*UPDATE: John accomplished his goal of competing in the 1500m at the World Championships (M40 Division) This past week (Aug 23rd & 25th). He advanced through the rounds and qualified for the final on time. He placed 5th in the World and was the top American. He ran a season best of 4:10.24 in the final! We're very proud of John and honored to be apart of his journey back to running. Now it's time to reset and get ready for the next one!
I love big challenges. Witnessing my athletes set a challenging goal, then push themselves to their limits to achieve it is one of the most rewarding aspects of coaching.
I want to share the story of one of my current athletes, John Arnold, and his ambitious goal of competing at the Masters World Championships this summer. First, let me share a bit of backstory. John and I were former college teammates, both achieving All-American status at the University of Texas on the same Distance Medley Relay team back in 2003. John's specialty back then was in the Middle-Distance event group.
However, competing at such a high level for so long can sometimes lead to burnout or simply a lack of interest in the sport, and for the past 18 years, running took a backseat in his life. His primary focus over the last decade has been on his family and career. In fact, he's barely laced up his shoes, let alone engaged in any meaningful form of exercise.
Well, that all changed about 18 months ago when John was invited out on a run by a neighbor who was new to running and sought John's guidance on the sport. Although the run was relatively short, 2-3miles, at an average pace of ~11min/mile, something clicked during a “pickup” at the end of the run. John later told me, "It just felt good to run fast again." That single run reignited his passion for running.
Since then, John has committed to his training, signed up with The Run Plan and been consistently logging the miles, gradually regaining his fitness and shedding over 40 pounds along the way. Currently living overseas with his wife and four children, John has committed himself to his newfound love for running, and balancing his traning into his busy life. At the age of 40, he has set his sights on a remarkable goal: qualifying for the Masters World Championships in the 1500m.
As a coach, I admire John's determination and resilience. His journey serves as a reminder of the importance of setting audacious goals and challenging yourself. Even with his background competing at the NCAA Division I level, this goal is not a given. This journey will be very challenging, and we are honored that John has trusted The Run Plan to provide guidance, structure, and accountability to his training.
John's story is a testament to the power of setting big goals and doing hard stuff. As a member of The Run Plan Team, we are proud to support him every step of the way. Stay tuned for updates on our blog page and social media feeds.
In a recent conversation, John shared his journey and aspirations, reflecting on how he arrived at this goal of competing in the Masters World Championships in the 1500m. You can watch our conversation here.
Right after the recording of this video, John ran a 4:20 in the 1500m! That was his season opener and an incredibly promising first step in his World Championships journey.
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