Should the NCAA introduce a marathon championship like the NAIA champs?

Both the NAIA & NJCAA used to hold the marathon back years ago. Not sure about the NAIA, but the NJCAA has replaced it with a half marathon

Half marathon, yes. Full 'thon, no.

NO!

I think the 30k would be an excellent test of endurance for a college age athlete who is interested in competing in marathons. Just short enough that nutrition wouldn't be a requirement of completing the race. (not that you can't run a marathon without nutrition)

I think they should have something like that, or even a road championship series of 5K, 10K, 1/2. I went to a JuCo my first two years and they had several guys in the years before I got there that ran the JuCo Marathon Champs. Several ran in the mid 2:20's I think. It was pretty cool. I think a 1/2 marathon champs for NCAA D1 and D2 and D3 would be cool; combine all three divisions so you have good numbers.

a little over 18.6 miles......... wrote:

I think the 30k would be an excellent test of endurance for a college age athlete who is interested in competing in marathons. Just short enough that nutrition wouldn't be a requirement of completing the race. (not that you can't run a marathon without nutrition)

I like the idea of more 30 kilometer races in general in America. US elite runners have gotten the half marathon down. Now they just need a baby step before moving up to the full marathon. Sub 90 minute range for 30 kilometres should give elites a good test /confidence to go out in a marathon at 3 minute kilometer pace. But our elites now hit 30 kilometres in the marathon around 92 minutes or so. This is why we don't have more elites going under 2:10. It is a mental barrier due to Americans running by miles as opposed to kilometer splits.

5 minute pace for the marathon will work out to about 2:11

3 minute kilometer pace for the marathon will work out to about 2:06

Surprise, most of US elite marathoners run about 2:11-13 range for the marathon. Now in Japan, 2:07-2:09 range is common for Japanese marathon runners to hit.

I've always thought D2 should do this. They are constantly trying to differentiate themselves from D1 and D3. IDK what kind of qualifying standards they should have. 2:40 and 1:16 or something for men so you can have a decent sized field as not all guys that can qualify are going to want to run it.

Have one single college marathon race.

No qualifying standards. Anyone can enter that is currently enrolled full time in any American college.

Let the schools provide a uniform.

NCAA track athletes can run with their coach’s permission.

But do not make it an NCAA event.

What time of year would this race be run?

I don’t see any top NCAA runners participating but don’t schedule it to conflict with anything that would prevent them from doing it.

How about early January in a southern state?

I like the idea of 30K or even 20 miles. Basically, you get to the wall at 20 miles and thats where the race ends. You don't have to smash yourself doing the last 6.2 miles which is where the real damage happens. Save that for after college since they are doing so many other races as well between XC and Track.

Yes. Also get rid of the 10,000m on the track, replace with the 3000m. Add a 4x800m.

BeenThereDoneThat wrote:

I think they should have something like that, or even a road championship series of 5K, 10K, 1/2. I went to a JuCo my first two years and they had several guys in the years before I got there that ran the JuCo Marathon Champs. Several ran in the mid 2:20's I think. It was pretty cool. I think a 1/2 marathon champs for NCAA D1 and D2 and D3 would be cool; combine all three divisions so you have good numbers.

Yea plug it in during the indoor season. Have it coincide with a race like Houston that's known to be a fast course. For the distance runners coming off of XC, a winter half would be a great transition to running the 10k in the spring. You see a lot of pros hit Houston during their base building phase and then racing on the track throughout the spring and summer.

I think it would help with the development of distance running but it sort of ruins the chance for an athlete to "debut" and collect an appearance fee from a race. This isn't a huge population we're talking about though.

I say no, it wouldn't fit well at all with scheduling and other NCAA Outdoor Track events. It'd be a very watered-down event with little competition.

The 'thon is a specialty event. It's also a demanding event which requires a months-long buildup and then rest period. I doubt any college coach would be excited about carrying athletes for a SINGLE, NON-SCORING event. They want athletes who can run cross country, indoor and outdoor track, not a single race.

Star wrote:

Have one single college marathon race.

No qualifying standards. Anyone can enter that is currently enrolled full time in any American college.

Let the schools provide a uniform.

NCAA track athletes can run with their coach’s permission.

But do not make it an NCAA event.

What time of year would this race be run?

I don’t see any top NCAA runners participating but don’t schedule it to conflict with anything that would prevent them from doing it.

How about early January in a southern state?

I like this idea. I don't what month would be best though. I think with younger African running longer distances at an early age, a marathon college championship isn't such a bad idea to test talent for some if they want to do it. I agree that not making it an NCAA event might be for the best.

If there was a Collegiate Half-Marathon Championship the first week in December right after all of the various division xc championships were over then it would be one heck of a race with tremendous depth. It could be open to anyone who is an enrolled as a full-time student under the age of 25. The training for 10k xc isn't really much different than a half-marathon. A half-marathon is a great distance for college-aged runners to compete, the recovery is minimal and it would an exciting race that would be a good spring board for many athletes post-college. Also you could have a huge field on the roads. Maybe have some qualifying standards for the men equal to sub 1:11:00 and the women sub 1:18. This is actually a big deal in Japan.

Men:

5k Sub 15:30

10k Sub 32:15

1/2 marathon Sub 1:11:00

*Maybe some kind of xc wildcard entry like being a national qualifier since time isn't a factor in xc.

No

No NCAA coach will want their athletes to do the marathon because it will essentially eliminate one of their college seasons other than that race. You cant have a marathon in conference champs, and NCAA championships too close together. And no athlete training for the thon will be at their peak for track races. Were talking 20 year old kids. Not seasoned guys like Rupp with years of training who can be top 10 in the Olympic 10k and a week later medal at the marathon.

It really isn't feasible with the rest of the college program and most Americans aren't going to have the base of miles at that age to perform well.

Just a half marathon and have it at the end of indoor. It would be the perfect base training for outdoor.

I believe overtime this would help the U.S. to get better in the longer distances.

Collegiate running in general is a waste of time and development. Skip it altogether and run real races.