Dating a Teammate: Yes or No

Every college team is filled with "teamcest." You haven't realized that yet? It creates a fair bit of drama sometimes but generally people get over it.

Wow... just wow. You better have a damn good reason for that policy. Even if you are good enough to become a pro runner one day, which chances are you are not, that policy is ridiculous. This girl could be your "soulmate" (if you believe in that) and yet you are likely going to throw that a way. All I have to say is: Grow a f***ing pair.

Pics?

Unless you have some seriously messed-up definition of the verb "to date," you would lose absolutely nothing in your running if you dated, and would gain quite a bit. I've often found that, especially in the first couple months, I gain inspiration from dating someone and have some of my greatest races. In any case, go for it, and you won't regret it.

Huge fan of the cuckold lifestyle here.

If you can find a big strong sprinter that is ideal. Wish I'd known about it in college.

If you know how to not be an a$$hole, go ahead and date someone on your team. If you're still learning how to not be an a$$hole, you're probably better of dating someone else for now.

Only after your coach has dated her

Only a fool would not date XC/track girls.

Don't do it. Eventually she will upgrade to a BUFF guy and will leave you behind. I heard that even female pro runners prefer the "Shrek" look over a SCRAWNY/SKINNY runner.

Seemed to work out pretty well for Ryan Hall, Adam Goucher, and many others, as well as their spouses.

truth be told though, you only really spend about 10-15 hours a week "doing" running. You are putting your time on too much of a pedestal if you think having a girlfriend would take away from your performance.

Something about a kid having a "policy" in this area strikes me as really funny.

Can be good can be bad. Depends on that people but be sure you are mentally prepared to handle it going south. I was all conference in cross my first 3 years in college and didn't run my senior year when I was favored to win conference because I mentally checked out when my girlfriend who was on the team cheated on me with a teammate. So it does have it's drawbacks.

Not dating in college is insane. It may be the only time where you can find women that will let you put as much time into running as you want to.

As for dating teammates, that is much more complex. Since you have limited your dating until this point, my guess is that if you try it, it will end poorly.

Lighten up.

Running is important, but being in a good relationship is important as well.

There are very few people in the world that will understand the time you want to put into your training... or how carefully you watch your diet... or how your running shoes would be on a short list of things that you would grab if your dorm room caught on fire.

This girl is one of those few people. Prolly worth your time.

FWIW, my wife's dad and brother were D1 runners... I am not nearly that fast, but at least my wife understands why I woke up at 3:45 this morning to run 10 miles in 20ºF.

Good luck.

PS- pics, or you are full of crap ;-)

10/10. Congrats basement dweller, you just put a smile on my face.

Look at all the professional runners out there. They are all married. They may not be teammates but they are a lot more competitive than you (unless if you have some Olympic hardware). I would say go for it. I understand why in high school, but now that your only getting older (not saying your old) but you should go for it, if you see you and her staying together and are meant for each other.

My advice to students: date as many women as you can. You won't regret it. What you regret are opportunities missed.

My wife of 10 years and mother of my 3 kids was also my collage cross country and track team mate.