Coach says track is pointless if I swim.

Tell that to top level ITU triathletes who can get Olympic B standard for 10k up to marathon (men =Alistair browner, women Gwen Jorgensen, Nicola spirig)

Are you available for swim/run races? I can't find good teammates in the US. I spent my 30s running marathons (sub 2:40s) and my 40s doing ultras. Now, I want to get my leg speed back and do swim/run. The problem I find is that good runners are too thin to handle the cold water in Sweden. I did Uto in 2014 in an attempt to qualify for Otillo. The water was 50 degrees. My teammate suffered a cold-water-induced-tachycardia and we lost 40-50 minutes as we sat on a rock and waited for his heart to reset. The swimmers can't run -- the swimmers are so big and slow on the long runs, but they can handle the cold and they are good when the open water gets super choppy. Ultra guys are too slow and good marathoners go hypothermic. It is an interesting discipline. Sorry about the distraction from young OPs question.

To the OP: if you need money for college you will need to run more (I agree with some of what has been said here). Not even sure you can get money out of high school with present performances.

But, you could walk-on, work hard, and maybe get money down the road. What I have seen in the last 30 years is this "professionalization" of hs running. There are kids who run big miles, focus and put up good times and make it to college with money (more than I could possibly name). However, most of these kids spend multiple years in college hurt and frequently never progress. Some lose their money when they get hurt (so sad, good friend who was 3rd at Kinney and sub 14:30 5k in hs, had to switch D1 2 times because he lost his money at Arkansas back in the glory days -- he did go on much later to be a very good bike/run guy).

If you can play the long game, swim in the winter and summers, and then slowly transition to more and more miles in college. If you look at the rosters at many of the top D1 XC programs you will notice that most freshman red-shirt and there are very very few seniors. The attrition is horrible. Often you will notice, if you read through the bios, the seniors were not any faster than you are now in high school and they slowly developed. Many top guys get discouraged during injuries, have no training back-up, and just melt mentally.

The little talk about secret of D1 running is that it is extremely rare for a top high school kids to stay healthy, progress and make it to senior year in a D1 program. Those lost seasons in college are a huge set-back both mentally and physically. If you can avoid that you will do much better. Swimming is one way to do that. BTW, I ran in college with two All Americans who later won senior National Championships in track and neither of them have run now for years. One guy can barely walk, is 51, and was a 2:14 marathoner and the other was a 3:52 miler. The miler is healthy, but stopped running when he was 28 and now can't run a 42 minute 10k. You make the choice, great now, or have something left for later. Everyone has to make choices, but now that I am an old man, I like my choice. I never won the big meets and I was never an All American, but I can run with my kids and still love to train.

Don't let coaches and their "short-term" goals decide your future. There is always a way for young guys who learn to use their brains and learn how to handle the mental side of being an elite athlete.

Good luck!

"When you have to run...... run......... don't swim."

http://tinyurl.com/q2dsvnf

you times do not suggest any reason to focus on a single sport. i played soccer football basketball and ran and was competitive in running but average in the other sports. you dont need to specialize unless you are competitive without specialization.... which indicates talent and the possibility of scholarships.

I had 12 varsity letters in high school. Four in XC (where I was conference champ and ran at states for three years), four in swimming (where I was a conference champ and a state alternate on good relay teams), and four in track and field.

I honestly never had an issue with coming back to track from swim season. Swimming gets you in insane aerobic/anaerobic shape. You will be fitter than your track teammates starting the season. It's just about getting your leg strength back. Your track coach should be able to be leading you to improvement. In my view it's a cop out on his end to blame it on swimming.

If you still like swimming, keep swimming.

The guy who outkicked me and beat me at state in the 3200 was a swimmer...

10 minutes for 2 miles is fast. In fact I know of DI runners who have started out with slower times.

First, I don't really understand the fascination with D1 on this board. There are some godawful D1 teams out there that you can run for and say you played a D1 sport.

Also, anyone mentioned Soren Knudsen yet? Sub 9 2 miler and a swimmer, now a freshman at NAU

john utah wrote:

luv2run wrote:

This is tricky.

First, I am a big proponent of multisport development, but there comes a time where it is okay to specialize in one sport if YOU WANT to do so. Junior year in high school is a fine time to specialize. That does not mean that you cannot do some swimming during the winter but maybe not on the swim team.

It comes down to what you want to do and what your goals are.

Specialize to what end? There is no professional future for someone running 17 in xc and less of a future with his swimming times. Why specialize? For all but the very best these sports are for personal enjoyment. Why not do both and have fun at both and be the best one can be while doing both?

I say it is "okay" to specialize not saying he should.

Does my last sentence not address him having the option of doing both?

PS: if you want to be picky, I would say even the best do the sport for some level of personal enjoyment. When it stops being fun they quit.

Mark Boen wrote:

If you wish to swim and run, you will probably not be great at both. You have to chose one or the other to see your true potential. Since you have already regressed, you are very likely to continue regressing each year if you chose to swim and run.

If you're interested in triathlon in the future, stick with both.

Odds are, the OP is not going to "great" at either one.

go ahead and swim

specialization is for insects

Galen Rupp did not swim significantly. He played soccer significantly. His pool time has always been supplemental and typically it's not swimming.

Alan Webb did swim significantly. But he had to give it up to really pursue running.

Argh sorry I meant alan Webb. All this rupp talk on this board is boggling my mind

Just my experience, but yes, I had awful shin splints/sress fractures from trying to alternate swimming/running/swimming/running (summer/fall/winter/spring) in high school.

I appreciate the offer - but I'm one of those broken-down runners just trying to make it to the starting line for any race. My speed is still there, subject to the ability to use it with some proper base training! Regarding cold water, I have no idea what would happen at 50 degrees for a long period of time. Mid-50's hasn't felt terrible for shorter swims without long sleeves.

My wife and I hope to qualify for Ottilo before we get too old! It's been fun getting back in the pool year-round for the last 14 months or so. I'm hoping the swim fitness will save me in an upcoming SwimRun...

You make a great point that is basically figure out a way to keep the ball rolling. College goes by fast enough and if you have significant injuries it will be over before you know it. Swimming is one way to stay strong and healthy. Others use the weight room, drills and plyos to stay healthy. Figure out what works to keep some athleticism, stay healthy and consistently adapt to higher overall workloads.