Grades, Track and Partying: Can I conquer all three?

I appreciate all of the advice, encouragement, criticism, warning and other forms of feedback.To those of you that gave me honest, constructive, and respectful responses, even if they weren' positive.. I thank you sincerely. The vast majority of posts on this thread were helpful.

To the guy that said:

"You sound like an irresponsible alcoholic.

Your parents must be so proud that they raised you so well.

Do they have money or a business you can inherit?

I wouldn't want you on my team.

I wouldn't want you at my school.

I wouldn't want you at my place of business.

I wouldn't want you in my neighborhood.

Forget a future in a cushy basement,

your future is in a van down by the river."

One, you obviously don't understand what it means to be an irresponsible alcoholic. Two, I've given more to my current school and team than you would ever know and one day I'll do the same for my place of business and community.

I run at a university that is also known for the big party scene. You can accomplish all three, but never all three at the same time. If you study hard year round, and keep partying to an absolute minimum during season then you'll do fine. If you're going out multiple times a week during season you'll probably run poorly, and probably piss of your coach and teammates. Almost all the people who party in season end up quitting, or getting kicked off the team. Save the raging for the off seasons.

forthelove of running--you are a self-indulgent dicktard. gofukyerself.

I'm still lost....how do you excel at partying? I've met tons of runners who only party in the off-season, or months away from races and are really fun and have a great time. more fun than the losers who party twice a week all year.

It comes down to wether you can live with yourself knowing you haven't truly tried to be the best you can be at running. If you think that sounds corny, good for you, have fun.

It is ignorant for anyone on this blog to tell you yes or no. This question which I'm sure is a huge question for many runners going to the next level is unique to the university that you choose. I truly believe that if you go to school and find a team that you love to train with and going to practice everyday is something you look forward to it is possible. If your lucky the social aspect and the track aspect will merge somewhat which will make it seem more like 2 things as opposed to three. That being said if you get to school and your team does not provide that social part and you do not truly enjoy going to practice everyday you will not be able to. We all know that track is a sport you need to love doing otherwise it wont work. /

Point: this desicion is unique to where you go and you must decide on your own, thats part of college.