10 Levels of Running

So I started running about 2 years ago, or 3 years ago, well this is my 3rd year of running so how ever that works out.  Anyway I have noticed that some more experienced runners have much better form, and much better technique and tons of aerobic capacity.  When these people are trying to give advice to new runners some of the stuff doesn't always ring true.  What I have found is if you have never run there are quite a few mental hurdles that you have to get through to be able to run for any distance or amount of time.  People who have run in the past and are maybe getting back into running have a distinct advantage because they don't have to convince their body that what they are doing won't kill them.  When you start running in your late 30's and 40's you have to break through those barriers a little at a time and sometimes the advice from these higher level runners doesn't always translate or are so far from being attainable that people may not stick with it because it doesn't come easy.  So I am going to layout what I think are the 10 levels of running and add that advice given from more than 3 or 4 levels away should be taken with a grain of salt.  Most of the time if an elite level runner is giving advise you need to be level 5 or higher to be able to incorporate what they are saying into your training. 

Level 1 - Novice - just starting out, never ran before, never been coached.
Level 2 - Some running, but probably not more than a mile or so at a time, low aerobic base.
Level 3 - Somewhat serious, maybe 5 to 10 miles a week or 2 or 3 sessions of running
Level 4 - More serious about running, has purchased shoes specifically for running maybe will run a 5k or local race (I went through the first 4 levels in about 3 months)
Level 5 - Somewhat competitive - Targeted training maybe 15-20 miles a week, 3 or 4 sessions, has some goal times set and works on form or target areas (Me now)
Level 6 - Higher mileage - 25+ miles a week, 80-100 miles a month, good bit of gear, tracks workouts with apps.
Level 7 - Low end racer - Will race competitively in 5k, maybe up to half marathon. I would say most high school runners are in this range. Capable of low 20 minute 5k times.
Level 8 - Competitive racer - will challenge for 5k wins in smaller events, maybe a capable half marathoner or even marathoner.  Serious training 40-50 miles per week.
Level 9 - High end racer - Can compete at harder events, BQ (Boston Qualifier) at marathon level, lots of training, lots of miles.
Level 10 - Elite Racer - Best of the best, top 10 at majors, ultra runners.  Crazy talent and crazy miles.

In running you absolutely can't skip steps (no pun intended) and you can't skip levels.  But I think people who are more that 3 or 4 levels away have a hard time relating with some of the challenges people at lower levels face.  I'm not sure that an elite racer really understands the difficulty of the novice runner who is struggling to catch their breath after about 200m of medium effort running.  That is why I am going to try and put down some ideas to help people starting out, because I am much closer to that end than to being an elite runner, and I think I have a better handle on the struggles of early running than an elite ultra marathoner.  I will reference this in the future, but from what I have seen I think this is fairly accurate.  There may be some other levels, but rather than having 14 levels I think most runners can squeeze into one of these categories pretty easy and it keeps the comparisons a little simpler.