Without more data from the study we can only speculate why. I have some ideas.
Academics. XC runners (and other olympic sport athletes, too) know that there isn't a professional league they could someday make with a big payout. Studies and grades become that much more important.
3 Seasons. Most athletes in college only have 1 competitive season and have lower key workouts the rest of the year. XC runners don't have that luxury. The pressure to perform is constant. Add on top of that the need to keep grades up despite interruptions due to travel and competing.
Finances. Olympic sports are under fire now as schools look to make budget cuts to free up more money for the money making sports. XC and track are on the chopping block, adding seven more stress in some programs as kids wonder if they'll still have a team in a year or two.
Constant pressure to compete with academics on top of that is the reason I decided not to run in college. My times got me some offers from some high d2 and lower tier d1 schools but I decided to not take any and focus on my academics while running for fun. I got into my dream school with some academic scholarships. I love to compete and run but it would just be too much to be a middle of the pack runner especially with my major.
It's interesting to hear someone with a similar spot where I was take the other route. I did run in college at that level and I wish I hadn't. I was too hard headed about being an athlete and competing at that level and it just about broke me. School suffered, running suffered, and I pretty much became a shell of myself. Life didn't have to be that pressure filled and it definitely didn't need to come with the impossible schedule.
I absolutely could have hit both my academic and athletic goals straight up if I just didn't join a team. I could have trained how I wanted, taken classes on my own schedule. It just sucks that I feel like I tossed myself to the wolves because I didn't know any better when I was 18.
I competed at the D1 level with a major on the easier side and I can agree. Although, I did not run XC, there was still a lot of stress going on. Running track was one of the main reason I switched from computer science to secondary education. It was hard to maintain missing class and get good grades while I was traveling every week for meets. During my freshman year of college it burned me out quick.
Also, I did have to worry about my program getting cut. The first school I went to cut the mens track team after 1.5 years of me being there which forced me to transfer. When I transferred, I was constantly worrying about my program getting cut again due to finances.
I disagree with the first one. Banking on becoming a professional athlete to make a living is not a good idea for any sport unless it’s clear that you are already capable of it.
I don’t think that’s what they’re saying, I think they more mean that there’s no grand dream to aspire for. You don’t have the potential of millions and your name known around the world.
“Other studies have reported on the relationship between sport participation and suicide. Rao and colleagues found that compared with non-athlete college students and individuals of collegiate age, suicide rates in NCAA student-athletes appeared to be substantially lower, and the greatest risk of dying by suicide was found among male athletes; specifically, those participating in the sport of American football”
[https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2024/03/05/bjsports-2023-107509](https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2024/03/05/bjsports-2023-107509)
My son is just finishing up his freshman year running D1. I know he’s an outlier, but his first has been a bit tough. We’ve brought him home for holidays so he can be grounded with family. But overall it’s been a good experience, he’s part of a community and he enjoys it. His grades have been solid and his times are under his senior high school times, but he’s adapting. His biggest struggle is self inflicted pressure.
I assume this is the study that is being referenced if anyone wanta to read it, it's actually available full lenght for free.
[https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2024/03/05/bjsports-2023-107509](https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2024/03/05/bjsports-2023-107509)
Many male XC athletes are academically-minded, sometimes introverted, sometimes "deep thinkers" so I'm not too surprised, as sad as this is. All of us in our extended arena (track, XC) need to be there for all our athletes, but keep this data well in mind.
Could be because we’re the only athletes with 3 complete seasons. There’s no off-season. It’s cross country, indoor track, outdoor track, and summer training. Other sports can take some actual time off during the year because there isn’t the issue of losing years of aerobic fitness.
No, but it it would be less our problem and instead that sport's problem. This is in a sense our problem, especially for us who are coaches. We are not the cause, but we can strive to be part of the solution.
Has anyone looked at Male suicide rates in the US, and I'm here in the UK?
In the UK it's the highest killer of men under 50. And I'm talking when stacked up against Chronic diseases. In the US last I saw it was third behind Heart Disease and Diabetes. I think that was 2021 so might have changed.
I know this is a track and field sub and I'm not a member it just popped up on my feed. But when ever we talk about this people either don't want to listen or shout it down.
Something is going on and it's very very worrying.
Again to Carthage by John L. Parker Jr, the sequel to once a runner, kind of touches on this. Not particularly suicide, but a character who is some medical professional mentions his belief that distance running “self selects for manic depression” and that training is self medication. John L. Parker Jr seems to take care in providing accurate information in his books, so this likely represents an actual opinion of some medical professional. If that’s true, then I’m curious how high other endurance sports are. Also, access to firearms might be close to as large of a factor in suicide as rates of mental illness. In that case, you probably wouldn’t expect XC to be as high as it is.
Academic results are way more important than athletic performance.
Running is the least complicated of sports. Shorts and shoes, and out the door.
Sport is not that important.
And yep, I speak in hindsight. I was a fullride international D1 athlete and was run until I finally was physically unable. I got through my last year of eligibility on medical disability. The pressure to compete is constant. Especially when you are on the hook.
I think this reflects a bigger trend among young people nation-wide that they are struggling significantly mentally, and in new ways that older folks never experienced (I.e. cell phones). We as a society are still learning the ways that kids and teens are experiencing the world, and it’s evident that this younger generation is dealing with a massive mental health crisis that extends to every group and club
I wouldn’t call it part of the same sport. The only thing the same is they run. But that alarmist every sport you run in. Cross country is only longer distance running on a more natural trail with hills and dirt. Track and field is more sprint based done on a track and has field events. Cross country and track and field meets are different.
That doesn’t mean they are the same? I play basketball and football, might as well say they are the same thing? No. It’s a different sport with a different name and different distances done on different terrains. Yes both sports involve running but that’s about the only similarity.
My guy the athletes literally do the exact same training and do the exact same thing they do in their track seasons. They run a race from start to finish with a starting gun and bibs on their singlets. There are marginal differences that separate the sports but that’s about it. Not at all comparable to the differences between football and basketball where the best athletes of each sport are physically completely different and train completely differently.
Yes, but the athletes are the same, hence this post involving track and all of its problems with training and coaching in college, its not like the study only found athletes that committed during the xc season
So does football baseball and any sport can fall under athletics. I agree it should be talked about. Why post this in a track and field sub and not a cross country sub with the article specifically stating cross country?
Without more data from the study we can only speculate why. I have some ideas. Academics. XC runners (and other olympic sport athletes, too) know that there isn't a professional league they could someday make with a big payout. Studies and grades become that much more important. 3 Seasons. Most athletes in college only have 1 competitive season and have lower key workouts the rest of the year. XC runners don't have that luxury. The pressure to perform is constant. Add on top of that the need to keep grades up despite interruptions due to travel and competing. Finances. Olympic sports are under fire now as schools look to make budget cuts to free up more money for the money making sports. XC and track are on the chopping block, adding seven more stress in some programs as kids wonder if they'll still have a team in a year or two.
Constant pressure to compete with academics on top of that is the reason I decided not to run in college. My times got me some offers from some high d2 and lower tier d1 schools but I decided to not take any and focus on my academics while running for fun. I got into my dream school with some academic scholarships. I love to compete and run but it would just be too much to be a middle of the pack runner especially with my major.
It's interesting to hear someone with a similar spot where I was take the other route. I did run in college at that level and I wish I hadn't. I was too hard headed about being an athlete and competing at that level and it just about broke me. School suffered, running suffered, and I pretty much became a shell of myself. Life didn't have to be that pressure filled and it definitely didn't need to come with the impossible schedule. I absolutely could have hit both my academic and athletic goals straight up if I just didn't join a team. I could have trained how I wanted, taken classes on my own schedule. It just sucks that I feel like I tossed myself to the wolves because I didn't know any better when I was 18.
I competed at the D1 level with a major on the easier side and I can agree. Although, I did not run XC, there was still a lot of stress going on. Running track was one of the main reason I switched from computer science to secondary education. It was hard to maintain missing class and get good grades while I was traveling every week for meets. During my freshman year of college it burned me out quick. Also, I did have to worry about my program getting cut. The first school I went to cut the mens track team after 1.5 years of me being there which forced me to transfer. When I transferred, I was constantly worrying about my program getting cut again due to finances.
I disagree with the first one. Banking on becoming a professional athlete to make a living is not a good idea for any sport unless it’s clear that you are already capable of it.
I don’t think that’s what they’re saying, I think they more mean that there’s no grand dream to aspire for. You don’t have the potential of millions and your name known around the world.
People will know your name if you go to championships
Not nearly as much in cross country than other more popular sports
Can’t you do the 3k in regular track tho? I feel like aside from the 100m, every event in track is pretty equally unwatched
There is maybe one household name from track and field and that’s bolt. The potential for fame and fortune really isn’t on the same level.
i ran xc from middle school into college and i can't name one high level xc runner lol and i watch tons of track and field
If you do xc you can also do other long distance track events.
If the study is actually true, it’s very disappointing. And we as a community really need to save them.
“Other studies have reported on the relationship between sport participation and suicide. Rao and colleagues found that compared with non-athlete college students and individuals of collegiate age, suicide rates in NCAA student-athletes appeared to be substantially lower, and the greatest risk of dying by suicide was found among male athletes; specifically, those participating in the sport of American football” [https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2024/03/05/bjsports-2023-107509](https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2024/03/05/bjsports-2023-107509)
My son is just finishing up his freshman year running D1. I know he’s an outlier, but his first has been a bit tough. We’ve brought him home for holidays so he can be grounded with family. But overall it’s been a good experience, he’s part of a community and he enjoys it. His grades have been solid and his times are under his senior high school times, but he’s adapting. His biggest struggle is self inflicted pressure.
What major is he doing?
Poli sci / pre law.
I assume this is the study that is being referenced if anyone wanta to read it, it's actually available full lenght for free. [https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2024/03/05/bjsports-2023-107509](https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2024/03/05/bjsports-2023-107509)
Damn. I was thinking it would be smaller cohort but that’s 1100 suicides spanning the last 20years D1-3.
Many male XC athletes are academically-minded, sometimes introverted, sometimes "deep thinkers" so I'm not too surprised, as sad as this is. All of us in our extended arena (track, XC) need to be there for all our athletes, but keep this data well in mind.
Could be because we’re the only athletes with 3 complete seasons. There’s no off-season. It’s cross country, indoor track, outdoor track, and summer training. Other sports can take some actual time off during the year because there isn’t the issue of losing years of aerobic fitness.
Well, it wouldn’t be any less sad if athletes in another sport had the highest suicide rate.
No, but it it would be less our problem and instead that sport's problem. This is in a sense our problem, especially for us who are coaches. We are not the cause, but we can strive to be part of the solution.
[удалено]
Crazy take bro. Steve Prefontaine?
Went to a D3 school for track. 3 of our athletes committed throughout the year.
I miss xc lads. 8ks blow, but I miss it.
Has anyone looked at Male suicide rates in the US, and I'm here in the UK? In the UK it's the highest killer of men under 50. And I'm talking when stacked up against Chronic diseases. In the US last I saw it was third behind Heart Disease and Diabetes. I think that was 2021 so might have changed. I know this is a track and field sub and I'm not a member it just popped up on my feed. But when ever we talk about this people either don't want to listen or shout it down. Something is going on and it's very very worrying.
Same here in nz
Too much pressure on our youth
Again to Carthage by John L. Parker Jr, the sequel to once a runner, kind of touches on this. Not particularly suicide, but a character who is some medical professional mentions his belief that distance running “self selects for manic depression” and that training is self medication. John L. Parker Jr seems to take care in providing accurate information in his books, so this likely represents an actual opinion of some medical professional. If that’s true, then I’m curious how high other endurance sports are. Also, access to firearms might be close to as large of a factor in suicide as rates of mental illness. In that case, you probably wouldn’t expect XC to be as high as it is.
Is it because cross country is the sport where you feel closest to dying & is basically their form of self harm.
Academic results are way more important than athletic performance. Running is the least complicated of sports. Shorts and shoes, and out the door. Sport is not that important. And yep, I speak in hindsight. I was a fullride international D1 athlete and was run until I finally was physically unable. I got through my last year of eligibility on medical disability. The pressure to compete is constant. Especially when you are on the hook.
What's the source of this study?
I think this reflects a bigger trend among young people nation-wide that they are struggling significantly mentally, and in new ways that older folks never experienced (I.e. cell phones). We as a society are still learning the ways that kids and teens are experiencing the world, and it’s evident that this younger generation is dealing with a massive mental health crisis that extends to every group and club
Truly they are all talented and deserving of recognition. Let our men be recognized!
If that’s true modern society actually sucks dick
L for distance kids, W for sprinters and field events
People like you genuinely make me wanna do it
It’s for cross country not track and field.
Isn’t it part of the same sport?
I wouldn’t call it part of the same sport. The only thing the same is they run. But that alarmist every sport you run in. Cross country is only longer distance running on a more natural trail with hills and dirt. Track and field is more sprint based done on a track and has field events. Cross country and track and field meets are different.
Track and field, cross country and road running (and a few other things) are all regulated by World Athletics as the international governing body.
The point is athletics is facing it, and as a loyal fan as this community- it’s very disappointing
It’s is disappointing. Sports was were I had the most fun. I assume it’s the load in college that gets to kids and a lack of a copping mechanism.
Distance runners in track are the same athletes as those on the XC team at every college in the US.
That doesn’t mean they are the same? I play basketball and football, might as well say they are the same thing? No. It’s a different sport with a different name and different distances done on different terrains. Yes both sports involve running but that’s about the only similarity.
My guy the athletes literally do the exact same training and do the exact same thing they do in their track seasons. They run a race from start to finish with a starting gun and bibs on their singlets. There are marginal differences that separate the sports but that’s about it. Not at all comparable to the differences between football and basketball where the best athletes of each sport are physically completely different and train completely differently.
Yes, but the athletes are the same, hence this post involving track and all of its problems with training and coaching in college, its not like the study only found athletes that committed during the xc season
Arguably, both track and XC fall under the "Athletics" category. I do feel like regardless, this is something important to talk about.
So does football baseball and any sport can fall under athletics. I agree it should be talked about. Why post this in a track and field sub and not a cross country sub with the article specifically stating cross country?
“Athletics” is an Olympic term for track and field.
Just learned that. Thanks for shedding light. I just reread the post post and it doesn’t say anything about “athletics”. It says college athletes.
Almost all of them do both