A question of ethics, running, and lifting...

T

ThomasJ

USMA Class of 2028
Joined
Jan 14, 2021
Messages
214
This summer, I joined cross country after taking part in football for my first two years of high school. I did this in order to improve my running for the CFA, as it was probably my weakest spot. Anyways, I was asked to stay behind after cross country practice two days ago. My mom, as assistant coach, asked what he would say for whether I should lift the day before a meet (which I already was considering not doing, or at least going light). The head coach, a man who is very passionate about his sport, told me that I can't lift for the rest of the season, which is roughly two months, though he said it was 4-5 weeks. He told me don't "f*** this opportunity up." He proceeded to ask me if I thought I know everything (which of course I don't), and when I asked if I could think about it for a day or two, he stormed off and slapped the papers he was holding against his leg violently. I, feeling forced, asked him to wait and told him I'd stop lifting. I ran varsity for the last meet, and my time ensures that I should be varsity for the next as well, but I worry that he won't run me varsity if I continue to lift. He thinks me lifting makes me sore, and he's a very old-school guy who probably thinks I'm muscle bound, though I'm really 160 pounds. For me, lifting is a passion and one of my favorite things in life. I need it to excel in wrestling and pole vault, two sports I really enjoy. I see three, maybe more options, and am looking for any input you may have into my situation.
1. Quit lifting for the season, at the cost of muscle mass and strength.
2. Quit cross country, and not have a varsity letter for fall of my junior year, but continue lifting,
3. Do calisthenics (weighted) and not gain a lot of muscle or strength but do my best to maintain, and do cross country.
What do you think?
 
I think the question is are you more concerned about getting into a service academy or do you really want that varsity letter?

How fast a runner are you now? Are you still on the wrestling team? Trying to figure out the why or how come your mother is engaging with the coach on your behalf?

Maybe a USMA type can speak to how much the run time is a factor.
 
GWU PNS said:
I think the question is are you more concerned about getting into a service academy or do you really want that varsity letter?

How fast a runner are you now? Are you still on the wrestling team? Trying to figure out the why or how come your mother is engaging with the coach on your behalf?

Maybe a USMA type can speak to how much the run time is a factor.
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OP indicated his mom is the assistant coach.

During our DS's cycle applying to USMA, his Regional Coordinator told him not to submit his CFA until he had his mile at 6:30 or less. Bearing in mind, the CFA is only 10% of the overall calculus in an application.
 
Heatherg21 said:
OP indicated his mom is the assistant coach.

During our DS's cycle applying to USMA, his Regional Coordinator told him not to submit his CFA until he had his mile at 6:30 or less. Bearing in mind, the CFA is only 10% of the overall calculus in an application.
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So the 6:30 seems like a good bench mark I think. At least to try and get the max points for the CFA.

I guess if mom is the asst coach it makes a little more sense. I am just trying to figure why this became such a do or die issue or if the coach has explained before not to be bulking up during the cross country season.

I was just musing in my mind with some free time, but two freshman mids have managed to nearly smoke out our lounge by forgetting that their chinese takeout has metal handles when they microwaved it. So, duty calls me to greater pursuits......😞
 
GWU PNS said:
So the 6:30 seems like a good bench mark I think. At least to try and get the max points for the CFA.

I guess if mom is the asst coach it makes a little more sense. I am just trying to figure why this became such a do or die issue or if the coach has explained before not to be bulking up during the cross country season.

I was just musing in my mind with some free time, but two freshman mids have managed to nearly smoke out our lounge by forgetting that their chinese takeout has metal handles when they microwaved it. So, duty calls me to greater pursuits......😞
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Away, away the damage control party.

This is what they pay you the big bucks for.
 
DS ran xc and wouldnt touch weights until after season. Main reason his CFA was dated Jan 30th
 
What's your goal? My daughter plays 3 sports. One of which is her passion and she made the commitment to play at USNA. She practices and trains for that sport constantly. That includes running and lifting weights consistently. Her mile was 5:50 for CFA. She does not do X-country. If your goal is the best mile, I don't believe that sport is necessary. If the goal is making varsity you may have to bend to the viewpoint of a dinosaur. Most runners I know lift and or do bodyweight workouts. Only you can decide that. Good luck.
 
GWU PNS said:
Well, there are two Midshipmen who wish they had asbestos underpants on when I summoned Gunny to restore order and discipline. PQS development for the microwave is in progress 😎
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Memory of our DD and her bestie. Bestie showed DD how to cook ramen in a microwave. DD, who is brilliant, then put said noodle in microwave sans liquid. Flames ensued.

Entire toy hauler was smoked out. The smell of burnt plastic was incredible.

Win was she came running to us alerting us to the issue. Thank goodness. When we sold that thing in my mind I could still smell melted ramen noodles.

She is now pre law and killing it in life. Fun parent memories.
 
GWU PNS said:
I think the question is are you more concerned about getting into a service academy or do you really want that varsity letter?

How fast a runner are you now? Are you still on the wrestling team? Trying to figure out the why or how come your mother is engaging with the coach on your behalf?

Maybe a USMA type can speak to how much the run time is a factor.
Click to expand...
I'm definitely more concerned about getting into a service academy, which is why I feel that being varsity is very important. Also, I'm a slowish runner, with my first mile of my 5k yesterday being 7:01, still a PR. I'm still on the wrestling team. The reason my mother engaged with him is that she thought it was important to know whether or not I should lift before a race, which the coach then turned into a much larger issue.
 
The coach wasn't as concerned about me bulking up inseason I think, so much as me being sore and fatiguing my body.
 
ThomasJ said:
I'm definitely more concerned about getting into a service academy, which is why I feel that being varsity is very important. Also, I'm a slowish runner, with my first mile of my 5k yesterday being 7:01, still a PR. I'm still on the wrestling team. The reason my mother engaged with him is that she thought it was important to know whether or not I should lift before a race, which the coach then turned into a much larger issue.
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Is wrestling varsity? Also what about the football team you mentioned, is that varsity?
 
My wrestling should be, but I'm opting not to do football this year in order to do cross-country.
 
@ThomasJ are you expecting to make varsity cross country if you quit lifting? I’m not sure of the standard where you are but the varsity time where I’m from is under 18 minutes.
 
ThomasJ said:
My wrestling should be, but I'm opting not to do football this year in order to do cross-country.
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Uhhh, i feel like this is a bad idea. Don’t the academies like to see dedication? And since you did football the last 2 years already it doesn’t make sense to me to quit football for xc. Idk though, but seems like you have to change a lot of things just to improve your mile. If wrestling is varsity then you have the varsity letter. You can train running on your own time after lifting or during football practice can’t you? Idk how football practice works
 
Here are my two cents for what it’s worth, def do not lift the day before an important race. Those days should be easy all around if you are looking to race well. After that you need to decide why you are running. If you want the fastest mile time for your CFA you’ll want to listen to the xc coach and switch to strength and core workouts for the season, not heavy lifting like football players do. There’s a reason most elite runners don't look like football players. My DD did alot of planks, pull ups, sit ups, etc. instead of lifting. If you are running to prep for wrestling season, then I would talk to your wrestling coach and make a plan. You can still have a fun this fall but be prepped for the sport you really enjoy.
 
If you are asking opinion - Do what your coach says. You joined the team. He is the person who is the expect by the position that he was placed as the coach. There are two sides to every story and we are hearing yours. Be a great teammate and finish your commitment to the team and follow the coaching. The dinosaur may have a perspective or knowledge to share with you. There are going to be many opportunities in the future that do not perfectly fit your plans. Goal be a GREAT TEAMMATE & TEAM MEMBER all the best.
 
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