Would You rather be an all time great at a local no name D3 Or be on a emerging Powerhouse d2 and Contribute

Go for the education. Whatever school that is, run THERE.

I was kind of like you, my senior year (9:20, 4:25) I was trying to decide between going to a decent d1 team or being a stud at a the d3 level. The academics were good at both schools. I have been injury prone. I was worried I would get injured and then cut from the d1 team, especially if I felt I constantly needed to prove I belonged. I ended up going d3 because I thought I could train smarter and get faster (academic quality not differing). The price ended up being similar at both places. One great thing about D3 is that there is no scholarship drama. People aren't jealous or complaining that they didn't get one. Everybody on the team wants to train, nobody sticks around because they have to get the money.

So... I've liked D3 a lot, I've still been challenged. I wouldn't want to go to a place where there aren't any people to train with. If nobody is fast, you may want to be worried about the coaching. But still definitely worry about what you want to do in life/ will this college get me there/ will I be in needless debt, before you worry about running issues. If those don't change between schools, then go to the program you will get fastest at.

Go Run, Baby wrote:

Primo Numero Uno wrote:

If you're at a level where you're options are D2 and D3 you shouldn't be making your college decision based on running. Go to the best academic and overall fit. Reality is you're not going pro in running.

There is nothing wrong with choosing based on running. It is part of the educational experience you're paying for.

Choosing a school based on running is bad advice unless you are a future pro. you are going to run for 4 more years. That's it. You are going to begin a professional in something else for 40 years. It's short sighted to base your choice on your current hobby.

I would rather run the fastest times I possibly could regardless of where I was at.

Would you rather be the best flag football wide receiver your local rec dept ever saw or a no name special teams player on a Super Bowl winning NFL team?

Fishswimmer wrote:

I would rather run the fastest times I possibly could regardless of where I was at.

Would you rather be the best flag football wide receiver your local rec dept ever saw or a no name special teams player on a Super Bowl winning NFL team?

Your nfl analogy is a perfect example based on the OP ability level and the financial realities of track and field. Being an also ran on a d2 track team is just as meaningful as being a nobody on the roster of the superbowl champs.

Academics should be first, but go to a school where you feel comfortable. That includes the running.

Colorado School of Mines is a good DII school. So are places like Western Washington.

as a senior D3 runner who is at no name school with awful records that I have the majority of in distance events, I can tell you that I love D3 because most of the athletes are so genuine and it is friendlier atmosphere. There is more competition between teams in D3 than D2 because there are more D3 schools and teams are larger in the D3. There is more poor quality, but the teams are really deep because there are so many athletes that vary in ability in different distances.

My HS teammate is a big shot in DI at a competitive school, all american in XC and 5k outdoors, and the certain pressures/harsh realities have made it very...serious...but, very, very rewarding.

Realize that in DI or D2, especially if you are on scholarship, $$$$ is game changer in more ways that I can tell you. Like, that alone would get its whole thread.

Honestly, D2 is small and there is smaller pool of high quality athletes and less scholarships but the perk is that if you are a high caliber D2 runner, you can get in to big meets to help you pull a PR out of your butt.

as a nationally ranked d3 distance runner, it is hard to find a meet that I know I won't win. PRing comes down to will power against the clock or making odd bets with my coach, like, "if I break X then you have to do the cinnamon challenge."

honestly, PICK A SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU LIKE THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM. running does not last forever. in terms of deciding based on running, PICK A SCHOOL THAT HAS A TEAM YOU WILL HAVE FUN WITH AND A COACH THAT IS NOT A JERK AND WHO CAN HELP YOU IMPROVE.

these things can be found at the DI, DII, or DIII level.

good luck.