Years of Experience

Myles Splitz

Shamelessly stolen from elsewhere but thought it might be a decent thread for gaining wisdom from collectively hundreds of years of training between us all

How long are you running?

19 years running

What top 5 bits of wisdom have you picked up over your running career that you would pass on to new runners (or if you could go back in time and tell yourself before starting off)?

- Most runners don't run easy miles. Contrary to belief slow easy days will not make you a slower runner

- Consistency trumps and weekly mileage/ key workouts. Don't try and attempt a lofty figure goal in training (target paces/target mpw) if you don't think you would be able to maintain that intensity/volume for 6-8 weeks minimum.

- Racing is like anything, it takes practice. Manage your training but make sure you race frequently enough the probability of missing/underperforming in a race is the same whether you run 1 or 10 races in a year but if you run 1 the success/failure of the whole training block requires a higher element of luck coupled with the training (missing 3 of 4 of my target races this year due unforeseen circumstances)

- Don't be afraid to train with people. Group training can be great even if it is only once every few weeks. Just because paces don't always line up doesn't mean can't be beneficial. Races are never mono paced and as such you have to get used to being thrown a curve ball the odd time (either running faster due to group or being kept honest by people chasing)

- Have the confidence to take a day off when you need. Learn to be honest with yourself and know when 1 day missed training is worth 3-4 gained at later stage by not aggravating illness/injury.

- There is no such thing as wrong training, learn to question why a session works/doesn't work in a plan. If you can do this you can open up new worlds regards your own training and getting the best out of your own strengths and weaknesses

kit3

Great idea for a thread Myles, thanks.

Krusty_Clown

Running about 8 years now. Probably skewed a little by my current predicament, but....

- You wouldn't jump up and down on a rickety wooden bridge, to see if it will hold your weight. So why do you feel the need to test out an injury?

- It is much easier to race others than it is to race yourself. Target good competitive races with faster runners who will pull you to better times. There is greater satisfaction in finishing in the bottom 5% of a competitive race, than finishing in the top 5% of a non-competitive race.

- There's no such thing as bullet-proof. Common sense must prevail. If a coach or training program suggests two easy days before a hard session, it's probably for a good reason.

- If you don't hit your goals in a training session, it doesn't mean that it wasn't successful. We train for the stimulus, not to hit the numbers.

- While on the subject, don't include a 'pace' data field on your GPS-based watch unless you are targeting a pace-driven session. On easy days, run easy. On recovery days, run recovery. Don't let the watch determine your pace.

Enduro

First pure running race was DCM 1998, but had done some mountain marathons before that.

Off the rop of my head:

(1) Question absolutely everything. There is far more "received wisdom" masquerading as science than there is good science in the running world. In my time running I've seen advice on stretching, nutrition and hydration all turned on their heads 180 degrees, to name a few things.
(2) Enjoy it. Race! Racing is fun. Give yourself targets to strive towards, such as competing in races etc. But if you don't hit the targets remember that it's all just a game really and none of it really matters. If you're finding training to be drudgery change something to fix that. Relish the good times.
(3) Don't wait for perfection... just do it (Not saying to run when sick or injured with this though!). If you want to enter a race but don't think you'll be ready, just do it anyway. You'll probably learn more from experiencing a DNF than theorising about perfection. Related to this, for any race/distance run the first one as a rangefinder to gain the experience to give the second go a proper rattle.
(4) Mix things up. Don't run the same routes over and over. Mixing in other sports can be good both for the body and the head (S&C very much counts here).
(5) Running is a fundamentally simple sport. Primarily hard work (putting in the hours of training), applied with intelligence, is really all you require. Natural ability will determine your ceiling to an extent, but the hard work is required to get off the floor! Don't get trapped into over-complicating things, spending money on things to make you improve, over analysing or worrying about small details etc.

oldrunner

Coming up on 40 years running (with a long break in mid 30s)

Increase your frequency and volume of running before worrying about sessions. If you're running 3 days a week stretch it to 5 then six. Add a mile or two to each run. I've seen a lot of runners look for the magic elixir of sessions without building a good base.

Don't race to beat times - race to beat other runners (wherever you are in the field). The times will follow.

A common message that bears repeating - easy days easy and hard days hard.

Already said above, train with other people - particularly for sessions. Preferably, don't be the fastest runner in the group. You will get pulled along to better performances and be motivated to do the sessions.

Do a long run every week

Dubgal72

Ran for 6/7 years throughout my teens, jogged in an unstructured fashion occasionally since with large gaps (3-8 years). Came back to running in 2014 and this time did it properly by joining a club

1) Injury is not the end of the world. Always have a short, medium and long term goal. Whatever stops you running now will mean nothing in two years time. (From my club captain) Wish I had heard this 25 years ago!

2) Sleep is your friend. Get to bed early. Nap if you can after a hard session.
2a) Rest is your friend: 'The most important training day is rest day', from John Treacy, quoted here

3) Be consistent. (Consistent) hard work beats talent when talent (consistently) fails to work hard.

4) Listen to your body. It knows best. It knows you better than your schedule, your coach and your gps. Don't be a slave to the watch. If you're not listening to your body, how are you or your coach meant to adjust your schedule up or down.

5) Relax relax relax: Jumbo Elliott's mantra to Ronnie Delany and Eamonn Coghlan and no doubt many more through his hands. Funny enough, one my dad used to drum into me as well when he was coaching me.

I have to sneak in an extra one, Ronnie's 'race the wo/man, not the watch' as KC and oldrunner say above. It's something coachy advises too: 'race the person and the times will follow'.

El Caballo

3 years with what feels like a lifetime of mistakes.

-Train to your current fitness levels, not goal or dream paces. There's no point in going out and running 5:30 pace for intervals if can't hold 6 min pace for a race. Intervals are about teaching your body to get used to race pace and you lose that benefit by pushing harder than you should. That goes for everything from MP to tempo's to Easy runs as well. Just because you plan to run a marathon at a certain pace in 12 weeks doesn't mean that is your current marathon pace.

-Often stated but rarely implemented, Easy runs should be really easy, the main goal of easy running is to gently work your heart and lungs without overworking your muscles while helping you recover to run more efficient workouts. They are the foundation of all training and should garner as much respect as workouts when it comes to gauging the correct effort. Next time you think you are running too slow, think of the group of a 100 elite Kenyans easing down a dirt road at 7-8 minute mile pace nice and relaxed

-Endurance trumps speed for most newer distance runners. While speed is important, endurance will dictate how close you can run to your top speed for a given distance. Speedwork is only the icing on the cake of endurance. Without a good base of volume, you are an empty sack as my coach says.

-Run on different surfaces, road running can be very repetitive and tough on the body. Running on grass once or twice a week will break up the monotony and challenge different muscle groups which help with balance and strength and make you an all round better athlete while taking away some of the pounding. After a while on grass, you really start to feel the benefits of the spring you get on the road. Plus, running on grass is more fun imo!:)

-Bad runs happen all the time, don't get caught up and dwell on it. It's a tough sport and sometimes you will be tired and not reach your expectations or not feel good during it, it happens and as long as it's not a regular occurrence, you should be ok to learn from it and move on. Don't try and play catchup with missed training.

This Fat Girl Runs

Nearly 3 years running myself, fun runner for the first year then started following a training plan last year and started to seriously work on my speed this past winter.

El Caballo ^^ said pretty much everything I would say. I would add it's ok to make mistakes so long as you learn from them. The bad runs/races are just as important as the good ones if you take something away from it that helps you improve.

Also, don't be afraid to ask for/look for help from people further along in training/experience than you. They can be a goldmine for information.

Duanington

How long are you running?

Coming up on 4 years soon I think ( although I had a brief stint about 12 years ago too)

What top 5 bits of wisdom have you picked up over your running career that you would pass on to new runners (or if you could go back in time and tell yourself before starting off)?


Be patient with yourself - Rome wasn't built in a day, developing and improving as a runner takes time. The work you put in today lays the foundation for the work you put in tomorrow...and so on!

Stay consistent - Its already been said but consistency over months ( and years) beats chasing miles over a week or two.

If you can, run more...and build it into your daily schedule

Injuries happen, its a fact of life....dealing with them properly is the issue for most people, listen to your body...you come to know the difference between discomfort in your legs resulting from a heavy session or a tough week and the pain that indicates something is wrong....listen and nip it in the bud

Don't be limited by numbers - especially during racing. I'm convinced many of us set mental barriers that slowly dissolve as we learn to run better at faster paces. Push the boat out every now and then though, take a chance on yourself, let go of that fear and see where you can go with it - our bodies have evolved to run, don't let your mind hold it back

Dubgal72

Oh! Oh! Sir, one more please

Leave the headphones at home until you graduate to a Krusty level where your body is on auto pilot on certain runs. Until then, you should be tuned in to your body and reading all its data until it becomes second nature.

DubOnHoliday

How long are you running?

2 years exactly, so please excuse my potentially ridiculous top 5

What top 5 bits of wisdom have you picked up over your running career that you would pass on to new runners (or if you could go back in time and tell yourself before starting off)?

1. Start core strength work at day 0 or it will come back to haunt you.
2. Join IMRA and meet awesome people (and your local running club too of course)
3. Don't race training runs (some very early advice I received on boards).
4. Never let weather put you off, some of my favorite runs have been in gales and snow.
5. Hills, don't avoid them. Include them in your training every week.

How long are you running?

About 6 years.

What top 5 bits of wisdom have you picked up over your running career that you would pass on to new runners (or if you could go back in time and tell yourself before starting off)?

Read posts by the likes of Enduro and Slogger Jogger.

That's about it really...

Ososlo

If you’re not enjoying most of your running, you’re doing something wrong. You won’t stick with it if you’re not enjoying it for the most part. Find a way to enjoy it. Slow down most of the time. You’re probably running too fast. Breath and relax and look around you. There’s a beautiful world out there to take in.

Don’t let others mock or belittle your goals or achievements. Nobody understands your body, head and mind like you do and nobody know what makes you tick personally and what your personal motivations are. Run for YOU, and don’t do things just because other people expect you to do them. Do what makes YOU happy. You run for you.

Listen to the advice of those more experienced than you but learn to work things out for yourself too.

Run in the rain, embrace the wind and laugh with the hailstones. Most of the time in Ireland, the weather won’t do you any damage. Adjust the effort and clothing depending on the conditions.

Don’t run on an injury. Take a few days off and it might heal itself. When you think you’re ready to go back running, take another 2 days off. Then you should be good to go. If not, see someone about it.
Don’t run when you’re sick. When you think you’re better, take 2 days more off and then you should be really ready to go.

Consistency is key. Train consistently all year round (take breaks obviously) and you’ll be less likely to get injured or sick when it comes to stepping up the training for your goal race.

Running 4 years.

Ed Mc Groarty

Ososlo wrote:

Run in the rain, embrace the wind and laugh with the hailstones.

I had the greatest laugh with all three on Sunday, great Craic altogether.😂

Ososlo

Ed Mc Groarty wrote: »

I had the greatest laugh with all three on Sunday, great Craic altogether.😂

lol:D That was a fairly extreme scenario yesterday and not one that many new runners would put themselves in! I hope!

walshb

A nice thread.

Running with intent 32 years.

5 pieces of advice I have taken on board:

* Have at least 3-4 rest days in calendar month.
* Run faster shorther distances as opposed to longer slower distances.
* Ingest as little liquids as possible if going for a fast time
* Never run with a cold or chest infection
* A race will always bring out the best in you!

Run and Jump

How long are you running?

12 years as a grown-up, added to three or four years at underage club level back in the day.

What top 5 bits of wisdom have you picked up over your running career that you would pass on to new runners (or if you could go back in time and tell yourself before starting off)?

- Keep a log of what you've run in a diary or wallchart - you'll see your progress in concrete terms and you can refer back to it at a later date for practical info or just the sense of achievement.
- Don't be a slave to the GPS watch, and don't be complaining online that a race is long/short just because your Garmin says so! (They're not that accurate.)
- No earphones, ESPECIALLY IN A RACE!! There are people cheering you on - why block them out? Enjoy the occasion and appreciate their support.
- Don't overdress for a race - even on a cold day you'll overheat in the first mile. I'm always amazed to see people in wind jackets, hats and multiple layers before a short race - for some I suspect their excess clothes are almost literally safety blankets. Wear them for a 10-min warm-up jog and then take them off for the race. For the Irish climate, whatever time of year, one layer is enough.
- Get enough sleep. (Easy to say if you haven't kids, I know.) A nap is a great way of catching up on sleep.

Singer

How long are you running?

2 years.

What top 5 bits of wisdom have you picked up over your running career that you would pass on to new runners (or if you could go back in time and tell yourself before starting off)?

Just the one:
- Really do try and eat some food after a marathon. No, beer doesn't count.

Chivito550

How long are you running?

5 years as a track runner. About 3 years of broken periods of being a runner before that.

What top 5 bits of wisdom have you picked up over your running career that you would pass on to new runners (or if you could go back in time and tell yourself before starting off)?

1) Join a club, attend sessions, get a coach, and preferably one who you interact face-to-face with. You might think you know it all, but you don't, not by a long way. The coach will know more than you do, so listen to him/her.

2) Treat strength work as a proper training session, not as something you try to fit in when you have time. Strength work is a fundamental part of training, not a mere optional supplementary area. It will help prevent injuries in the long run.

3) Try as many distances and disciplines, on as many different surfaces as you can starting off, to figure out what you enjoy most, and what you feel you would be best at, rather than just doing what others want you to do.

4) Race regularly. If you are training but not racing, then you are not really training, you are merely exercising. You train to race, not train to train. Racing is the purest form of training, and you learn more from 1 bad race than you do from 5 great training sessions/runs.

5) Keep enjoying it. If you find you are not enjoying the training any more then pick a different distance or discipline. Athletics is the most varied sport there is, so there is loads to choose from.

ger664

How long are you running?

9 Years

What top 5 bits of wisdom have you picked up over your running career that you would pass on to new runners (or if you could go back in time and tell yourself before starting off)?


Probably nothing new in this

1) You dont have to PB in every training run.

2) Build a base first. Every house needs a solid foundation

3) Enjoy it especially races.

4) Race the guy/gal in front of you not the watch

5) dont run when injured/sick for the sake of it.

dekbhoy

running 4 years


1.Never allow the weather to put you off running just dress appropriately, some times the hardest part is getting into the gear. very very rare youll come back after a run and say i shouldnt have done that.

2. Always mix up training. routines, surface, routes.

3. Log progress. always great to see how far youve come. Always good to look back on races etc. too. Brings back memorable experiences.

4. Podcasts, audio books are great for long runs to break monotony.

5. My Favourite tip is always have a race on the horizon be it next week next month or a few months away. Great for motivation.

Clearlier

How long are you running?

I did a little bit of running as a teenager and had numerous false starts during my 20's but most of my running has been since 2010.


What top 5 bits of wisdom have you picked up over your running career that you would pass on to new runners (or if you could go back in time and tell yourself before starting off)?

1. Fail to plan, plan to fail. If you're deciding each day what run you're going to do then at best your progress will be haphazard. Start with a goal and work backwards

2. Learn about yourself. Find out how you respond to different training sessions. Take Vo2 max interval sessions, some people respond very well to them off no training, some people only respond well only when they've built a base and some people respond badly to them no matter what. Everyone is an experiment of one. Learn from others but don't slavishly copy them.

3. You'll do better with a coach. They don't even have to know more than you - sometimes just having another pair of eyes cast their eyes over your plans and training can make a world of difference.

4. Vary your paces in training.

5. Always try to run with good form. Too often an easy run sees people let their form get sloppy. An easy run just means that you don't push as hard.

dna_leri

How long are you running?

I ran fast but not often as a teenager. I have been back running for 7.5 years.


What top 5 bits of wisdom have you picked up over your running career that you would pass on to new runners (or if you could go back in time and tell yourself before starting off)?

To the class of 2016:

1. Enjoy the power of your youth. You will not appreciate it until it has faded. In 20 years you will look back and recall how much possibility lay before you.
2. Do something that scares you - (run a marathon, do a track race, sprint) but don't be reckless.
3. Race! Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind but in the end it's only with yourself.
4. Stretch.
4. Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when they are gone (run on grass, run on trails, avoid concrete).
5. Respect your running elders but be careful whose advice you buy.

Oh and wear sunscreen!

rainbow kirby

Started running almost 8 years ago, but have had quite a few injuries in that time and hoping to get back out in the next few weeks after the birth of my son.

1. Enjoy it! It's utterly pointless if you aren't having fun.
2. Mix up your training - one-paced plodding gets really dull after a while. This includes cross-training too - a bit of strength work, some yoga or Pilates or (heaven forbid!) some swimming or cycling can all be useful.
3. Run with people! Some of the best training runs I've had have been marathon training long runs with a chatty group.
4. Do things that scare you - it's good to have goals that are a little bit ambitious.
5. Race as often as you feel like it - for some that's never, for some that's most weekends. Find what works for you.

Coffee Fulled Runner

walshb wrote: »

* Have at least 3-4 rest days in calendar month.

Do you mean take three or four days off every month consecutively or take them off over the whole month? Like one day off a week.

walshb

Coffee Fulled Runner wrote: »

Do you mean take three or four days off every month consecutively or take them off over the whole month? Like one day off a week.

Not consecutively. I recall several times where I ran for 40-50 days without taking a day off. It wasn't good, and it made my enjoyment for getting out suffer. So, maybe 5-6 days on and 1 day off, or 7-8 days on and one day off.

Chartsengrafs

How long are you running?

9 years but the first 3-4 were mostly messing about.

What top 5 bits of wisdom have you picked up over your running career that you would pass on to new runners (or if you could go back in time and tell yourself before starting off)?

- Get a long slow run in every week. Any modest improvements I have made over time have been built on easy miles, particularly the long weekly run.

- Just because you're thin-ish and fit-ish doesn't mean that diet doesn't matter. It does.

- Some people just have more talent. I've seen numerous people take up running in their late twenties and knock out 35 minute 10ks on four runs a week. Breaks my heart

- Trying to avoid pee stops during a marathon by taking on too little water is a great way to obtain post-race hospitality in the med tent.

- Consistency. It's been mentioned already but it's very important.

Back in Black

How long are you running?

5 years (3 consistently).

What top 5 bits of wisdom have you picked up over your running career that you would pass on to new runners (or if you could go back in time and tell yourself before starting off)?

• Always have a goal race in mind to work towards to keep the motivation.
• Don't be afraid to adjust the plan - real life **** happens and injuries happen - there will always be another race.
• Linked to above, never run through a chest infection.
• Never, ever forget the vaseline/bodyglide before a long run, it if moves or rubs against something - put vaseline/bodyglide on it
• Run early in the morning (it sets you up for the day) but always try to go to the loo before you head out!!!

If you forget the last one, don't be afraid to sacrifice a sock but don't bring it home with you :pac:

gypsylee

Great thread. I only started running in the past couple of months at a slow pace and short distances so its great to read all the advice above. Thanks for sharing.

walshb

Back in Black wrote: »

How long are you running?

5 years (3 consistently).

What top 5 bits of wisdom have you picked up over your running career that you would pass on to new runners (or if you could go back in time and tell yourself before starting off)?

• Always have a goal race in mind to work towards to keep the motivation.
• Don't be afraid to adjust the plan - real life **** happens and injuries happen - there will always be another race.
• Linked to above, never run through a chest infection.
• Never, ever forget the vaseline/bodyglide before a long run, it if moves or rubs against something - put vaseline/bodyglide on it
• Run early in the morning (it sets you up for the day) but always try to go to the loo before you head out!!!

If you forget the last one, don't be afraid to sacrifice a sock but don't bring it home with you :pac:

Love your tips! Very practical and easy going.

Slogger Jogger

How long are you running?

12 Years. Started late, age 35.

What top 5 bits of wisdom have you picked up over your running career that you would pass on to new runners (or if you could go back in time and tell yourself before starting off)?

1) Mix races with your training for variety and for testing yourself. Will help push yourself on.
2) Start running younger (wasted 20s!)
3) Buddy up with someone. Helps to train / race occasionally with a partner. Can be a motivator.
4) Volunteer. Volunteering and racing events go hand in hand. Can't have one without the other and its a great social outlet.
5) Challenge yourself. At the ripe old age of 47 I've just got a series of PBs in my most recent training plan including my marathon goal race. If I can do it anyone can.

demfad

Late to this:

How Long?

15 years this time.
Did a bit in my teens too.

Most points I would raise have been raised already. Focus on consistency. Most good runners are either talented, consistant or both. You can only work on one of those. How do you maintain it? Make your weeks feel easier and sustainable.

As Ive young kids Ill focus on that angle:

1) If Sleep is scarce never do a run/session that leaves you too drained. You cant recover and adapt to it. You cant sustain it. Use the amount of sleep you get to decide the 'difficulty' of the run. You will gain by doing this.
2) There are more important things than running. Make the week feel sustainable and doable within your life. Youll probably get better results anyway.
3) Never turn down a run. You might not get the chance again that day.
4) Write down all the hours of your day on a spread sheet. Mark in any hours where it is at all possible to run. There are more than you think. Be creative with how you apply them around your life.
5)(New one for me). Not counting weekends, try and get one super sleep in during the week. Position it on an easy day to get a really good recovery affect which will help you adapt to previous runs and rest you for runs to come. You could also plan this sleep on a day where youd like to get a harder session in.

Free general one)

At least once. Try running over freely over wilderness at a steady pace. You might just find your inner human animal. That magic feeling will beat a PB any day.

snailsong

Running 7 years, fairly consistently.

The best advice I read on here, maybe someone knows who came up with it, is this:
'Don't take it out of the bag to soon. Once you take it out of the bag you can't put it back in the bag. ' Since I heard that, all my races have been faster, and more enjoyable. I've run negative splits in the last few marathons, all by keeping it in the bag.

Apart from that I'd say plan your training runs and then do them. If you say 'I'll probably do a few miles tonight, if the weather's ok and I'm not too tired', chances are you won't get out. If you say' I'm doing 5 miles easy at 7 o'clock ' and you arrange to meet your friends there, then you'll be there.

jebuz

Nice idea this, these are the threads I find so useful so I might aswell pop my head up and offer something

How long are you running?

5 years with a 9 month travelling break in the middle. Last 2 have been consistent since joining a club.

What top 5 bits of wisdom have you picked up over your running career that you would pass on to new runners (or if you could go back in time and tell yourself before starting off)?

1. Ease into it
For beginners, it's tempting to jump in the deep end, race a half or a full marathon, join a club, speed sessions etc. If you want longevity in the sport and you really want to get the best out of yourself, practice patience. For the majority of the population, it takes a lot of time and serious effort to get good at this sport but the good news is that regardless of talent, you can get very far with hard work alone. The journey is so rewarding though. Spend loads of time running easy, forget about pace and time, enjoy it at a conversational pace. You'll gradually build up an aerobic base, the legs will grow stronger and then you'll be ready to start getting serious (if you want!).

2. Forge your own advice
There is too much terrible and conflicting advice being peddled particularly with the explosion of social media - "5 types of socks to guarantee you a PB". Loads of people will give you advice along the way but sometimes it's just anecdotal experience from dogmatic personalities convinced they have the magic formula or the 'one session' to guarantee you a PB. Mostly you'll just have to take bits and pieces and find out your own formula. I do see the irony of saying this in a post title "top 5 bits of wisdom". I really only take serious advice from people who have performed at the very top, i.e way way way better than me.

3. Have a trusted coach and a group to run with.
This is the most important thing for me. A book will give you a generic training schedule and some general advice but a book doesn't watch me on the track and a book won't pull me aside to tell me I'm being a f***g idiot, or in some rare cases a much needed pat on the back. I've been coached by a book before and I did ok, but it doesn't compare to a real coach who knows your body and can in some case read you better than you can yourself. Group training has been a vital component to my success in my club running career. There have been countless sessions I finish knowing well I wouldn't have done to the same level on my own.

4. Don't take it TOO seriously.
You have a life outside of running and despite what some people say, it's not life or death. Have a pint the night before a race, have that extra muffin, don't freak out when you have to take 2 days off. Don't let it get in the way of important occasions for family and friends. The less pressure you put on yourself, the better you'll perform. Don't get obsessed with the arbitrary numbers, weekly milage, target paces, HR readings etc because your body certainly doesn't know or care. Running is a very simple sport when it comes down to it, you just put on runners and run. Run hard on hard days and run easy on easy days.

5. Fake it
When imparting wisdom on forums, keep it really verbose like my points above so people will just read a little bit and then stop reading but they think you really know what you're talking about.

BeepBeep67

Ran aged 13-17 (injured), 28-30 (life got busy) and returned to running in 2008, closing in on 20,000 miles in this stint.
Some great advice above, here's my 2c.

Lay a base
Don't spend on the credit card unless you have the savings to back it up!

Join a club
As others have said, but don't just join one, compete for your club.
Athletics can be a lonely sport, the enjoyment and motivation that can be gained from running the few races where time or placing counts is an amazing experience (read the relays thread)

Invest in the right footwear (and then some more )
I estimate that my running feet have hit the ground about 25 million times since 2008.
Go get expert advice and don't assume your gait doesn't change as you become a stronger runner.

Race
Race well and race often, I'm closing in on 200 since 2008 everything from 800mts on the track to a 50k trail race.
Learn what works for you and what doesn't, stretch yourself, face your demons and banish them.

Volunteer
Clubs and races don't organize themselves, running can be a selfish sport, but you don't have to be.

youngrun

How long are you running?
On and off. Ran from 11-14, gave up for 12 years due to chaos at home, moving around, and went on the beer and smokes wild days . A couple of years in Australia got me back into it. 12 years back

What top 5 bits of wisdom have you picked up over your running career that you would pass on to new runners (or if you could go back in time and tell yourself before starting off)?

1) Stick at it when young. get a coach or mentor to guide you through and a couple of friends in running to train with
2) You can make great friends for life from running, join a club, train with others, go to races and events
3) Train on grass and trails and keep the injuries away
4) Get involved and do something for the sport. Dont say they should do this or that, you can do it by helping out, organising , coaching.
5) Race regularly. You will never be ready you just have to go for it. Target the big races , nationals etc