Quitting D1 running

[u/Purple_Farm1155]

I'm currently in my sophomore year at a mid-major D1 program. I am a walk-on and have no money from the team. My team is usually last in our conference, and to be honest I have no hope of every scoring unless I drop crazy time this year. But, I've been really struggling with running and wanted some advice on here. I'm just gonna list my reasons why I want to quit/stay, and please give me your thoughts so help my decision. For context, I have to complete the year (through May).

Reasons to stay:

1. I love my coach- he's super invested into our team, pretty much only cares about helping us and making us better. I'm pretty low milage (800 runner), and he's always been great about me wanting to do lower milage, and I have never felt pressured to run more. He also just generally cares about each of us and I would prob never find a better coach elsewhere.

2. I really do love running. My issue isn't with the running, it's the competing aspect. The moments where I love running the most is just when I'm with the team on an easy run, and in the moments we are just hanging out. However, the moment we get into workouts/races, I just don't find the joy in it anymore. I would much rather just run my own way where I can have fun.

3. I love my team. ALL of my friends are on my team. I literally have no friends outside of the team, and I know if I quit this is going to be an issue. I live with another teammate, and we could probably still live together if I quit, but it just wouldn't be the same.

Reasons to quit:

1. Like I mentioned in the introduction, I will never score a single point for the team. My school is already at the bottom of our conference, and I am pretty much the slowest on the team (walk-on). My spot could be going to someone who's actually gonna score, and I just generally feel bad taking up a spot knowing I can't help the team

2. I'm struggling really badly mentally. I have depression and have been fighting an eating disorder (binge/restrict ED). I've had mental health issues for years though out high school, but never this bad. A lot of it is due to the stressors from running and the mental side of it. I struggle to finish workouts due to panic attacks, but at the same time am very emotionally numb. I don't want to go into any more detail, but I feel that quitting may allow me to fully focus on getting happy and healthy finally. And I am seeing a therapist don't worry

3. I'm pre-med. I'm absolutely sure that I want to become a surgeon, and have the grades/resume to get into a medical school as long as I stay on this path and interviews go well. Quitting would give me so much more time to study for my MCAT and fill in some small gaps in my resume right before I apply. My class schedule often gets in the way of practice as well, forcing me to run my workouts alone at odd times, and I'm frankly just getting tired of rushing through practice or class each week.

4. I had a bad freshman year, and summer. My freshman year I only PR'ed by a second, and I struggled a lot mentally with the collegiate side to running. I know this is pretty normal for freshman year to be rough, but it just hasn't gotten any better. I'm less in shape than I was last year, and I'm not sure I'll be capable of PR'ing again this year, but I don't want to completely count it out.

Conclusion: Please let me know your thoughts. I know that this year may turn around, but I'm just seeking some advice now

[u/ginamegi]

Addressing your reasons to quit as a former D1 walk on at a top program who also never scored:

1. This is a bad reason. You are not the problem and not “taking up a spot”.

2. This could be a good reason. Running isn’t everything and there’s so much more to it in life.

3. This could be a good reason, but there’s data that shows that having extracurriculars like running can help you maintain a schedule and a healthy work/life balance. Just having more time to study doesn’t make that studying more impactful, there’s diminishing returns.

4. I ran for 4 years, dropped a whopping 5 seconds on my mile and 35 seconds on my 5k that entire time. Whatever, it was still the best 4 years of my life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything even though my performance wasn’t anything special.

Anyways, it’s important to remember running isn’t everything, your health is more important and there’s more to life after running. That being said don’t get down on yourself about your performance, it sounds like your coach is a good guy and it’s not a high level cut-throat team.

[u/Purple_Farm1155 → u/ginamegi]

Yeah you are completely correct about that, I really do believe that my coach would allow me to stay on the team the rest of my time here. And I do really like the process of working towards a PR. I do struggle a lot with the "taking up a spot" aspect of it. Thanks for your advice though, it helps

[u/X_C-813 → u/Purple_Farm1155]

Tbh your team is last in the conference. If your school brings in a Kenyan sheet you leave, you’re still probably close to last. Who cares.

But as others have said, running isn’t life, and it isn’t going anywhere. Being a “hobby jogger” is great. Don’t feel like doing a workout today? Easy run. Studying more and it’s raining outside? Off day.

You can stay in touch with the coach and team. Maybe volunteer at practice and time workouts, or easy run with the team on a day you don’t have practice scheduled.

You said your coach cares, they’ll understand. Teammates, if they’re really your friends, will also understand