Does anyone else seriously miss high school track?

Non-Running

5 years ago 04/24/2019 9:38pm EDT

It's been a couple years since I graduated high school. I had the opportunity to run D1 track but it didn't work out for a couple reasons. Since then I've just missed high school track so much. I thought it would go away after a while but I still feel sad that I'll never get to go back to it. There was something so awesome about running with my best friends, crushing it in meets, competing, training, all of it. I just miss it.

Does anyone else feel this way or have advice? Honestly I think the last time I was truly, genuinely happy was on the plane ride home from my last nationals meet. That was the last time I was with my teammates in a setting like that, just joking around and messing with each other before we all left for college. I cried so hard the night I got home from that. But I have also been diagnosed with long term low level depression so I'm sure other people probably don't feel that strongly about it, it's kinda lame tbh but that's how I feel.

Any wise words to make me feel better?

5 years ago 04/24/2019 11:42pm EDT

re: MissingHighSchool

Yes, I missed my HS cross country and track team for years. I was too slow to run for the powerhouse D1 where I went for academic reasons, and I missed the friendship and sense of purpose you get with a close-knit team.

So it's okay to feel sad about moving on from HS. But look at it this way: You're sad now because you were happy and successful. All the guys who never tried, or who refused to listen to their coach or thought they were too good to run with a HS team, missed out on what you had.

What helped me was making new friends at college and finding new activities where I found meaning and purpose. I missed running, too, and the only thing that's helped there is getting back in shape, making new goals, and running new races.

The bad news is that everything works like this. You'll make new friends, do some great things together, and then graduate. People move on to new jobs and new opportunities. But that's a much better situation than never having any friends at all.

If you choose wisely and have a bit of luck in finding a spouse, you'll be with someone who will stick around longer. Plus you can surround yourself with a bunch of miniature human beings who also tend to stick around for decades at a time. Highly recommended.

5 years ago 04/25/2019 12:16am EDT

re: MissingHighSchool

MissingHighSchool wrote:
It's been a couple years since I graduated high school. I had the opportunity to run D1 track but it didn't work out for a couple reasons. Since then I've just missed high school track so much. I thought it would go away after a while but I still feel sad that I'll never get to go back to it. There was something so awesome about running with my best friends, crushing it in meets, competing, training, all of it. I just miss it.
Does anyone else feel this way or have advice? Honestly I think the last time I was truly, genuinely happy was on the plane ride home from my last nationals meet. That was the last time I was with my teammates in a setting like that, just joking around and messing with each other before we all left for college. I cried so hard the night I got home from that. But I have also been diagnosed with long term low level depression so I'm sure other people probably don't feel that strongly about it, it's kinda lame tbh but that's how I feel.
Any wise words to make me feel better?

No. my high school track coach was horrible.

5 years ago 04/25/2019 12:21am EDT

re: MissingHighSchool

Can you join a running club?

I know it won't be exactly the same but it could be more fun than you think. Like team workouts etc.

5 years ago 04/25/2019 12:23am EDT

re: colder and wiser

This is very good advice for dealing with nostalgia in general. Thank you!

colder and wiser wrote:
Yes, I missed my HS cross country and track team for years. I was too slow to run for the powerhouse D1 where I went for academic reasons, and I missed the friendship and sense of purpose you get with a close-knit team.
So it's okay to feel sad about moving on from HS. But look at it this way: You're sad now because you were happy and successful. All the guys who never tried, or who refused to listen to their coach or thought they were too good to run with a HS team, missed out on what you had.
What helped me was making new friends at college and finding new activities where I found meaning and purpose. I missed running, too, and the only thing that's helped there is getting back in shape, making new goals, and running new races.
The bad news is that everything works like this. You'll make new friends, do some great things together, and then graduate. People move on to new jobs and new opportunities. But that's a much better situation than never having any friends at all.
If you choose wisely and have a bit of luck in finding a spouse, you'll be with someone who will stick around longer. Plus you can surround yourself with a bunch of miniature human beings who also tend to stick around for decades at a time. Highly recommended.

5 years ago 04/25/2019 1:09am EDT

re: MissingHighSchool

Be thankful and grateful for those experiences. Most people in life will never experience even a 10th of that! I don't miss HS track, but I do miss my college and post college running experiences 2000-2008). I'm glad I took risks. There were less than 10 guys on my college track team, but I found a way to be successful. My only friend from college is my wife, which is a blessing!

You will never replicate that experience, but I can assure you that being married with children in a traditional suburban area is way more fun and rewarding than any of my college experiences. I have made some really good friends, vacationed with lots and every weekend we are doing something in the neighborhood with others. Try something new! Try taking an art class, improv class, or church activities. There's lots of fun to be had out there, but you need to be the one to make it happen.

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