Should I stick to basketball or stick to running?

Play a ball-and-stick sport.

I'm not as good as you at running, but I'm in the same situation. I'm a freshman and going into my sophomore year. The football coaches have guaranteed me a spot on the lineup, but I literally plan to quit tomorrow. You have to do crazy stuff to play college basketball. A 10:45 3200m guy can run in college. Train harder and run.

Aren't they in different seasons? Why can't you do both?

When you focus on another sport, you don't get in the same running. That's why. The football coaches make us lift and knock the crap out of each other. When I'm stuck doing that, I'm losing what I've gained in running.

ppd wrote:

Aren't they in different seasons? Why can't you do both?

Well If I was trying to be just a recreational ball player and settle for the JV bench and mediocre running yea I'd just keep doing both. But I'm trying to get a college education because my parents surely aren't paying for that.

Point is basketball takes at least 3 hours a day the whole year of demanding training to really improve but then leaves me to tired to improve on my running which also demands commitment and consistency in order to really compete. And I'm also getting to the age where everyone on the court is getting stronger and putting on weight which is not complimentary to running

I hope you will pick running and as time moves update your progress. I like to compare my times to others and I would like to hear about the training of another guy my age.

Ballin & Runnin wrote:

[quote]ppd wrote:

Aren't they in dif recreational ball player and settle for the JV bench and mediocre running yea I'd just keep doing both. But I'm trying to get a college education because my parents surely aren't paying for that.

Point is basketball takes at least 3 hours a day the whole year of demanding training to really improve but then leaves me to tired to improve on my running which also demands commitment and consistency in order to really compete. And I'm also getting to the age where everyone on the court is getting stronger and putting on weight which is not complimentary to running

These are all issues that you have made up in your head. You can be good at both if you want to be. Others have done far more difficult athletic feats.

These are all issues that you have made up in your head. You can be good at both if you want to be. Others have done far more difficult athletic feats.[/quote]

Maybe you can be good at both, but the more focus you put into one the better you will be.

Stick with baseball as long as you can, stay in strong running shape by doing low mileage and speedwork otuside of practice. Run XC in the fall. Switch to running later. It's easier to go from baseball to running than vice versa, and the scholarship potential is bigger for baseball, so just enjoy baseball until you know you're clearly better at running.

I don't play baseball...

Trackjacket wrote:

Maybe you can be good at both, but the more focus you put into one the better you will be.

Nope, there's a lot of time in a day

This is the best piece of advice I can give you: don't take advice from other people and make your own decision, weighing everything up.

I was forced to make a decision like this as well...progression in the mile was Fresh: 4:30 soph: 4:23 Junior: 4:16 Senior: 4:14. I am 6' 4'' and was in a similar spot as far as playing varsity basketball and being put under pressure by coaches. I went to a big school, 2000+ students so spots on varsity teams were tough to keep, and our teams were competitive. Long story short, I gave up basketball, a sport I had played since I was 5. I did win an individual state championship in track, and was given a partial scholarship to an extremely solid Division I XC/Mid D program. I ran at conference championships and our XC team qualified for NCAA's. At the end of the my career I left with a PR of 3:50 in the 1500. My advice: ENJOY HIGHSCHOOL SPORTS! I still to this day regret giving up playing basketball. It is a terrible feeling sitting in the stands at a varsity basketball game, watching your ex-teammates win a big game, and not being able to enjoy the experience with them. If you quit basketball, just know that you will likely never get an opportunity to play on a stage like you are playing now! Once you quit, ITS OVER, and you will never get the feeling of running out onto the gym floor in front of 1000 of your classmates ever again. I would look to enjoy high school sports as much as possible. Bottom line: FOCUS ON SCHOOL, to a point where you can get into college for academics, and enjoy sports! If I could do it over...I would have finished my basketabll career.

Ballin & Runnin wrote:

Here's where I'm at

Running: 1600: 4:48 3200: 10:37

Basketball: I'm 6'2 would've played varsity but I broke my wrist in try outs.

This is going to sound more critical than I want it to, but the 1600/3200 times you listed are more mediocre than decent. That said, you disclosed mediocre training, so the results are to be expected.

We would have to know exactly what "mediocre" training consists of before determing your potential as a runner, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say that you do in fact have potential.

Conversely, being a 6'2" basketball player is going to get you absolutely nowhere on the college level. Basketball players these days are not just big, they are "big on big"...and fast...and extremely athletic, etc. A 6'2" guy with blazing speed, big hops, exemplary defensive skills, and deadeye long-range shooting ability might -- repeat MIGHT -- get some love from a mid major school. But that would be the longest of long shots (no pun intended).

Stick with running and see if you can get a half-ride.

You can do both without sacrificing either - even complementing each other. I did both and really enjoyed both. The basketball season ends around Feb or April when the track season gets going. A few times I would run cross-country in the morning and have a basketball game later in the day (on Saturdays). My coach allowed me to drive myself instead of taking the bus. I found playing hours of basketball each day really increased my sprinting speed. It also helped drastically my leaping ability. In addition to the 800/1600/3200 I long jumped and high jumped. I later played D1 basketball and x-country and track in college.

I say go for basketball and run as a hobby when it feels right then when you are out of school take up running more serious as a road racing hobby?

Running seems like something you can do for many more years than basketball. Go for basketball while you're still hot.

You're too tall to be a good runner. Stick with hoops.

Thanks for all the responses, as far as my training; I ran those times without really going over 20-30 miles a week and have been inconsistent with taking a weekend off for an aau basketball tournament or a full week off when a big tournament was coming up.

Go for basketball. I was in the same situation as you except maybe a little faster. I chose to run and ended up all-state twice but never enjoyed it half as much as I did when I played basketball.