I DO NOT GET ALONG WITH MY TEAM

uhhh if you dont care about the team because they suck, then why are you even on it. run by yourself. also, if they suck so bad, and you're not top 7, you must blow ass. i dont think you'll be "blazing" any fast times. plus you sound like an asshole we have on our team. just accept them for who they are. runners are a different breed than lacrosse players. they are probably trying to accept you as one of them but youre blocking. get over yourself and commit or go home.

I think if you make some effort (eating with them a couple times, attending some of the larger team outings) it would prevent further issues, and you might even find to enjoy it. I understand your point though, and don't think you're being too unreasonable.

I am (was) in the same situation as you. I'm not a big fan of the kids on the team, some are ok, others are complete losers. They really don't like associating with other kids not on the team, and they talk about running most of the time. I also prefer having a wide scope of friends, but they seem to frown on non-interteam communication.

It's really no big deal, they don't say much about it, even though its obvious they aren't fans of my lifestyle. But I'm running well, top 3 for this xc season, so they can't complain. Our team is pretty good, so I have fun doing workouts/going to races. I still hang out with them sometimes on weekends, and do dinners with them at times. So if you go out and drink or whatever (I dont know if your team does or not) stop by their dorm room/apartment, whatever, and hang out a little bit. At least pretend you somewhat care about the team, it will make things a little easier.

you a nescac guy?

good luck

People run for different reasons. Not everyone runs to make friends, unfortunately.

However, I think if you chose to eat with the team occasionally(instead of blowing them off altogether) I think that would solve most of your problems.

I didn't hang out with the rest of my college team either. We had different circles of friends and were different people etc. We all cheered for each other at races and practice, but didn't hang out otherwise. My teammates didn't get to upset about it, the fact that your teammates are upset about it says more about them than it does about you. Keep running with them and force one of them out of the top 7

unless your team is a bunch of swedes throwin elbows in practice, you should probably hang out (read: drink) with them.

I played Tennis in college, another individual "team" sport. I didn't like the guys on the team at all...problem was, they liked me.

In the end, I had to fake it. I called them my "tennis friends."

A few meals a week won't hurt you.

Cue this kid's teammates getting on this thread in 3.... 2... 1....

(sometimes its better just to figure this shit out yourself bro)

Give it time.

Reminds me of when I was on the wrestling team & all my teammates were redneck cowboys. I just did my own thing, listened to tunes all day at the meets and on the bus rides. But, as the season went on the struggles and experiences we went through caused us to gell. That's the cool thing about sports, it causes people to gel that normally w/o sports wouldn't. Like the above poster said, give it time.

please don't listen to "atown." Do your thing and don't let the other guys bother you. I run on a d3 team that acts pretty exclusive at times (I'll admit it's fun after receiving the complete opposite treatment in high school), but honestly I'm a little disappointed sometimes that we look down on "randoms" and other non-runers in the way we do. It's great that you're branching out, and it's your teammates' loss if they can't get over that. Don't quit - it sounds like you already have your stuff figured out. I think you've already answered your own question.

PS

Like the above two said, give it time, they might surprise you. In the meantime, force them to accept you by knocking one of them off varsity

I have the same problem. I figure I do cross country because I want to run, not be part of a team. The rest of my team are a bunch of groupies that want to all be friends. I'm fine with that as long as they don't bother me about it and just let me run.

Start sleeping with someone on the girls team.

obviously, from what you say it's not working for you. so, logic would dictate that you try to change. of all the teams i've coached in 33 years, my most sucessful teams were "together" guys. together teams find means to be successful in ways selfish, "me first" athletes never understand. if you choose to be a part of a team, then you accept the responsiblity of the chemistry of that team: "welcome to our team, this is how we do things." if you don't agree, then do them and yourself a favor, leave and don't waste each other's time.

atown is the only response i disagree with, and its clear hes a loser. yes i am a nescac guy. my times arent "blazing" by d1 standards, but by the end of the season i will easily be top 7. for a 5'11 175lb former lax player, i think a two mile time trial the other day in 9:41 is pretty good. not a world beater, but i love a challenge, and ill give it to you life long runners, this shit is hard. lacrosse was hard to, but this is a different kind of tough, and i like it.

to atown: the team sucks, but im on it because i feel like im receiving some good coaching, some people to pace myself with in workouts, and i get to run in races. i dont particularly care if im 15th, 7th, or 1st on my team. i just like competition at the races and pushing myself. im bummed i cant play my first sport anymore, but ive fallen in love with this (didnt really care for it much in hs).

i actually did hook up with the chicks captain last year, shes gone though. ive got kind of a bad reputation on the girls team cause i ditched her a little, but she was super clingy and not all that hot. anyway, ill give them a few more dinners, but i know they dont like me as much as i dont like them. at dinner with them (the few times ive gone) its usually silent. theyre social amongst themselves, but not with me, though this really doesnt bother me, im usually just trying to get the hell out of there.

either way, im shocked at the multitude of pleasant responses and i thank all of you who took the time to read this thread. if you ever think those dudes playing football, lax, baseball dont respect the xc team, you may be right about some of them, but any of those kids that are worth a damn and have a good head on their shoulders know how tough it is to be competitive and dedicated to any sport, regardless of what it is.

9:41 and you are not in the top 7 of a team who will go to nationlas your region must be very strong. A D3 team I was would not have put 7 guys under 9:40 this early in the season and we managed to make it to nationals in a strong region. Good luck with your season hopefully things will smooth out as time moves on.

I slow down a lot over 8k.

you are a fruit cake