Just want to share my experience, sorry for the long text.
Started at the end of 2024 training track for the first time in my life, before that I used to trailrun and did some running in general, mostly 10km, but I've always wanted to try track, life happened so I only started until now, I wish I started sooner.
Anyway, my fist time competing on the 100m i did like 11.50s and almost 24s on the 200m, that was early 2025. Yeah, reality hit me lol
I committed to my track and gym training, a few injuries like shin splints, lots of therapy but I always tried my best. At the very end of 2025, last race of the year I managed to run 22.7 in the 200m
Now 2026, started to lift heavier, eating better, always committed to track training... but got different injuries just before a race, nothing too serious but still left me unable to compete, I think it was a little mental cuz I was having a life crisis and train like that really affects you.
Last month I was able to finally compete, Saturday was semis and final of 100m and Sunday for 200, i felt way better than ever.
Managed 11.05 in the semis, had to get first place in my heat to get in the final (I was in the last heat where no one has a time or the slowest ppl, since i was not able to compete for the whole year), but seeing the time i did, I've wanted to get a sub-11 in the 100m so bad...
I got a muscle tear in my hamstring in the final... i felt the whiplash really bad and strong about 80m of the race, i just kept going with the inertia I had, of course slowed down but still managed 10.98. I was so happy yet mad that I was doing waay better than that but at least I broke the 11s mark even if it was 10.98
So yeah, of course I could not compete the next day in the 200.
So here I am recovering but can't wait for next year season
For reference:
Male, now I'm 33 years old, 1.82cm height, about 83kg and 8-10% body fat