Should I try to keep training at a summer camp where running is banned?

I haven't been to many camps besides the same one every year, but some of the surfaces are fairly loose, like fine gravel roads, so that's probably why they banned running. I could avoid those surfaces pretty easily though.

Also, the reason I'm in scouts while also in high school is to get Eagle and put it on my resume, which I'm assuming whoever posted about that can't do. Scouts is not the best thing to do but at least I'll have something to show for it.

Why don't you just talk to your scout leader and explain that you would like some time to run. How hard is that? Maybe you can get some others to run with you. If not, just stay active and pick up when you are finished at camp.

Talk to the scout master and explain the situation. If he says "no" then follow their rules. Ten days ain't the end of the world.

Me? I hate rules and the scouts have a slew of them. My father was an Eagle Scout. I dropped out after a year.

Too many rules.

I'm not really into scouts after the whole ¨Kill the Gays¨ bill.

Oh wait, that's Uganda. I'm not really into Uganda.

OP wrote:

[quote]Trollus Maximus wrote:

I'm so close to eagle right now that that would be really dumb.

Golden or Bald?

If you're doing it just for the resume, then quit. If you actually enjoy it, then do it, but if not, let it go and follow what you love.

You'll be fine doing it before the camp starts up in the morning. I would usually run in the morning at scout camp before everybody else is up and none of the camp staff had a problem with it. They just don't want a bunch of 12-13 year olds running around during the day and falling and getting hurt. A lot more paperwork for them.

notascoutmaster wrote:

You'll be fine doing it before the camp starts up in the morning. I would usually run in the morning at scout camp before everybody else is up and none of the camp staff had a problem with it. They just don't want a bunch of 12-13 year olds running around during the day and falling and getting hurt. A lot more paperwork for them.

I agree with this guy. If somebody complains, tell them that you are either

1) working on Personal Fitness Merit Badge, or

2) if you already have it, tell them you learned so much getting it that you need to continue.

I bet you won't have a problem, and that you'll see some adult leaders out early in the morning, getting in their workout.

Eagle Scout

went to camp every summer including going into my senior year. never ran at camp. never regretted it. you dont lose much in a few days. only reason to worry about not running for a few days in the summer in high school is if you are going to be a nationally ranked runner and then you should probably quit scouts.

Just tell your leader and the camp director, assuming you aren't going to philmont or the Florida sea base there should be places to run. They will probably tell you to stay in camp boundaries which is reasonable.

My troop encouraged my running. Every once in a while one of the camp workers would tell me to stop running but that's when you just say back "sorry but I can't do that"

The best way to avoid getting told to stop is to look like your serious, put your split shorts on and run at a good pace for you. Also if you can make your running accomplishments sound good, tell them to people who question you.

When I see that someone was an eagle scout on their resume, BOOM!, instant hire.

Balian wrote:

Talk to the scout master and explain the situation. If he says "no" then follow their rules. Ten days ain't the end of the world.

Me? I hate rules and the scouts have a slew of them. My father was an Eagle Scout. I dropped out after a year.

Too many rules.

Talk to the scoutmaster? Sure. Mine is the worst I have ever seen and if you talk to him at all he will usually shoot you down. Besides, if I even brought up the topic of running at camp with him he would probably put me on probation or something to make sure I didn't try to train.

You are right about the rules though. I can tolerate reasonable ones that can be justified, but scouts has many that make no sense and are there just to provide one more way for adults to run the whole show.

Scouts don't understand the concept of completing a task because it needs to be done. They only do things if they will be rewarded with a merit badge. Freakin millenials right?

Oh wait the scouts have been doing this since the boomer days and before.

Boomers suck

Positive Contribution wrote:

Scouts don't understand the concept of completing a task because it needs to be done. They only do things if they will be rewarded with a merit badge.

Are you kidding? Merit badges are no reward at all. They are so easy to get that they are basically handouts in most cases. The badges teach people that 1. Tasks need to be done not because they need to but because someone wants you to and 2. The point of any task is to get it done with as little effort and attention to detail as possible.

I'm a millenial and I can say this is pretty much the attitude of most other millenials. Scouts could be trying to rectify this but they just reinforce it.

Talk to your scoutmaster and the camp director. Say you are in the middle of training and need to run. I made it through scout camps and continued running. One year, the camp director said not to worry, stay in camp and ignore anyone who says to stop running. If you can get your scoutmaster on your side, it helps. Also, if you do run at camp, dress like a runner. People will just say, "Oh, he's a runner," and leave it at that.

I've had two Boy Scout/runner sons so have dealt with this challenge during summer camp the last 6 years. In my kids' case, they were not supposed to do anything alone. That is the camp rule for safety reasons. My boys either ran with another scout if there was another runner at camp, or else I drove to the camp and ran with them. We could do this because camp is less than an hour drive.

I also agree with the suggestion to do high volume of short reps, preferably on a hill as a way to maintain fitness. If you can find a suitable place to do this and not be alone. If you structure your training right you could have several higher volume weeks heading into camp so the reduced work that week can allow you to recover. Then ramp back up after camp.

Chill out, forget about running for two weeks and enjoy the camp. If you get into outdoor activities all day long it'll be great for your overall fitness, even if some highly running-specific musculature might slack a little. You can bounce back into training all refreshed and hungry afterwards.

If you're seriously considering getting up at 5am just to stick to your daily regime I predict a great career in law school for you.

custard wrote:

If you're seriously considering getting up at 5am just to stick to your daily regime I predict a great career in law school for you.

What would a career in law school entail?

OP wrote:

Positive Contribution wrote:

Scouts don't understand the concept of completing a task because it needs to be done. They only do things if they will be rewarded with a merit badge.

Are you kidding? Merit badges are no reward at all. They are so easy to get that they are basically handouts in most cases. The badges teach people that 1. Tasks need to be done not because they need to but because someone wants you to and 2. The point of any task is to get it done with as little effort and attention to detail as possible.

I'm a millenial and I can say this is pretty much the attitude of most other millenials. Scouts could be trying to rectify this but they just reinforce it.

Why are you still in Boy Scouts if you disagree with their philosophy?