D1 runners thoughts on D3 running

I’m a current freshman running D1. I guess I’d say that I think overall, D3 is less competitive. There are some fast D3 runners, but less depth than in D1. Lots of D3 schools seem to be super challenging academically, like MIT, Cal Tech, and Hopkins.

Elites tend to be more humble and easygoing. Sub-elites often tend to be more arrogant and snotty. There are always exceptions of course, but those are just my observations.

Most D1 and former D1 runners pay very little attention to D3. Some look down on D3; most don’t really care. But I think the same can be said about D3 runners regarding D1.

Funny thing is most D1 dbags are truly just dbags and never actually get to compete or travel. They would rather be able to wear the tshirt and say they ran there, but seriously, look at the % that truly complete. D3 are mostly the guys that are in it for the love of the sport and most get to actually run.

Fast times are fast times, no matter the division.

d3 all the way wrote:

Funny thing is most D1 dbags are truly just dbags and never actually get to compete or travel. They would rather be able to wear the tshirt and say they ran there, but seriously, look at the % that truly complete. D3 are mostly the guys that are in it for the love of the sport and most get to actually run.

I was D1, and never actually scored anything.

Had I gone D3, different story. Guys I killed in HS were studs, who I killed at road races off season. Oh, well.

No one has answered any of this man's questions. However, the guy above me basically said he thinks D3 is a joke

I think people often overlook the fact that unless you're a mega-talent in HS you're not going to be contributing to a solid D1 program until at least 2-3 years until your body adapts to the new mileage/lifting/college life. People like to think that they're fast enough to burn it up immediately into college, but that's often not the case. I don't think people realize what it's like to have everyone around you believe in you in HS to suddenly you're a sh*t squirt with 15 guys ahead of you in practice every day. Sure, some people do well with that competition all the time, but a D3 school is great for being patient in your training and not letting everything get to your head. It's running. If you put in the work you're gonna get better, and you can do that without free gear and big name coaches. The only legitimate upside I see to D1 is scholarship money, but if you're not in the running for the cash, just go D3.

I know this probably sounds stupid, but why does it always seem like the answers are D1 vs D3. Is there a reason why nobody ever talks about D2? It seems like the academics are much better in some D3, but is D2 just basically trash?

I believe that you dont need to be in a famous school to get a decent education, but yes, in general, D2 schools are generally less strong academically. There are exceptions (UC San Diego, Colorado Mines (great engineering programs)), but even UCSD is trying to move to D1. As far as running goes, what grunrung said holds up for D2

I may have an older view on this personally but it seems to be consistent with the D1 runners I have talked to. We don't care about much more than personal improvement and our teams. The runners that actually make the travel squad don't have time to and if they did think about D2, D3 or NAIA runners they won't be traveling for long. D1 athletes look for what is next not what is now and we surely don't care about people that we aren't racing.

Those comparisons are more for the fans and "stat-guys" that have the time to sit around and study the rankings. It's not necessarily a bad thing, it surely works for the people on this site.... I hope that kind of answers the question, now bring on the trolls to tell me I'm wrong.

I was DI and work with DIs.

On the way back from a meet I once had a conversation with a girl who had developed from a very average All State (small state) HS athlete into a DI All-American. She could not grasp why athletes bothered with DIII.

It made a little more sense to her after I reminded her that in high school and before she moved onto a big college scholarship she too ran for the competition and enjoyment of the sport. Somewhere along the line it became about the money.

DIII is for guys who like to run and can't get a scholarship to do it. I think that is what most people think of the level.

I have always been more curious about athletes who walk on to scholarship level teams...why not go somewhere you can contribute?

Old Man 2 Lapper wrote:

D1 athletes look for what is next not what is now and we surely don't care about people that we aren't racing.

Those comparisons are more for the fans and "stat-guys" that have the time to sit around and study the rankings. It's not necessarily a bad thing, it surely works for the people on this site.... I hope that kind of answers the question, now bring on the trolls to tell me I'm wrong.

Largely true, I learned a lot more about DIII after I became a coach. I don't know that I ever gave it a single thought as an athlete myself.

I didn't really think much about it. We never raced any D3 teams and we tended to really only focus on stuff that actually affected us. I knew a few people who ran D3 and it just sort of seemed like a continuation of high school running. Lots of people there just for the social aspect. D1 teams tend to make running and performance a bigger priority than D3 teams do. Nothing wrong with that. You've just gotta know what your getting into. There's always a few kids in D3 that are very talented and do put in the same level of commitment as the top D1 runners.

My opinion of D3 running is it's a continuation of a high school team's mentality and atmosphere. Anyone can be on the team, and as long as they tried their hardest, they've accomplished something. Success is subjective based on the individual person. Comparatively, with D1 success is objective based on running a certain time or place.

People can enjoy and be successful in both envirnoments.

I would never say that I look down on anyone who runs or competes. But its not collegiate athletics- its a club activity.

You have removed all of the tough competition now compete against people who weren't even competitive in high school. You aren't the champions of anything except the untalented pool you chose to compete against.

I love anyone who runs- but know its not even close to being a collegiate athlete.

There are only 1 or 2 D3 guys in the top 100 college runners in a given year. D1 guys don't really pay attention to them for that reason. NCC has been getting a bunch of attention lately but it really isn't justified.

D1 pays you to run and D3 doesn’t. So of course D1 has faster athletes. Take away scholarship money and D3 programs would destroy D1 cause they actually have good academics. It’s as simple as that.

The ratio of brand name D1 schools compared to brand name D3 schools is about the same as the ratio of top D1 runners and D3 runners. Every power 5 school has name recognition while only about 5-10 D3 schools do. Add all of the Ivy Leagu schools to the D1 list also and they don’t even offer scholarships.