Chasing the DIII Dream

What? This is insane. I for sure thought you were a lock to be able to come on the team. Why retire it, though? Why not keep training and getting faster to make the team next year? I'm sure some people would help coach you on here if need be

I'm going to train (for a half marathon on November 3rd). I just didn't think it would be of any interest to anyone now that I won't be running D3. But, if people still want to hear about my training, I don't mind posting here.

Keep posting it broski

Keep training and keep posting.

It's not over: it's a set back. Crazy decision, but don't let it get to you. Keep working, find a way to race (unattached). Find some people to train with. There's plenty of good advice around to help you with long term development this year. Maybe someone on here could coach you or recommend an online coach.

Keep posting. It's good to have the accountability, and this thread has an audience who are a) rooting for you and b) willing to chip in advice if needed.

Best of luck and happy running.

wtf? You ran 27:31 this summer and the W&L coach doesn't want you? I suggest you transfer to Sewanee ASAP.

The 8K was a road race, not XC. The course was about as flat and fast as you can get. Also, my times at the shorter distances aren’t competitive with the freshman recruits, nine of whom are sub 4:30/10:00 guys. Despite massive aerobic gains, I’d be lucky to break 4:50 and 10:20 if I stepped on to the track right now. The team graduated only one senior this past spring and has a tight roster cap due to budget restrictions. There simply isn’t a place for someone like me whose potential is limited by a lack of middle distance speed.

Sewanee is a great school, but I wouldn’t transfer there, as academically, it’s just not the same caliber.

OP, if that 27:31 was on a certified course, you have made amazing improvements over the last few months. I believe it is common for D3 races to allow unattached or club runners, so I'd definitely explore those opportunities rather than focusing on a half marathon. Not that you shouldn't run it, just focus on competing unattached this xc season and you will likely beat some of the guys on the team.

I know not every story works out like this, but Mick Byrne told Malachy Schrobilgen to get lost. So he ran club. Earned his spot on the team, became Big 10 champ in 10,000m and All American in XC.

Sadly, I won't get the chance to run unattached, as W&L does not have any home XC meets. I also asked about training with the team while not on the roster, but doing so is against NCAA rules.

I say keep getting after it. The sky's the limit if you can continue to bust your ass and stay healthy. I'm sure Lexington has some good people to train with. Ask around

FormerSub5Hopeful wrote:

The 8K was a road race, not XC. The course was about as flat and fast as you can get. Also, my times at the shorter distances aren’t competitive with the freshman recruits, nine of whom are sub 4:30/10:00 guys. Despite massive aerobic gains, I’d be lucky to break 4:50 and 10:20 if I stepped on to the track right now. The team graduated only one senior this past spring and has a tight roster cap due to budget restrictions. There simply isn’t a place for someone like me whose potential is limited by a lack of middle distance speed.

Sewanee is a great school, but I wouldn’t transfer there, as academically, it’s just not the same caliber.

I'm not sure I would agree that Sewanee is not the same caliber as W&L. But you've made your decision. I hope you keep running.

+1 on the "wtf?"

You've improved massively and run 27:31 which is a pretty solid D3 time (it's a few seconds faster than my best D3 XC 8K).

I've enjoyed following your training logs and I'm bummed out by this outcome. Can you be on the roster with no expectation of competing?

I hope you keep it up. You've been inspiring me on my training back to sub 17 5K (a few years out of college now).

Unfortunately, the team doesn't have the budget to support people like me who aren't guaranteed to score. It's not like with other D3 teams who have large rosters with room for guys in the back of the pack. The coach has made it clear through our communications that if I was to join the team, I would be last among his guys. His focus now lies with the 2020 recruiting class, finding runners whose fitness/talent levels make them candidates to score immediately on the track in the conference.

Never heard of anything like this before in D3.

At their first meet last year, the men ran 6k.

1 at 5:15

1 at 5:18

3 at 5:20

3 at 5:32/5:33

While your high school times aren't quite there, it doesn't seem like this team would turn away someone who just ran 5:30 pace for 8k.

My guess is he probably looks at my high school times, take into account the fact that I averaged 60 miles per week this summer, and comes to the conclusion that I won't be getting faster anytime soon. In fact, my 27:31 on a flat road might become a 28:31 on a tough XC course, possibly even slower. I looked, and the worst time I could find from last year was 27:53, so he's probably correct in assuming I would be last on the team. The 4:30 guys he recruited can be turned into 26:xx guys no problem. Most of them have already run low 16's for the 5K during high school XC. I, on the other hand, am a much dimmer prospect.

FormerSub5Hopeful wrote:

My guess is he probably looks at my high school times, take into account the fact that I averaged 60 miles per week this summer, and comes to the conclusion that I won't be getting faster anytime soon. In fact, my 27:31 on a flat road might become a 28:31 on a tough XC course, possibly even slower. I looked, and the worst time I could find from last year was 27:53, so he's probably correct in assuming I would be last on the team. The 4:30 guys he recruited can be turned into 26:xx guys no problem. Most of them have already run low 16's for the 5K during high school XC. I, on the other hand, am a much dimmer prospect.

27:31 in summer is not your peak- you are truly just getting started. It isn’t really relevant whether this is D3 or D1 or whatever- there simply are people ahead of you with faster PR’s, and there is a limit to the roster due to budget. But that says nothing about you. It is very clear that you have what it takes to be committed and continue improving - more than a little.

I would love to see you continue if you enjoy it and it fits with the rest of your life. If you post here, great, but only if it is right for you.

Congrats on your improvement and thanks for sharing the journey so far.

+1 to the responses above. You clearly have a LOT of gains to make ahead of you. Also, "lack of middle distance speed" isn't something that's just fixed. You can develop speed and it also tends to increase significantly when men fully go through puberty around 19-20. If you keep training the way you did this summer, I wouldn't be surprised if you have a lot ahead of you.

If you really feel driven to continue to give college running a shot at W&L, I would continue training, perhaps even trying to mimic what the XC team is doing as far as workouts go. Yes, you can't train with the team, but that doesn't mean one of the team members or staff can't "leak" their workouts to you. They know you're interested, so stay visible. Do your runs near where they run. Let them see you out there putting in the work.

As far as meets that allow unattached runners, W&L doesn't have very many. It looks like the Hornet Harrier meet hosted by Shenandoah has a 2-mile race (college teams run 6k) and the Greater Louisville meet allows unattached runners, so you might consider running those. It would show a lot of commitment to travel, on your own, to those races.

I think if you show interest, a good work ethic and improvement, you'll get a shot to be on the team as a sophomore and beyond.

That is good advice. Thank you.

How would I sign up for these meets? Do you have links you could provide?