<p>I do a lot of running. I've run four half marathons, a marathon, and will soon run an ultra marathon (50 miles). Although I don't have amazing times or anything, can I count this as an EC? Will it look decent, or will it just be a waste of space?</p>
<p>I think it looks good.</p>
<p>I feel like you can write your essay on running :D</p>
<p>I’m in the same situation, I’ve run five marathons but I don’t know if it will help me because I didn’t win/place in anything…</p>
<p>Definitely include-- colleges love kids that run, swim or participate in other independent activities- it shows grit.</p>
<p>Let me get this right. You guys have run marathons as teenagers, and you’re tossing that around as if it’s just another EC comparable to let’s say debate, quiz bowl, etc? I would be happy just to be able to survive a half-marathon! Of course it’s going to look great!</p>
<p>Yes. Marathon running is extremely impressive–it displays very strong willpower and mental toughness, as well as long-term training & determination. I’d seriously consider writing my essay about it if I were you.</p>
<p>Participating in marathons and triathlons helped my daughter land her first job right out of college. It is a great talking point.</p>
<p>I’ll take the contrary pov: long distance running is an individual pursuit, and while an accomplishment, I’m not sure adcoms much care. They’d rather see accomplishments resulting from teamwork.</p>
<p>To make running into a really valuable EC, get some donations/pledges per mile and raise, say $10k for the homeless or charity of your passion. Start a running club for inner city grade schoolers to keep them out of gangs.</p>
<p>btw: I would suggest that marathons, particularly ultras, are not good for teenage bodies…too much potential damage to still-developing parts. (There is a reason that cross country is limited to just a few miles.)</p>
<p>I respectfully disagree with making running into another “Oh I started some charity or fundraiser and did community service. Or I’m a leader that can start stuff.” Running is a perfectly fine EC, there have been ppl on CC that have gotten into Stanford when they wrote about how passionate they were about it. I mean seriously. How many of all the college applicants in the United States will have run marathons, if you want to look at this from the uniqueness pov?</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for throwing in your two cents!</p>
<p>Ditto what cpraf104 wrote – I think that if you turn your marathon running into another “oh, I raised money to save a child in Africa” it then becomes less authentic to you (OK, for those who know my postings, “authentic” is my buzz word…). Do what is right for you – marathon running is AbSOLUTELY an extracurricular. Who cares if you didn’t get a medal. Under the “details/honors” – give a brief description about how you plan your training leading up to the marathon (that takes organization and dedication) and how many hours/miles a week you tend to run…) Be true to yourself and worry less about how many ECs you have on your app or how another kid built a water windmill in Kenya. Good luck!!!</p>
<p>I’ve ran a marathon, and two half-marathons . Of course it will look goo</p>
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<p>I’ll take the contrary-to-your-contrary POV: If there is one skill any student needs to excel in college, it is the ability to pursue personal goals independently with passion and diligence.</p>
<p>Teamwork is great, and demonstrates the ability to collaborate effectively and mesh with the social fabric of an established institution. Adcoms do pay attention to it, and rightly so. No one attends college in a vacuum, and they are building a community that requires students to live, work, and play together.</p>
<p>However, that does not make individual independent achievement irrelevant to their concerns. Far from it. </p>
<p>Anyone who can keep mind and body focused through 26.2 miles of pain is someone who can and will summon the strength to deal with the inevitable adversities of college.</p>
<p>Admissions committees absolutely WILL care, for the same reason they give weight to graduate school applicants who have completed a senior thesis: Nothing is a better predictor of success in higher education than the ability to take on lengthy, difficult, independent projects.</p>
<p>d as an ec.</p>