Is running in college worth it?

Yes, it it definitely worth it. If there is a community college near you with a running team you should at least consider pursuing that. Even if you have to live in the dorms you could still get enough money to make it worthwhile. Don't forget about NAIA colleges either, as you could get a substantial scholarship with your times RIGHT NOW to most of them.

I had a difficult time balancing the demands of running and school. It wasn't even the training that was the issue as much as the fan worship. First semester freshman year I had 3 shirts ripped by people at the dining hall and the constant requests for photos and autographs made it impossible to eat quietly. Eventually they set up a special room for the XC team so we could sneak in and eat undisturbed. Classes were a sanctuary though getting there and back would sometimes turn into scenes from the movie "Hard Days Night." Life could turn into a fartlek session at any point. I almost felt blessed at times to be a non-scoring runner on the JV squad. I don't know how the guys on the varsity squad were able to cope.

It's definitely worth it, you'll have great memories. But don't go to a school you don't really want to go to just so you can run.If you want to go to a big university but aren't fast enough, there are club teams that you can be a part of.

If you have a D2 school that is appealing to you, that can be an option if you are able to run at a d2 school.

Otherwise if you are the type of person that wants to go to a private d3 school (or some of the few public ones) then go ahead and go there and you can run for that team.

But don't go to a school just because they are the only one to let you on the team if the school itself isn't where you really want to be.

Intense science medical related majors leave little time to be part of a XC/track program. However those are the degrees that will make you money.

In contrast liberal art philosophy type majors leave you plenty of time to be part of a track program. However they make you little money.

I would suggest researching your major interest. Does it leave you room for a “part time job?” Because that’s how time consuming being part of a college running program is.

Scholar Expert wrote:

JUCOs are for idiots. If you aren't smart enough to get discounts at an average D3, you shouldn't waste your time at a JUCO because you are just tgrowing Monet away. Might as well get a job at 18 and you will be further ahead of most at 22. D2 schools are very bad academically also. Get your ACT up and go D3 if you have a real major in mind.

That is so not true. My bf went to community college, then transferred to a 4-year school. He is going to graduate this December with his Bachelors degree and already got a job lined up. His tuition at the 4-year school was also discounted because there is an agreement between the community college he went to and this 4-year school that transfers get a discount on tuition. In my opinion, he did everything right because he saved a lot of money and still got the same outcome as if he would have went to the 4-year school right away. He is in computer science btw.

D-1 athletes on let'srun often cut down D-2 athletes. D-3 athletes on let's run often cut down D-2 athletes because some D-3 schools are considered better academic institutions than some D-2 universities. D-2 athletes have as much pressure to perform as do D-1 athletes. Think Blake in Glengarry Glen Ross. I've been to D-3 T&F meets. I have been to D-3 XC meets. A twenty minute 5K XC female fits right in on a D-3 XC team. D-3 looks like a fun party. On a D-3 XC program, if you're a 11 minute 3000m SC athlete, you do not have to worry about being kicked off the team because of a fast freshman showing up for XC practice in August.

Yes, worth it. I’m 20 years out of college.

One of the biggest shocks of my life has been just how important running has been to my professional success. Things which I considered obvious and route like discipline, organization and time management are leaps and bounds ahead of my non-athletic coworkers. I figured that was how everyone lived because I grew up in a world of people’ with their acts together. Find a d2 / d3 school that’s affordable and at least ok academics. Walk on and make friends for life. Keep running in it’s place - you are a professional student, not a runner. Other than easy coast blue blood areas nobody is going to care where your degree is from but the extra debt to get a ‘big name’ degree will always be there.

If smart, you woukd receive a discounted rate at a D3 making it cheaper than a JUCO.. JUCOs are for kids who are dumb. That's just a fact.

I think of it like this. You're probably going to run anyways so might as well be on the team and compete. Unless you hate competitions. I know some guys who LOVE to train but do not want to race ever. They just like to run.

Truer than true wrote:

If smart, you woukd receive a discounted rate at a D3 making it cheaper than a JUCO.. JUCOs are for kids who are dumb. That's just a fact.

Some community colleges are darn near free, books and small fee per quarter. How does one beat that at a private D-3?

sbeefyk2 wrote:

I think of it like this. You're probably going to run anyways so might as well be on the team and compete. Unless you hate competitions. I know some guys who LOVE to train but do not want to race ever. They just like to run.

I think about like this:

If you're not motivated to run anyway, you need the team. If you are, you don't. If you needed it at 15 you might still at 20. If not, ignore the coach, team, and all that goes with it.

Which one?

Yes. So worth it.

I'm at a remove of 41 years from running middle distance in college. It was so worthwhile, still have many friends including my most excellent coach.

Still running, about to do my first marathon. Why not? The running life is a good life.

I think that the best thing about running in college is automatically gaining a whole group of friends. For me the team is really why I'm still running not the running itself.

You can walk on at some d3 schools. Choosing a college I could run at was the most decision I made. With nothing else to tie me to a school, it would have been very boring and felt meaningless otherwise.

Yes, if for no other reason...the travel. You get to go new places for free. I live in Pennsylvania, but have been to every state on the west coast and most southern and eastern states (even spending weekends in NYC) all through college XC and Track. My daughter now runs in college and is having a similar experience.

Of course be sure to find a college that suits your career choice and be ready for higher expectations from your college coach.

I was a decent runner and swimmer in high school who faced a similar situation way back when. I finally made a decision to focus on academics (finding my major and excelling at it), but to compete in intramural sports at a big D1 school. For me it was the right decision as I eventually found a major that I liked and even went on for a PhD. I made lifetime friends in my academic program. Also, I found jobs through the University that allowed me to gain experience in my chosen field.

Running would NOT have been worth it for me since I would have left college with less experience and less money.

Later, one of my kids, who was a DI recruited runner, chose to run, but in that case it was worth it because it meant travel, lifetime friends, and a nearly free quality education. It was tough, though, balancing academics with the travel and competition. It would be hard for me to rationalize running in school without a scholarship unless your family is wealthy and paying for it.

bennyyyv wrote:

I think that the best thing about running in college is automatically gaining a whole group of friends. For me the team is really why I'm still running not the running itself.

Not sure about this claim. In HS I had great friends through running but they weren't on the school track team. So, if I had joined it I would have been surrounded by either strangers or enemies (hard to say how many of each since I didn't know who was on it) and may have gotten beaten up regularly given there were a bunch of them and one of me (and that was a normal occupancy in that town).

Would this have been different on a college team? Maybe. There wouldn't have been friends from before since they'd be coming from different schools in different areas and not known each other. So the issue of having gone to the 'other' junior high or middle school wouldn't exist. Still, cliques would form and I doubt I'd have been friends with the college team if I had ended up on that path. Do you beat the heck out of somebody on your first day? How do you gain respect in that situation?

Unless running is what got you into the college you wanted, then its not worth it. Unless you enjoy the racing, or the team involvement.

If you are in college for an education, the its not worth it. Leave Tuesday morning and back on Sunday afternoon. You may as well not be in college.

40 years later it doesn't matter.

Now, If you got into school on a scholarship, or some method that got you where you wanted, then of course its worth it.