Why haven't I improved my running?

Question

I've been on the track team at my school for 2 years now. I practice just as hard and just as frequently as all the other girls on the team and I'm just not as good as the rest. I'm always last in races and last to finish when we go for a run as a team. I don't smoke and I'm not overweight, but I find it hard to breath. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Answer 1

Do you eat poorly? You might be eating an unbalanced and/or sugary diet. Try eliminating most sugary things and get lots of vegetables and protein, while drinking lots of water.

Also, lift weights and strengthen your muscles. That will help a lot.

Answer 2

THE ONLY REASON U TRY HARD WHEN THE RACE STARTS BUT WHEN IT CONTINIOUS U LOSE UR BREATH U CAN EVEN WIN THE RACE JUST BY SIMPLE METHOD START THE RACE SLOWLY IN NORMAL SPEED THEN GAIN UR SPEED SLOWLY THEN U R AHEAD OF OTHERS TRY NOT TO EAT FOOD OR DRINK WATER BEFORE RACE DRINK A LOT OF WATER 2 HRS BEFORE DONT EAT HEAVY FOOD THT PARTICULAR DAY.....................GOT IT

Answer 3

Everyone has a peak,  you may not be doing anything wrong once you reach your peak you may get a little better, but it just where you are as far as your talent goes for running,I know there are other things that you do that other girls can do as well as you, but every one is important wither you are first or last, you are still part of the team and your efforts support the team Keep up the good work

Answer 4

I don't run track or anything but I run every day I think the big thing  if you don't have asthma is you need to train harder then the other girls. If there doing so many crunches or sit ups a day do more then what they do

Answer 5

Set a goal for yourself and practice until you achieve it. A good diet is also a good idea. Train yourself to your desired result.

- Jonathan :)

Answer 6

first you should ask your doctor if you have asthma that might be the reason your finding it hard breath and try changing your diet and start working out.

Answer 7

While I agree that some of it may be diet or asthma, you don't mention that if you train year-round.  If you want to see results, then you have to run and train all year long.  If you are a sprinter, then you might jog a couple miles a day, but then lift weights, do pliametrics (exercises designed to build explosiveness/burst... look it up for more info...), intervals/speedwork, swimming for endurance as well.

If you are a distance runner, then you simply have to start logging the miles.  Putting in as many miles, with some speed work thrown in here and there so you don't lose speed. Running hills (sets of 10, 12, etc.) is a great way to do a distance speed workout.  Again, lifting weights too... but also strengthening your "core" with crunches, etc.

If you only run during track season, you'll never get better.  It's like someone who starts a walking program to lose a few pounds.  If they decide to walk five miles a day, every day, then they may lose a couple pounds and build some endurance/strength after a couple months.  Unless you push yourself by going longer or harder or adding additional activities or cross training, you will plateau and remain at that level -- regardless if you continue to go those five miles everyday.  

It seems you might be at a plateau -- consider working out somehow all year long or playing another sport to keep you in shape throughout the year.  Good luck.

Answer 8

Running over a period of time at increasing distances and paces should be possible for you with the help of a good coach. If you find that you have not improved at all over a period of two years then first, let me applaud you for your determination.

Hard work without results is no fun at all!

Many coaches concentrate their efforts on the elite runners as  they are seen as easy to work with and provide the coaches with some largely undeserved ego stroking. Those runners who struggle through workouts and races oftentimes receive the least amount of attention and sometimes ignored completely. Sound familiar?

If you are running the same workouts as everyone else and not improving it is clear YOU NEED DIFFERENT WORKOUTS.

Regardless of your god given talent you should expect gradual improvement. Ask your current coach for help (again) and if you don't receive it seek out a professional coach in your area. They are many coaches out there that will see your situation as a challenge worth taking on.  

Good luck.

Answer 9

breath in through your nose and exhale through your mouth