My son is running in college this coming year and he is normally a 1600 (4:13) and 3200 (9:12) guy but those distances aren’t offered. Amongst the distances that are: 1500, 3000sc, 5k and 10k what is he most likely to start running or what should he concentrate on?
Assuming he is at a decent D1 school, the coach will make the decisions for him. The coach will asses his strengths and the needs of the team.
Predictor wrote:
Assuming he is at a decent D1 school, the coach will make the decisions for him. The coach will asses his strengths and the needs of the team.
I understand that. Believe me, I am not going to influence him one way or the other. I’m just trying to figure out what he is likely to run. It’s more about figuring out the lay of the college track landscape since it is so different from HS. I also want to get the season going, it’s taking so long to get there.
His 3200 is weaker than his 1600 by quite a bit so I would say that he would not compete in the 5k or 10k just yet, and probably not the 10k ever. If he hasn't done steeple before then he'll probably practice going over the barriers and try it at a home meet. His endurance looks underdeveloped so after xc he might end up getting the endurance needed to pull a better 5k and steeple time, it all just depends on how he runs in the fall and if his coach needs a 5k guy and thinks that your son could do well in it if he just put in the miles.
Bleh wrote:
His 3200 is weaker than his 1600 by quite a bit so I would say that he would not compete in the 5k or 10k just yet, and probably not the 10k ever. If he hasn't done steeple before then he'll probably practice going over the barriers and try it at a home meet. His endurance looks underdeveloped so after xc he might end up getting the endurance needed to pull a better 5k and steeple time, it all just depends on how he runs in the fall and if his coach needs a 5k guy and thinks that your son could do well in it if he just put in the miles.
Thanks! His 5k XC time is 15:18 (course with some hills). He never ran a 5k on the track. His endurance is usually pretty good and he is mostly known as a XC guy. His 3200 is weaker mostly because he concentrated on the 1600. He only ran the 3200 at big meets and it was always after doubling back from the 1600. He would love the steeple but I guess you never know how good you are until you try.
Stop the hovering. He's going to college so it's time to let him go. So logoff, write some checks and leave him alone.
stop hovering wrote:
Stop the hovering. He's going to college so it's time to let him go. So logoff, write some checks and leave him alone.
For sure. I’m not asking these things so I can tell him what to do. I’m asking so I can try to fill the void between track and XC. It’s a long off season and the prospect of not being at every meet, like I was for his HS meets, is starting to sink in. I’d love to hear any other thoughts out there on track events. In the meantime, I already wrote the first of many checks and did so with a smile on my face. Not many kids get to do what he is going to do and I am excited for him to have this experience.
Distances wrote:
My son is running in college this coming year and he is normally a 1600 (4:13) and 3200 (9:12) guy but those distances aren’t offered. Amongst the distances that are: 1500, 3000sc, 5k and 10k what is he most likely to start running or what should he concentrate on?
You did not provide enough info OP. Both Steve Scott and Steve Holman raced one mile/1600m similar to your son in hs. Both Steves raced low 1:5x 880yds/800m in hs. Cannot tell if your son has college 1500m potential based on what you posted.
If he went to a Power 5 school or anotyer strong program, he may not get tonrun anything. If you aren't running 3:48, 14:10, or 29:30, you may sit at home on the weekends.
XC 8K
My son was a 800 (1:55) & 1600 (4:24) runner in HS. His college PR's are 1:53 and 3:52 (1500). The strength and conditioning has enabled him to improve more in the longer distance in college.
collegerunnerdad wrote:
My son was a 800 (1:55) & 1600 (4:24) runner in HS. His college PR's are 1:53 and 3:52 (1500). The strength and conditioning has enabled him to improve more in the longer distance in college.
What year is he in? Does he run indoor as well? If so, how long did it take him to figure out how to race on a banked track?
Distances wrote:
stop hovering wrote:
Stop the hovering. He's going to college so it's time to let him go. So logoff, write some checks and leave him alone.
For sure. I’m not asking these things so I can tell him what to do. I’m asking so I can try to fill the void between track and XC. It’s a long off season and the prospect of not being at every meet, like I was for his HS meets, is starting to sink in. I’d love to hear any other thoughts out there on track events. In the meantime, I already wrote the first of many checks and did so with a smile on my face. Not many kids get to do what he is going to do and I am excited for him to have this experience.
Ok, you are obviously a troll, so go away. But, before you do, land your helicopter before you hurt someone.
Distances wrote:
My son is running in college this coming year and he is normally a 1600 (4:13) and 3200 (9:12) guy but those distances aren’t offered. Amongst the distances that are: 1500, 3000sc, 5k and 10k what is he most likely to start running or what should he concentrate on?
You are a helicopter parent for sure, if you aren't just trolling here.
As others have said, stay out of it and leave this all up to the coach. The coach may make changes on a whim, so there is not any guarantee he will run whatever. What should he concentrate on? Whatever the coach says.
Now, if you are just uneducated about running and want to know a little bit more, then keep reading.
Someone said the 9:12 is not as good as the 4:13. I wouldn't say that for sure. Depends on a lot of things. How many times did he run each race? What kind of shape was he in when he ran them both? What kind of mileage did he do in HS. If he only ran 35 MPW, then I'd say the 9:12 is better.
Is he injury prone? Is he a low-mileage or high-mileage guy? What does he LIKE to do? What does the coach need? Not all runners are well-suited for the steeplechase. Usually those who are bit more overall athletic do better at that race. Finally, most runners aren't interested in the 10,000, so if he's a big mileage guy that might be the one.
Again though, whatever the coach says goes. You should just be a fan from here on out.
SomeoneWhoKnows wrote:
Distances wrote:
My son is running in college this coming year and he is normally a 1600 (4:13) and 3200 (9:12) guy but those distances aren’t offered. Amongst the distances that are: 1500, 3000sc, 5k and 10k what is he most likely to start running or what should he concentrate on?
You are a helicopter parent for sure, if you aren't just trolling here.
As others have said, stay out of it and leave this all up to the coach. The coach may make changes on a whim, so there is not any guarantee he will run whatever. What should he concentrate on? Whatever the coach says.
Now, if you are just uneducated about running and want to know a little bit more, then keep reading.
Someone said the 9:12 is not as good as the 4:13. I wouldn't say that for sure. Depends on a lot of things. How many times did he run each race? What kind of shape was he in when he ran them both? What kind of mileage did he do in HS. If he only ran 35 MPW, then I'd say the 9:12 is better.
Is he injury prone? Is he a low-mileage or high-mileage guy? What does he LIKE to do? What does the coach need? Not all runners are well-suited for the steeplechase. Usually those who are bit more overall athletic do better at that race. Finally, most runners aren't interested in the 10,000, so if he's a big mileage guy that might be the one.
Again though, whatever the coach says goes. You should just be a fan from here on out.
Yes, whatever the coach says. I don’t even talk to my son about what he wants to run so I don’t have any influence. My intent here is to know the differences between HS and college so when I follow his times from afar I understand what I am looking at. Not sure that is a hover or not but so be it.
So, HS miles in the 50’s, ran 3200 sparingly and usually doubling back after the 1600, typically healthy, likes the 1600 best.
stop hovering wrote:
Stop the hovering. He's going to college so it's time to let him go. So logoff, write some checks and leave him alone.
Dude, calm down
Fake D1 wrote:
If he went to a Power 5 school or anotyer strong program, he may not get tonrun anything. If you aren't running 3:48, 14:10, or 29:30, you may sit at home on the weekends.
This is demonstrably false.
If you provide the name or at least the type of program, it will be easier to advise. If he is at BYU or NAU, they will throw him into the grinder and probably never make the cut. If Ohio State, he can choose which event to run. If a fake D1, coach will double him. If Iowa State, they will cut him.
SomeoneWhoKnows wrote:
Distances wrote:
My son is running in college this coming year and he is normally a 1600 (4:13) and 3200 (9:12) guy but those distances aren’t offered. Amongst the distances that are: 1500, 3000sc, 5k and 10k what is he most likely to start running or what should he concentrate on?
You are a helicopter parent for sure, if you aren't just trolling here.
As others have said, stay out of it and leave this all up to the coach. The coach may make changes on a whim, so there is not any guarantee he will run whatever. What should he concentrate on? Whatever the coach says.
Now, if you are just uneducated about running and want to know a little bit more, then keep reading.
Someone said the 9:12 is not as good as the 4:13. I wouldn't say that for sure. Depends on a lot of things. How many times did he run each race? What kind of shape was he in when he ran them both? What kind of mileage did he do in HS. If he only ran 35 MPW, then I'd say the 9:12 is better.
Is he injury prone? Is he a low-mileage or high-mileage guy? What does he LIKE to do? What does the coach need? Not all runners are well-suited for the steeplechase. Usually those who are bit more overall athletic do better at that race. Finally, most runners aren't interested in the 10,000, so if he's a big mileage guy that might be the one.
Again though, whatever the coach says goes. You should just be a fan from here on out.
Especially at the PRs the kids has. Why pigeon hole him as a pure miler or 5000m runner? He'll have a XC season and indoor/outdoor of freshmen year to develop and see where his real strengths are.
School name or wrote:
If you provide the name or at least the type of program, it will be easier to advise. If he is at BYU or NAU, they will throw him into the grinder and probably never make the cut. If Ohio State, he can choose which event to run. If a fake D1, coach will double him. If Iowa State, they will cut him.
It is a power 5 school. I would put the XC program in the Indiana ranks and the track program in the top 10.