Thinking about going to WWU next year. Does anything know anything about the college life and running there? Thanks.
Thinking about going to WWU next year. Does anything know anything about the college life and running there? Thanks.
Western is a great place to go to college and also to run. Bellingham has many amazing running routes, especially if you like trails (and hilly trails). The program seems to be improving from year to year. They just placed 2nd at the D-II indoor national meet in the distance medley relay a few weeks ago. They don't get the 4a state champion types (usually rely on developing the 4:30/9:50 kids), but they've just started getting more 4:20-4:25 guys the past few years. They do develop many guys pretty well. Their top runner went from 4:24 in HS two years ago to running sub 4:10 in the DMR. Team wise in XC, they just missed nationals the past few years but were 13th in 2003. The coach said that their team was better than the 2003 this past fall but had an off race at regionals.
For the college life it was fine for me. Bellingham isn't a huge city (60,000), but big enough that you can do most of what you'd want. No frats/sororities, but most runners don't go for those anyways and just form their own "frat house" with their buddies.
If you want to be in a big city, WWU wouldn't be for you. If you want the "prestige" of running for a big D-I school, WWU wouldn't be for you. However, if you want a place where you can run on great trails, improve, have fun, keep running in perspective, and get a good education, it can be a great fit.
It's kind of a hippie school
t00l wrote:
It's kind of a hippie school
as are more schools in western Washington or Oregon. Willamette, Oregon, Lewis and Clark, Reed, Evergreen, heck even Washington to a small extent, though it's so big it's hard to categorize it. Even the religious schools like Portland and Seattle U are (I believe) slightly more to the liberal side of the scale.