Is 16 too late to start running and be elite?

Rob de Castella showed talent for long distances when young and ran 14:04, 28:50 as a junior.

The OP should follow the suggestions given earlier to get some coaching, join a group and see how he improves over the next two years. He will know at the end of that if he has the talent to become elite.

Yes there's a lot of jealousy. I think sub elites are the worst. I've always been around some of the top guys so I know what it takes and it ain't some magic new drug or magic new training method.

I think most posters here are encouraging though.

Some people start in one sport and find they have a special gift for another. Most don't though. But I can't help wondering if it's possible to design an even around most runners and their own genetic traits?

1/10

Not at all. Female came to me at 18 and at 26 has placed top 50 in junior world xc and senior wxc including beating all the US runners except SB. She has run 31:43 and 1:10 half so not too late. Good luck.

think andrew butchart started when he was 15

also some guy who did british marathon for olympics or commonwelth and started when he was 33 and beforehand was obese smoker. technically counts as elite but near the bottom.

but then there is this misconception that its all hardwork. no these people are just genetically very talented and so could always. not like anyone can do it. russian roulette. unpredictable. cant even predict how good that narathon guy would have been had he started very young. undoubtedly he woulda been better but maybe he would also hit a genetic brick wall that stopped him being very top.

But think of all those "genetically very talented" runners who drop out of the sport because they don't enjoy training or racing?

That's a lot of people.

so... any updates?

no, you're right, you should also drop out of school because you're not going to be valedictorian, not bother with a job because you're merely good at it, and kick that 34C bombshell out of your bed because your dream was for DDs.

Are you referring to late starter Steve Jones from Wales who was 8th at the 1984 10,000? Former smoker and RAF aircraft mechanic? 2x Chicago Marathon wins (with a world record), 1x London Marathon win (course record), 1x NYC Marathon win (course record). technically counts as elite but at the very top.

On the ladies' side, Pricilla Welsh started running at age 35. A former smoker, she won NYC Marathon in 1985. Also set the British marathon record 2x one of which was her top 10 LA Olympic marathon finish at age 39.

to the OP, it's never too late to start

We can't say. A lot depends on what you have been doing athletically up until this point and your dedication. But at some point your genetic ability is going to provide a limitation and we have no idea what that is in your case.

No. Steve Jones started in the Air Training Corps when he was 15. He didn't take it seriously, though until he was about 20 and was at RAF Lyneham. After that he just made steady improvement, particularly as he stepped up to the marathon.

The guy you are thinking of is Steve Way. He started at age 33, apparently having been a 20 cigarette a day man weighing over 200 lbs. He made the team for the Commonwealth Games at age 40, and finished tenth in 2:15.16, a British Masters record. He's won a stack of smaller marathons and longer road events, up to 100k, and was third in the Comrades Marathon at 44.