I ran cross country in high school on a team that was nationally ranked. I ran my ass of all year long and trained with the team doing the exact same practices. I am short and stocky, no amount of practice is going to give me the long effortless stride of the fastest of my team mates. Like in most things, talent has plenty of influence.
If you show up to practice and do the same things the more advanced kids are doing, they're going to get better almost as fast as you, and you will always be behind.
The only time I ever caught up with anyone was when I did more than the coach/instructor asked.
