Running career after high school

If you aren't going run for a college, you can still do open meets and XC races and than there is always road races to do.

You can enter unattached to many college meets If you are fast enough. While you train to get to that level ( I assume you aren't running in college because you can't make the team), you can race local 5ks. Most major cities will have one or two a year at least that will have plenty of people running at a competitive level. The average weekend one here is won in 17:30 - 20:00, so might not be enough competition for you.

Bump

The beauty of running is that it’s so simple and easy. Just get out the door and go. Sure you’ll miss the camaraderie of a school team, but most decent sized schools have a running club as do most decent-sized cities/towns. Pick out some unattached college meets or road races and go for it. Mess around with different distances if you want to mix things up.

I was never particularly good (still nothing special) and haven’t run on a team in 10 years but am the fastest I’ve ever been and enjoy running now more than ever. There’s zero reason competitive running has to stop when you’re no longer on a scholastic team.

To add more detail to this, I know exactly what you’re talking about with the feeling of being in shape. Between that and the satisfaction of setting PRs I’ve had no problem staying motivated throughout my 20s. Just get in a routine where running is ingrained, keep a steady group of running friends/acquaintances, and race regularly.

I’m now pushing 30 and am realizing that I only have a limited amount of time before the inevitable physical decline starts to set in. That has spurred me to train a bit harder the last couple years and it’s been a blast. As an 18 yr old kid you likely have 10-15 years of this stuff ahead of you if you so choose depending on work/life responsibilities. If you really love running you’ll find a way to make it work. And if you don’t, that’s fine too. There are countless other worthy pursuits in this world.

Join a running club and look for events.

If you have some spare time on weekends, you can even drive to another state for a race.

When you were my age and were finished with school running, did you continue training for faster stuff like 1500-5k or did you immediately transition to marathon?

Thanks for the advice

This is what my high school coach did.

I just want to give an encouraging word. Keep running! I think you'll that not being on the school team is actually a benefit. I'm way out of school now and have no coach and teammates to complain about, get to pick my own events, and see no upside to having a team other than someone to run with. This should be a pretty easy transition. It works for me anyway, and worked while I was in high school too. The distance squad at my school didn't run for the school track team (and wasn't welcome to according the guy I ran with that offered to join) but I had those guys to run with. That's all I miss now but otherwise going on your own is great in or out of school. Keep training and racing!

What!?!? Where the heck you live bruh!?!? Typical weekend 5K round here is more like high-14 / low-mid 15 FTW.

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Find a running group. Most major cities have a few. I joined one a few years ago sponsored by a local running store. It is totally free, we meet 3x a week. Some runs will meet at breweries. There are 75-80 people in the group, all different ages and abilities. I'm not quick enough to keep up with the fastest group, but there are 20 or so around my speed.

When you go to local races (Track, XC, Road) talk to people. Maybe there is a local club or informal group you could train with. Local running stores are also a good source for this info. Maybe you can keep training with some of your old teammates. If you are not working during the day maybe your old HS coach will let you workout with the team still.

Maybe I'm missing it, but does this website have a place to list running club contacts? Or even individuals looking for contacts? Something like "I'm in Greater Boston, do 50 MPW at 7:00 pace, looking for someone to run with" Could be useful.

oldburgrunner wrote:

Maybe I'm missing it, but does this website have a place to list running club contacts? Or even individuals looking for contacts? Something like "I'm in Greater Boston, do 50 MPW at 7:00 pace, looking for someone to run with" Could be useful.

There is a thing called google.

You type in Running club and city XYZ

and you should get a couple of results.

You are welcome.

Are you serious? The hobby running world is HUGE! All-comers track meets, road races, marathons, trail races, ultras, biathlons, triathlons...the list goes on and on. Pick one that appeals to you and start training for it. Or run all of them over time.

How do you stay disciplined and focused? You said you're in love with running and consider it an important part of your life. If that's true, then there's your discipline and focus right there. I flows naturally of your love for the sport. Have to train alone in the dark before work/school? Fine - that's no problem for someone who truly loves it.

I'm an old hobby jogger who ran track and CC from junior high through college. I've been running out of school for A LOT longer than I ran in school, and I have more fun with it now than I ever did then. It's completely yours. No coach telling you what to do. No team to score points for. YOU pick the races that interest you and YOU decide how to prepare for them. It's totally up to you. If you truly love it as you said, then the running world is your oyster. Have fun discovering it.