how fast or how strong one needs to be measured up to be.
Cheers and Adios.
The truth is that most active runners focus on longer distances (HM/M), running a fast 5k makes a lot of sense in schooling years. That's because cross country/track races are only up to 5k until you reach uni level.
If your focus is on longer distances, then you wouldn't necessarily dedicate a training block for the 5k. You probably focus on the 10k as the faster running block of the training cycle. That's why you see younger runners being able to hit 17-18 minutes because their training is 3k/5k and their coach only makes them run intervals up to 1k max.
Also, if you are focused on the 1.5k, you develop a lot of speed work to run a fast 5k. But you rarely hear of anyone that does 1.5k training block into their 30s/40s/50s onwards.
It's up to you, what you want to race. If you are racing a HM/M and your 5k isn't fast, that's alright.
Actually i also dont know why my liking isnt what most running folks would focus on, ie the longer HM/FM distances. I did go up-distance by trying 10k and then after that came back down to 5k and 3k again, after trying out 16-18km distances (iirc only thrice), upping from the usual 12-13k easy to tempo for 10k training and the shorter LT2/VO2 workouts.
Eventually i didnt really get sub-38 mins and just gave up this distance....but to be honest i was just trying out and see how far could i go, there was not any hard target, I was already doing like 70-80km per week and it really sucked a lot from me from A-Z. And yeah....quite fatiguing, time on legs, plus work schedule etc.
I remember still need to jog to my workplace after the session in the morning and then i would just sit down on the chair and sipping ice cold milo + nescafe gold + fan and not wanting to move for a good 30 mins.
I think most probably is what Kuudere mentioned. If more people (adults) here focussed on the shorter distances but in a more competitive way as in they focus on timings, then it would be more "common".
I also believe there are tons of 3-10k range runners on PCNs, really tons and tons and tons, just that no timings and trainings are involved, just recreational exercise.
But i think kuudere mentioned a good point that also points this 17-18 mins thingy out......schools are foccused at up to 5k, and the younger runners in school can run 17-18 mins with coaching and training and this is not totally rare. Of coz there would be an additional headwind for the age 30-50 folks, but still quite possible if the focus and interest is there.
But actually, then again, the same goes for my cycling. I tend not to do the longer distances that other cyclists would find normal. But one thing i noticed on strava from the cycling clubs.....is that my schedule is pretty standard and the same week after week, basically 1 rest day. Others are more erratic and even might have a good few days like 5 to 1 week plus of no activity. (either that or didnt sync, dont know but probably unlikely). But then after that, BAM, 1 shot 3-5 hrs big ride and sometimes twice consecutively.
Maybe i thrive more on routine. And of coz possibly the same problem as i mentioned earlier, it's more of a schedule limiter than a fitness/training limiter. Unless if retired early or something.
(i know i am)
