I'm going to a college that has very few people on the cross country team and, even as a high schooler, I am already three minutes faster in the 5k than any of them. I'm not looking to be as fast as the D1 runners or anything, but I'd still like to improve considerably. Just how important is good coaching? Do you think I can improve by a decent amount on my own?
From your first sentence I assume you’ve already chosen this college? In that case, consider this, would you me training on your own if you didn’t run for the team? If so, then you might as well give them a shot. If it is a nice coach and a good group of guys (with at least a reasonably competitive mindset) then regardless of their times, you will have fun.
If not, then there is no shame in leaving the team after a season. Give yourself the option to explore other activities, clubs, etc.
Either way, do not waste time sticking with something because you think you’re supposed to do it.
If this college is perfect for you academically or you get great financial assistance then stay. Otherwise go to a different college. There are many D3 and NAIA colleges with strong running programs. D3 schools also tend to be very good academically.
Do you want to be "the man" in a crappy program, or just another guy in a really good program, or somewhere in between.
(There is no wrong answer)
I guess I wouldn't really mind. As long as I'm not getting slower.
I did this when I was your age, although the circumstances were slightly different: men's team had finished in the top 20, 2 years in a row in xc (my jr and senior year of HS) then only could field 2-3 guys by my freshman year. The coach on my visit told me I wasn't fast enough to make the team, I wanted to attend the university anyway, and trained really hard. It was 6+ months of hard work once I was there, and zero attention from the coach, mixed with enthusiasm from a few people on the men's and women's team. 3 years later I earned all American honors, competed in a few national championships and had 3/4 athletic scholarship. The university was going to cut the men's program, but since I was doing well, they kept it. Today several sports are thriving in D2.
You have the right attitude. There's great advice posted on this thread already and I wanted to share my story to encourage you. Have fun man, small college athletics can be a great experience.
Being 3 minutes faster than the fastest guy on even a terrible college team is not possible.
It is NAIA.
mg1228 wrote:
It is NAIA.
Then that is totally possible. Been there, done that....
Do what makes you happy. I ended up at an NAIA school because I knew the coach and he ran a similar program to my HS program. Aaaaaaaand I drank myself out of my first college (Div 1 school)!!!! I got faster. That's all that mattered. We sent a female to nationals. I missed going on the men's side by about 15s.
Alan
I’m a D2 female runner. Our coach explicitly told us not to visit LetsRun forums.
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