Serious: will I regret focusing too much on running later on?

I think as long as you have a career plan and date girls, you won't have regrets. Just keep asking out the girls and sleep with some. Remember, these girls are going out with somebody. So if you don't try to date until you're too old, you'll feel like a chump who's only getting the leftovers. Yeah, your running isn't great. Look at other outdoor sports, too.

antijamin wrote:

Yeah, your running isn't great. Look at other outdoor sports, too.

I've looked at cycling and think that would be a great sport to pursue if I have to stop running for whatever reason (injury, just plain suck, etc.). That's assuming I have a lot of cash sitting around of course. I have other hobbies and a solid career plan too; I'm just trying to make sure running doesn't cut into that stuff too much.

But girls though...that's a tough one....

Just try to invest your time in other things too. Thinking about running isn't going to make you a better runner, so try to pay attention in school. Find out what career you're interested in, and work towards that. Also, invest in your social life. Being stupid and having fun once in a while won't hurt your running.

I focused too much on running and ended up just randomly choosing a major in college. Now I'm working and not running as much, I often wish that I had spent a bit more time finding out what I wanted to do besides running. I also should've gone out a bit more and enjoyed the college experience.

I'm still happy with where I'm at, but if I could go back I would've spread my focus a bit. I actually think it would've been better for my running as well.

You won't regret your focus on running, but you will absolutely regret your lack of focus on learning; not just getting good grades, but actually learning cool stuff.

I played multiple sports, but also did just enough to get A's and get into one of the best engineering schools in the nation.

Now I have a technology job where I make $125/hr, which is not rich by many standards, but is very comfortable.

My slight regret was stopping running to totally focus on school in college, and I didn't get back to it for 30 years. And now, like you I think a lot about races and training and running vacations.

Do your best in all things.

Cheers

High school is the only chance you're going to get to run with a team, focus on training, and win races that matter to you now and again. Really, it's pretty amazing. Don't throw away the one chance you get to do something you really enjoy.

Don't let your grades slip too much, but there are lots of second chances built into the U.S. educational system. If you're interested in running, then start reading about physiology, or coaching, or whatever aspect of running most interests you. You might discover an academic interest that isn't so far from your athletic interest.

That's Great! Keep us updated!

No ragrets not even an e wrote:

Now I have a technology job where I make $125/hr

No pic, no proof.

At least give some evidence through context (e.g. a description of your job duties, job title, years experience, etc.) to make this believable.

tracknoob wrote:But girls though...that's a tough one....

Right now, at your age, it is probably not a super priority. That's fine. Really.

But as you mature, definitely work on it. As long as you are honest, it's a set of skills like anything else.

If your running isn't a means to an end (re: you aren't going to get a scholarship out of it), you need to keep it in perspective.

You are in high school. Your priorities should be to get good grades (assuming you plan on going to college), have some fun (running can be a part of that, but I would think it shouldn't be the extent of your socializing/having fun), and make some memories (again, running can be a part of that, but shouldn't be the only avenue you pursue).

Think of it this way: Scholastic sports, particularly individual ones like running, is about striving for excellence while building confidence in yourself. If you are one dimensional in your life, and that one dimension you focus on isn't going to be you at your best, then find the time to branch out into other things. Find what you are excellent at, and excel.

tracknoob wrote:

I don't run crazy high mileage or anything, I just train two or three hours a day in the off season. It sounds pretty normal for a high school student, but it might be a bit more of a distraction than you would think.

2-3 hours per day??? Hmmm seems quite a lot.

First be honest with yourself. Are you sure that you are not just blaming a grade-slip on running?

High school is a little harder than middle school. Lots of students see a little slip in their grades. That's OK. Get better at studying. You can find lots of tips on how to develop strong study skills. Develop study skills with the same fervor as you devote to your running. Make yourself better at it.

As for the idiot who says you should sleep around, DON'T. That's a stupid attitude for many, many reasons. And once you start doing that, you'll have something else that occupies every waking thought. You don't need that kind of drama and complexity at this point in your life.

I read a message on here saying former elites in Colorado at the age of 40 work in a shoe store and try to find sugar mamas for a better standard of living.

Keep running but also keep your grades up. Girls are a waste of time at your age and if you're not interested in other hobbies that's fine. As long as you're enjoying life. Everything will fall into place.

lololololo. wrote:

No ragrets not even an e wrote:

Now I have a technology job where I make $125/hr

No pic, no proof.

At least give some evidence through context (e.g. a description of your job duties, job title, years experience, etc.) to make this believable.

Ummm, I did say 30 years. Classic LRC to not believe anything someone writes, even when written in a supportive manner.

I have a Masters Degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering from one of the top schools in the nation. Spent the nineties developing Windows applications and large scale multi-dimensional databases. Spent the 2000's as the director and then VP at a financial firm leading the design and development of their $150 million investment in their online customer portfolio. Spending the teens consulting at a variety of firms architecting data and information services and developing software architecture practices.

The only reason my consulting fee is that low is because I don't want to travel in order to spend time with my teen kids. As part of a larger firm I have been billed out at nearly $300/hr, though I only saw about $225, but there was weekly travel and 65 hour weeks.

Perhaps you need some career counseling yourself.

9/10

Based on your writing style and mature humor there is no way you are a sophomore in high school. Well done.

Start making plans to run in college. Channel the energy you use to think about running outside of actually running into figuring out how you're going to make that happen. If you can get with a group of like minded people, it won't seem so weird to you to "think about running all the time".

Anyways, what else do you have to think about? Video games? The funny remark the class clown who's failing made? Some upcoming dance? Cars? Most of what goes on in high school is stupid.Most of your classmates won't be college athletes. Most of them, even the hot girl will be fat by 30, probably living some boring life where she posts photos of her ugly babies to facebook and spends all her time ferrying her children around to soccer practice.

I say focus on running and anything else that makes you happy and don't care what other people like. I learned too late that doing things you don't enjoy with people you don't really like all that much just makes you miserable.

Mitten Man wrote:

9/10

Based on your writing style and mature humor there is no way you are a sophomore in high school. Well done.

My thoughts exactly. Where did this kid come from? Kids don't read anymore, let alone write. In fact, my first thought as I was reading this post was that the OP should concentrate on writing while keeping his (I assume the writer is a male) focus on his apparently mediocre running talent in proper perspective. Write, Forest, write!

"Develop study skills with the same fervor as you devote to your running. Make yourself better at it."

http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/03/09/the-straight-a-method-how-to-ace-college-courses/

You don't need to do all of this for a HS class but it is a good place to learn what real studying is all about.

Once this process becomes the only way you work in HS, you can use it to become better at running. Once you use it to become better at running, you will understand it well enough to ace college.

I wish I would have focused more on running in HS and college instead of partying, chasing girls and pi$$ing off my coaches (on purpose). You sound like the other extreme. Find a balance if you can. Too much of just about anything usually not wise. Nothing wrong with focusing on and doing what you love though.