University club running at an old grad student

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3 years ago 06/21/2022 1:19pm EDT

Anyone have experience running for a university club team as an old (30+) grad student? I used up 4 years of eligibility as a D3 runner when I was in undergrad, so I don’t think I could represent at club nationals, but I’m in good enough shape that I could be top-7 on my grad school’s squad in regular season meets based on prior year results.

what was it like for you either as someone in my position or a club runner who had someone like me as a teammate?

PRs:

1:58

4:06

15:25

26:10 xc

current age: 35

currently in 18:00/30:00 5k/8k shape. Feel like I could get down to 27-something in 3-4 months.

I didn't realize that eligibility was reuired for club teams. I guess it makes sense so that fast grad students don't compete.

I wonder if anyone knows where the OP’s username is from.

3 years ago 06/21/2022 2:12pm EDT

re: sbeefyk2

I was a NIRCA undergrad on a club with a few grad students ranging in age from 23 to 30+. It's not a problem as not as you're not weird about it. Runners of all ages will pretty much always appreciate training partners of comparable ability. Running in club meets is totally fine. Don't go to parties. Expect that the undergrads will be slightly fascinated by you and weirdly interested in your personal life. Don't try to be their coach.

As best I can tell from the NIRCA Club Leader Guide, you're eligible for competition as long as you're a full-time student and not currently training with the varsity team, even if you are a former varsity athlete.

3 years ago 06/21/2022 2:27pm EDT

re: washed up former nirca runner

washed up former nirca runner wrote:
I was a NIRCA undergrad on a club with a few grad students ranging in age from 23 to 30+. It's not a problem as not as you're not weird about it. Runners of all ages will pretty much always appreciate training partners of comparable ability. Running in club meets is totally fine. Don't go to parties. Expect that the undergrads will be slightly fascinated by you and weirdly interested in your personal life. Don't try to be their coach.
As best I can tell from the NIRCA Club Leader Guide, you're eligible for competition as long as you're a full-time student and not currently training with the varsity team, even if you are a former varsity athlete.

Good to know! My partying days are behind me. I’ve got a wife and three kids. I just want one more swan song of running and to get a kit to hang in my office. I won’t try to be their coach, but I will certainly ramble on and on about how much better the music, movies and culture of my time were better than what they have now.

thanks for the insight!

I'd lose the "old guy" attitude if I were you. You're not really that old.

Dusty old bones full of green dust wrote:
washed up former nirca runner wrote:
I was a NIRCA undergrad on a club with a few grad students ranging in age from 23 to 30+. It's not a problem as not as you're not weird about it. Runners of all ages will pretty much always appreciate training partners of comparable ability. Running in club meets is totally fine. Don't go to parties. Expect that the undergrads will be slightly fascinated by you and weirdly interested in your personal life. Don't try to be their coach.
As best I can tell from the NIRCA Club Leader Guide, you're eligible for competition as long as you're a full-time student and not currently training with the varsity team, even if you are a former varsity athlete.
Good to know! My partying days are behind me. I’ve got a wife and three kids. I just want one more swan song of running and to get a kit to hang in my office. I won’t try to be their coach, but I will certainly ramble on and on about how much better the music, movies and culture of my time were better than what they have now.
thanks for the insight!

Now I’m bummed that this isn’t also a last dance to grab some undergrad charmin.

Ya you can do it and probably will have some fun. One thing to keep in mind is the rest of the guys and gals will be early 20s/late teens with maybe a mid 20s grad student or two.

Dusty old bones full of green dust wrote:
washed up former nirca runner wrote:
I was a NIRCA undergrad on a club with a few grad students ranging in age from 23 to 30+. It's not a problem as not as you're not weird about it. Runners of all ages will pretty much always appreciate training partners of comparable ability. Running in club meets is totally fine. Don't go to parties. Expect that the undergrads will be slightly fascinated by you and weirdly interested in your personal life. Don't try to be their coach.
As best I can tell from the NIRCA Club Leader Guide, you're eligible for competition as long as you're a full-time student and not currently training with the varsity team, even if you are a former varsity athlete.
Good to know! My partying days are behind me. I’ve got a wife and three kids. I just want one more swan song of running and to get a kit to hang in my office. I won’t try to be their coach, but I will certainly ramble on and on about how much better the music, movies and culture of my time were better than what they have now.
thanks for the insight!

We had some 30+ and even a 40+ guy on our NIRCA squad when I was in college. You may feel “out of place” being around all the college kids but I’d be really surprised if you got cold shouldered for being “older”. We all got along fine and the club running environment was extremely inviting, everyone is there because they want to be there & doing it purely out of enjoyment with people who share the hobby. Club running is a zero-stress environment.

Dusty old bones full of green dust wrote:
washed up former nirca runner wrote:
I was a NIRCA undergrad on a club with a few grad students ranging in age from 23 to 30+. It's not a problem as not as you're not weird about it. Runners of all ages will pretty much always appreciate training partners of comparable ability. Running in club meets is totally fine. Don't go to parties. Expect that the undergrads will be slightly fascinated by you and weirdly interested in your personal life. Don't try to be their coach.
As best I can tell from the NIRCA Club Leader Guide, you're eligible for competition as long as you're a full-time student and not currently training with the varsity team, even if you are a former varsity athlete.
Good to know! My partying days are behind me. I’ve got a wife and three kids. I just want one more swan song of running and to get a kit to hang in my office. I won’t try to be their coach, but I will certainly ramble on and on about how much better the music, movies and culture of my time were better than what they have now.
thanks for the insight!

Disagree, get an undergrad girlfriend on the side!

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