For all runners crying about missing outdoors due to COVID-19, read this post.

fatherrunner wrote:

You can enter open meets and run unattached in college, later. Relax. Go back to "base phase" and re-tool for cross country and indoors. It's not the end of the world (yes, you too "the athlete special." Be happy you're not one of the Olympians who might have their dreams taken from them this summer.

What open meets? Pretty much all meets have been cancelled. Even local 5Ks are being cancelled. And many colleges have completely shut down athletics - no practice, no access to facilities.

fatherrunner wrote:

You can enter open meets and run unattached in college, later. Relax. Go back to "base phase" and re-tool for cross country and indoors. It's not the end of the world (yes, you too "the athlete special." Be happy you're not one of the Olympians who might have their dreams taken from them this summer.

That's part of the problem. Schools are shutting down all athletics events in the wake of the hysteria, so there are no unattached meets to speak of. Later yes, definitely, but right now no.

And for the collegians hoping to qualify for the Trials this spring, yeah their Olympic dreams are over. So it is a bigger deal for a lot of people than you're making it out to be.

Even if "open meets" exist, you are not respecting the need to reduce the risk of spreading if you go.

But I agree it's a good time to retool. Fixing postures, forms, strength and flexibility, and various other tweaks that you just don't have time or may be counterproductive once your into scheduled race preparation (due to need for more recovery) can now be done. Also, more time to read the classics (Lydiard, Daniels, etc.) with more thinking and rumination (not usually possible if you have the urgency to take a position and just do it due to tight schedule).

The first 3 responders do not know what "later" means.

Please don't spread false info regarding running unattached. The NCAA considers unattached competition utilizing eligibility, with exemptions for national team qualifying meets (ie. U20s, USAs). It's why we've seen open or redshirt runners disappear from collegiate meets since the early 2000s.

Unless they override this, club/AAU etc. racing this spring during the standard season dates due to faulty advice will lose students their outdoor eligibility.

The outdoor season could be later applied to a 5th year if properly maintained through following policy this spring.

fatherrunner wrote:

You can enter open meets and run unattached in college, later. Relax. Go back to "base phase" and re-tool for cross country and indoors. It's not the end of the world (yes, you too "the athlete special." Be happy you're not one of the Olympians who might have their dreams taken from them this summer.

But my running is more important than other people's lives!

This is literally the worst thing to ever happen to me.

I can't even.

Bad take. It's okay to be upset if you've worked for 4-5 years to get to a point where you're a national contender only for it to be taken away from you.

Free willy wrote:

Even if "open meets" exist, you are not respecting the need to reduce the risk of spreading if you go.

But I agree it's a good time to retool. Fixing postures, forms, strength and flexibility, and various other tweaks that you just don't have time or may be counterproductive once your into scheduled race preparation (due to need for more recovery) can now be done. Also, more time to read the classics (Lydiard, Daniels, etc.) with more thinking and rumination (not usually possible if you have the urgency to take a position and just do it due to tight schedule).

When I quickly glanced at your post, I honestly thought that you were talking about "classics" like Tolstoy and Shakespeare. But I agree that modern runners can still learn a lot from someone like Lydiard, if they're willing to put in, as you say, "more thinking and rumination" about his ideas.

It sucks for everyone who put a ton of time and effort only to have their seasons and races cancelled, yeah, but there are bigger problems right now than anyone not being able to race. My season is over too, but I care a LOT less about a few races than I do about my immunocompromised family and friends who could've gotten sick without things being shut down. Obviously I'm nowhere near Olympic level so I can't speak for them, but I would guess that the general consensus is something along the lines of people's lives being more valuable than any sporting event.

You could spend this time doing road/trail runs with occasional time trials. If you can get your times down a bit just running by yourself right now, you'll be a lot better off once everything resumes again.

Yes, later exists, but I’m a senior in high school with a legitimate shot at a pair of individual titles and my team has a shot at winning. I’ve never experienced a track team championship or an individual in xc or track. I can’t get this year back. It sucks, but I also know that “if sport is the most important thing in your life, you’re living a good life”. Don’t make it something smaller than it is though, because all the seniors out there are getting screwed.

How about a wee bit of perspective kiddo? In short order your school running will be a very small speck in your rear view mirror. Many, many peoples' lives are at risk, right now. Get with the program. You'll tell your grandkids about this someday. Hopefully they'll care more about you than you seem to about the older set.

Bob Washington wrote:

Yes, later exists, but I’m a senior in high school with a legitimate shot at a pair of individual titles and my team has a shot at winning. I’ve never experienced a track team championship or an individual in xc or track. I can’t get this year back. It sucks, but I also know that “if sport is the most important thing in your life, you’re living a good life”. Don’t make it something smaller than it is though, because all the seniors out there are getting screwed.

Zante wrote:

That's part of the problem. Schools are shutting down all athletics events in the wake of the hysteria,...

Well then, solve your own problem. Mass Tweet your locale area and ask for all unconcerned runners to do a regular meet up with on-the-fly events. Have part of your mass to volunteer to time others, and rotate the volunteer thing around. No more worries.

Sounds like you’re the type of guy whose life peaks in high school.

Al Bundy scored four touchdowns in one game for Polk High

Avocado's Number wrote:

Free willy wrote:

Also, more time to read the classics (Lydiard, Daniels, etc.) with more thinking and rumination (not usually possible if you have the urgency to take a position and just do it due to tight schedule).

When I quickly glanced at your post, I honestly thought that you were talking about "classics" like Tolstoy and Shakespeare. But I agree that modern runners can still learn a lot from someone like Lydiard, if they're willing to put in, as you say, "more thinking and rumination" about his ideas.

His classics include "See Spot Run." If running is involved it is a runners's classic.

You say to look at that perspective, but you're completely ignoring his. Maybe when he's 50 he'll be fine with missing out on this, I'm sure he's got his best years ahead of him, but at this point in time, he's probably at his best year so far and to have that crashing down sucks. He also acknowledged that he's still got a good life, so he does have bigger picture perspective there.

I am in the best shape of my life and had every hope of reaching a mile time to get on my college team. Not sure what I can even do now. I could do a walk on time trial for the coach but they can't even do in person meetings, time trials, or campus visits at all. I'm totally confused as to what step to take next. All meets are canceled.

You sit and wait, and engage in social distancing, like we all will, that's what you do. This is bigger than any of us or our momentary needs.

PERSPECTIVE.

More people die in car accidents. Life is always at risk that doesn’t mean sport needs to be taken away from all of us!

It's over. The NCAA and most states have already called the season. Redshirting is an option for scholarship athletes but student athletes that are graduating or are paying for school will have to take a loss. Maybe this will teach us a lesson about free trade with communist sh*thole countries. Not to mention they are now threatening. to withhold medicine.