First, before I begin, track was something that I did clear back in the 6th grade. I ran cross country all four years and finished it with a 17:50. I fully enjoyed cross country and the coaches were great. Now that track has started, I’m not so sure that the passion is there anymore.
In track I run the 400 (53 sec), 200 (23 sec), 4x400, and maybe a 4x200. The idea of dropping the sport didn’t hit me until It started conflicting with my other hobbies. One of them is bodybuilding. I had great success with it after the xc season ended until track started. I can’t go as hard as I did before because of the intense workouts I have to do for the 400.
I’m always tired when I come home and trying to focus in school is a struggle. I’ve been told that I need to lift less so I can lose weight to get faster. But that really doesn’t agree with me mentally. I can’t see myself getting skinnier though the season. I’ve already talked to others about my situation, but I’m finding it hard on what decision to make.
Unless you’re at the point where you’re a recruited athlete, these are considered extracurricular activities. Colleges like to see a commitment and focus on any activity over many years. I’ve you’ve been active in both for a while, I would say colleges aren’t going to care too much about which hobby you choose to pursue. So from a college perspective (this is CC, after all), there’s little difference.
I’ll leave it to the physiologists for details, but the needs of mass/bulk muscle and lean fast twitch muscle for the two activities do seem to be at odds, to this novice.
Agree, unless you are a recruited athlete for track it is perfectly fine to stop the sport in favor of another activities you prefer. Just consider if you will miss anything about track (ex. is it a social outlet for you that bodybuilding doesn’t provide etc.) before you quit.
IMO part of the HS (and college) expereince should be trying different things and finding what you truly enjoy.
Honestly, you have to do what’s best for you. If quitting track is the best option for you, then everything will work out somehow. I doubt a college is going to reject you because you chose something else senior year, and if anything, it’s showing how you’re narrowing and developing your interests.
Are you a junior thinking of quitting next year or a senior currently on the track team?
If a junior, were you hoping to be recruited for track
If a senior,is any of your college offers contingent on your running track for them?
If the answer to either of these questions is “no”, you ran cross country so you demonstrated commitment to an activity, and you have other activities. Do think about the social aspect of being on a team though.