I don’t want to run in college

My son ran 4:14 and quit last year after high school. He loves the frat life.

feels like you have already figured this out. college track isn't for everyone

be proud of what you have accomplished and move on

this is an obvious anwser for you

If highschool track isn’t making you happy, college won’t. It literally becomes your life. From fall to the beginning of summer your life will revolve around track and school if you go to a P5. Training is a lot more rigid year round, and will often be on a schedule that you can’t stay up later than 9:30/10:00.

Youll also be going from a space where you’re usually one of if not the fastest guys at the meet to just as fast as everyone else. It goes from “if I have a bad day I’ll just end up dropping down to the middle-upper pack instead of competing to win” to “if I have a bad day I might finish DFL out of 100s of participants”

Ive experienced a year of both at this point, and to me what it comes down to is “do I want to have fun and fit in, or grind and stand out?” And I really don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting to have fun in college. I miss it. Letting people down is hard, but it’s your life man. If you don’t wanna do it, don’t. I promise the world cares less than you realize, and I mean that in a comforting way.

I’m in a similar situation where I couldn’t go p5 but some mid majors. Honestly I love running now but realized there’s more to life.

Do what feels right for you. Ten years from now no one will care whether you ran in college, so if you don't want to now, don't do it.

Both of my sons were recruited for soccer. One was absolutely obsessed and stuck with it for all four years, starting about half the games his first two years, injured his third, and played in about every game his senior year. He had no regrets about playing. My younger son played the first year and then decided that there was more to college life and quit. He also had no regrets.

Maybe consider finances. Perhaps you will need money to pay for school but can get a running scholarship that would pay more than working. Even though you are tired of running on a team, you might like it more than early morning custodial work on campus.

If he isn't fast enough for his dream school, he isn't getting a scholarship at a crappy school that is larger than what he would get from working.

Do you have any idea what the average athletic aid package is for a P5 distance runner? Unless you are a highly touted and nationally ranked high school superstar, it ain't much. The OP would probably make more cash at a campus work/study gig or weekend shifts at a fast food joint when all is said and done.

You type like you’re in elementary school. I wouldn’t want to go to college either. You’ll flunk out. The pride and future of America on full display here.

How is Rutgers not a good school? Rutgers engineering is outstanding for one.

I think they were referring entirely to their distance program.

I was a state champion in the large school division in my homestate. However, unheralded on the regional and national scenes.

I put in a huge summer of miles and though I was guaranteed a roster spot I backed that guarantee up for the team trials (6k). I was under 19 minutes which translated to sub 25 8ks.

I went to a P5 school out of state. Meanwhile, my friends went to rhe flagship school in state.

I remember seeing the photographs circulating of them, pre gaming, going to Football games and taking in the full experience. I felt like I was missing out.

Unlike most freshman, I was leaving every Friday night to board a van, plane or bus. I learned more about the Stanford and Notre Dame campuses early that fall than my own.

I was also getting irritated with mandatory "study tables". I never needed to be babysat and this extra requirement made me sit in this room, physically trashed at times and forced an extra hike across campus at night. Totally infuriating. Most of the time I had issues starting and stopping in this environment.

Then there was the Homecoming Football Game. The cross country teams were slated to be announced at half time. I had three upcoming college exams, my first round as a student. You'd think I was honored and delighted for the opportunity. I wasnt. We got there at 10am and didnt leave until 3:30PM after the game. I was so, so annoyed the entire time, feeling my study time get taken away by the minute. I was exhausted by the time I got home.

I didnt fail my tests or anything but felt I couldve performed much better. I felt like people in the track/cc program were stealing my time (not a good feeling) and commiting me to more time than I was willing to commit.

There was another similar incident, early December of my freshman year, when the head track coach forced the entire team into a mandatory volunteering session, 10AM to 5PM on a Saturday. Again, I was exhausted trying to fit it all in.

I stuck around for sophomore year and despite my irritability issues, managed my position in the team and academically. I found a balance. But was it a good balance? Was it the right balance?

I had a change of heart in July before my junior year when it was announced we were having our annual camp. I had a decent job in the summer. I had the choice between earning another $500/wk in that 10 day span or forego it. That $500/wk then is probably about $900/wk now.

When people asked why I quit, i said it was due to the extra commitments like the ones I just listed. It drained me. I transferred to my instate flagship school and had a memorable fall reunited with my HS friends. On Saturday's I would get coffee, breakfast and hit up the library. My grades improved to a level I was comfortable with. My time to socialize and be a normal student was rewarding. I never felt my time was being stolen by busy work coaches with their own agenda. I went to football and basketball games. I slept in. I have some regrets like what if I stuck around and picked up an all conference / all america. But not many and not enough to offset where I am now.

When people ask about my life and I share this decision making process, I refer to it as me deciding to "grow up".

Where did you go to school, ar$ehole?

I don't get why you're looking for advice. Seems pretty simple. If you don't want to run in college, don't. Seriously, why would you? And when people ask where you're running next year tell them that you aren't.

I was in this situation exactly 20 years ago. I chose not to run in college. I thought it would take up too much time. I wanted to have freedom to study and 'live the college experience.'

This is not an understatement, I have regretted the decision ever since.

I regretted it the following year after I lost a bunch of fitness and no longer could walk on to my D1 team.

You only get one chance to run in college. You can't look back at 25 or 30 and say, yea I'm finally ready to join my college team. The opportunity has passed.

If you enjoy running/competing even in the slightest amount, I encourage you to join the team and see what develops. When you're 30 and feel like running 5ks/marathons/ultra marathons, you will wish you had those college miles in your legs, the college discipline in your head.

This is the correct answer. If you are a "highly touted" athlete you might be getting a 50% scholarship. That might make it worth it. Just think of it as a job. Better than a lot of other campus jobs that my non athlete friends had.

In my coaching career, The worst athletes to have on your roster are the ones who are running simply for the scholarship. Typically they are not committed and do the absolute minimum just to keep their scholarship. It is almost impossible to motivate them. Furthermore, they can drag others down as well. Most cases it is a four year nightmare for the coach. Do your coach a favor and not run.