tw1026

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Jun 6, 2016
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I was wondering if anyone had any insight into what it is like to be on the Academy's track and/or cross country teams. How is it different from other sports in terms of practice time? What are practices like? Also, what is it like to be a walk-on?
Any information at all on the experience would be great. (I've emailed the coach asking for more information but haven't gotten a response yet)
 
My DD graduated last year. She ran cross country/indoor/outdoor track all 4 yrs. Middle and distance runners are in season the whole year, workouts , practices or long runs on own, almost daily. Meets are usually weekends, so leaving for a trip in mid week , like some other sports, are rarer. I think she probably spent on average 2-3 hrs/day involved with practice: coming/going warm-up, practice, cool-down etc. Usually there is an opportunity during BCT to try-out as a walk-on. If accepted, it is the same for all runners regarding training. Not all runners travel to all meets though. Coach is still busy with runners going to NCAA championship, so you may hear after that. Good luck.
 
Lots of older threads about doing sports at an SA. Your first priority needs to be keeping up with your academics so you successfully graduate and also improves your chance for 1st choice of service selection. You really don't know how tough you will find the academics until you are actually there. With all of the demands on your time, many don't find they have time for all of what is required AND do a varsity sport. If you aren't one of the top runners, you will still tie up as much time as the rest of team in practice, only to find you don't get to travel or actually participate in meets.
 
Anyone happen to know how fast a mid- or long-distance runner usually has to be to walk on at USAFA? I've heard that SAs sometimes have JV squads that just run home meets, and looking through the results on their MileSplit pages that seems to be the case as they have some slower people running their home meets.
 
Also, if you're looking at the 1500 meter times, I was surprised at first, but then I found out that the 4:40ish runners are not 1500 runners, they do the decathlon.
 
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