Can i train with a college team?

The rule gets broken a lot, but there is an NCAA rule that post collegiate runners are not allowed to train with a collegiate team. The way teams get around it is by officially listing you as a volunteer coach. Each school is only allowed a certain number of volunteer coaches. With those times I am sure a coach would love to have you as a volunteer coach and train with his or her team.

Those pr's are not great for a 24yr old. Only the real top colleges allow post collegiate runners to train with the team. One's like Iona, Wisconsin and Arkansas.

Only team members are allowed to train with the team, by NCAA rules.

Volunteer coaches can train with the team. Alumni are allowed to train once in a great while with the team, but not on a regular basis. At least, by NCAA rules.

Some coaches pay attention to the rules more than others.

Find a college that will let you be a volunteer coach, perhaps letting them know up front that you'd like to run workouts with the team and perhaps race unattached. Make sure you like the coach's training plans, because you might find yourself doing the same workouts as the team. Just remember that the coach is happy to have you around because you are helping him run the team. Sometimes you might have to pace people (slower than you) who don't have training partners, or something like that. You have to fit your plans to meet with the coach's expectations, or you're going to be more of a nuisance than a help. If you don't like the situation, you're a volunteer and can leave mid-season. Also, a good division 3 school will have sub-15 5k runners and will likely be a more relaxed training environment, so don't limit yourself.

One more thing (from my experience): know that your interaction with the people on the team will necessarily be different than when you were in school. You can make friends with them, but hanging out with them apart from practice is not a good idea.

[quote]ginatina wrote:

Those pr's are not great for a 24yr old. [quote]

This board is truly unbelievable sometimes.

Find a competitive club somewhere, especially if you are willing to relocate. They are few and far between but it will allow you a lot more flexibility and still have some great training partners.

ginatina wrote:

Those pr's are not great for a 24yr old. Only the real top colleges allow post collegiate runners to train with the team. One's like Iona, Wisconsin and Arkansas.

You are

a) wrong.

b) an idiot.

c) both a and b.

ginatina wrote:

Those pr's are not great for a 24yr old. Only the real top colleges allow post collegiate runners to train with the team. One's like Iona, Wisconsin and Arkansas.

No, those PRs are only faster than 99.9% of the population could run and most probably WAY faster than you have run or will EVER run!

depressed ex college runner wrote:

I ran at a crap college and had too do all my training by myself. prs are 14.31 and 31.35. Im now 24 and finished college 2years. I want to go and live at some big running college and pay my rent by working at some part time job. I just want to run for a year. Is this possible to train with a college team? Or am i better off trying to find a decent running club?

This might be a viable alternative for you....

Move to Track Town USA

Become a graduate student at the University of Oregon

Join the UO Running Club coached by Tom Heinonen, a member of the US Track and Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame.

Compete in selected meets, including at Hayward Field ( Oregon Preview, Oregon Twilight)

The recent Club record is 14:52 for 5K and 31:22 for 10K, so you should be able to find some compatible teammates.

Join a team of road runners, race a lot --- even if some are done as workouts, have a routine where you do the same type of runs on the same days for the entire year. Example: Sunday long run, Tuesday intervals, Thursday tempo run. The other 4 days easy. Run solo or with club mates.

Volume, consistency equal huge improvement. Don't wish you were in a different situation, make the most of the one you are in.

Can you practice with duke basketball because you are frustrated with your college basketball career?

Alabama football?

Texas baseball?

Why would you think you could just show up and train with a college team?

Even people within our sport make a mockery of our sport.

,............ wrote:

Can you practice with duke basketball because you are frustrated with your college basketball career?

Alabama football?

Texas baseball?

Why would you think you could just show up and train with a college team?

Even people within our sport make a mockery of our sport.

Maybe you could've 11 years ago, back when they came down hard on 'ginatina.'