Will I regret not running in college?

It sounds like you want to run, but it also sounds like your running career is limited to a D2 experience. I would ask first about your goals after college. Are you wanting to be a coach and focus on continuing your running career? Are you in school as a pre-med or pre-law? Are you happy currently with your life and situation? Does competing as a runner improve that situation?

If I were you, I'd ask which situation leads you to your post-college goals. You can always run in local races as you've mentioned. You can even join intramurals or other run clubs to satisfy that team itch. If the D2 school is weak on placing you in a valuable and fulfilling career, then running isn't worth it.

Yes I am pre-med. I would have a lot more time to get my volunteer hours and such if I didn’t run on a team. It is also nice to not have to worry about my classes interfering with practice. Neither schools I’m considering are prestigious at all. I am happy with my current situation, but fear I may be missing out.

you won't be able to run in college when you are 30 or 40...

now is the only time in life it's available...

you get to work the rest of your life... remember that.

That's a pretty tough situation.

You'll never get a second chance at experiencing college track.

But leaving a situation you like and paying more to do so is a risk for something you may not like.

How did you wind up at this school that doesn't have track?

Closest school to your house?

Yes it is the closest school to my house. I still live at home and I honestly love living here. I have been told that I will not develop socially if I don’t live in a dorm or apartment away from family, but I don’t see what the big deal is. Free food, no interruptions when studying, and privacy. I’m an introvert who needs some alone time

Yes

If you don't run in college, you can't join JBAC when you graduate.

I didn't run in college and I regret it. Has it ruined my life? Obviously no. I often think of the course my life has taken. If I DID run how would my circumstances have changed?

Would I have met my wife? Would I have the two great kids I have?

It's all a roll of the dice.

for 15k more over your college career, I'd go to the school where I could run. You can't be going to a major univeristy anyways if there is no track program, so its not like you are giving up great academics. You will make new friends at a new school. I was in the same situation as you and transferred from a d1 where I was too slow to walk on to a d3. For me it was a good decision and I excelled both athletically and academically at a way I couldn't at the d1 state u.

Pre med at a school without athletics is not good but neither is premed at a D2 school. Neither option is good. If you are going to run and you want to go to medical school, get to a school that will provide both. Why not go to your D1 state school? You mention making money at road races so you may be ineligible already. If not, you must be fast enough for D1 so skip the crappy D2 school.

Regrets wrote:

Yes it is the closest school to my house. I still live at home and I honestly love living here. I have been told that I will not develop socially if I don’t live in a dorm or apartment away from family, but I don’t see what the big deal is. Free food, no interruptions when studying, and privacy. I’m an introvert who needs some alone time

I went to the closest college to my house. Less than 30 minute drive.

It was a pretty good deal. I could hang on campus whenever I wanted or crash at a friend's dorm.

Saved tons on housing costs.

However, my college did have a track program. One if the best in the country.

I walked on and it worked out.

You may be able to train yourself and enter college meets as unattached.

When I was done with college, I did that for another four years.

You will not regret it. Don't listen to these homers who never moved on from the "good ol days".

Regrets? wrote:

I am a frosh in college right now at a school that doesn’t have XC or Track. I have the opportunity to run at a D2 school next fall and I’m fairly certain that I would do well. My intentions were to transfer after this semester, but now I am faced with a dilemma. I love my new friends! I’m debating on whether it’s worth it to leave them. Also, I want to run road races and earn some cash while all the fast guys are at school. The school I’m at now is also about $5000 cheaper per year.

But I don’t want to look back on my college years and regret not going after collegiate running. If you were in my situation wwyd?

I ran my freshman and senior year in college at two different schools. I regret not running in the middle so yes you probably will. Most of my regrets are just off of not hitting times I wanted to run like sub 15, sub 4:10 mile and I can still chase those times but my biggest regrets are getting sick right before nationals both years and never running in a national championship. I will never be able to have that experience even though I wouldve been mid pack if not worse.

Better to pine for the good ol' days than to never have had them at all.

Kvothe wrote:

for 15k more over your college career, I'd go to the school where I could run. You can't be going to a major univeristy anyways if there is no track program, so its not like you are giving up great academics. You will make new friends at a new school. I was in the same situation as you and transferred from a d1 where I was too slow to walk on to a d3. For me it was a good decision and I excelled both athletically and academically at a way I couldn't at the d1 state u.

When you’re 60 and on the doorstep of retirement you’ll wish you had taken that 15k and saved it (or avoided the debt). It’ll be worth over 250k by then...

Someday you’ll mature wrote:

When you’re 60 and on the doorstep of retirement you’ll wish you had taken that 15k and saved it (or avoided the debt). It’ll be worth over 250k by then...

Or when you're 60 you may think you can always make money but you can never go back in time to experience something you missed.

Running will always be there for you -- it's a lifetime sport.

Right now, focus on doing well in school and building your resume with other extra-curriculars. Running competitively in college is a huge time commitment that generally doesn't get rewarded by employers or graduate admissions (as least not well, relative to the time commitment).

I loved running competitively in high school, especially the team aspect. But I'm happy that I didn't compete for my school during undergrad.

Enjoy your prime while you can!

I prefer the atmosphere of smaller schools and I have not yet won any prize money