if your team doesn't find running fun in itself you are not going to have a very strong team...

Comment on the "any other sprt's punishment": (not really related, but I figured I'd throw it in there) I'm in wrestling, and we've always had a good team the last 40 years or so, cause of an excellent coach, and for highschoolers we're really disciplined and follow him very loyally. Cause he's a very good coach. Anyway, last year we had a "fun day" of sprint races (they were 200 meters) and only really recovered about 1 minute. And we ran about 12 times. We also had pushup contests, lots of excercise drills, and running inbetween all of it. Very difficult, but fun too. I was just wondering if anyone else thought running was their "easy" sport. It really is very tough, but some things do make it easy. After all, there is "overtraining" which I've never heard of in wrestling. Anyway, might strike a nerve, hope not, just curious.

And in reply the the actual post: I'm kinda in the same boat, except you sound miles ahead. Nobody runs in my town. Well, hardly anyone. I've been trying since March to start a running group, even asking middle schoolers, but it just didn't happen. My main suggestion is just have fun, get creative, and go for whatever you think of. Midnight runs, (spagetti dinners actually sounds great) whatever. Two times a week actually is a lot, not to run but just to get together. I don't even see my friends that often, so if you run 2 times a week, that's really good I think. I'm also a Junior, and now the only dedicated runner. We have to girls that're dedicated too, but one I know knows little about training (she really wants to get buff for some reason) and the other is chronically overtrained, so I kinda feel alone. As for the coach going to you...DON'T let it go to your head. You could be Steve Prefontaine, but as a Junior in High School, you just don't know enough. Use the coaches if you can, respectfully disobey the workouts if you need to (I have to, they're terrible) and be smart about it. If your coach is well-liked (mine is) you don't want to appear disrespectful-even when you're right. It's just bad. Other than that, my rant is over and the running group sounds awesome. I wish I were in it.

When I say 'any other sports punishment' it's as a joke, mostly towards my own school lol..

My school doesn't have much runners, and for the softball, baseball, and football teams, most players don't have much motivation to push themselves. They watch us in confusion when we run for 'fun'. Lol. Even people that aren't on a sports team just can't figure out why we run with no real intention other than running. Baseball you run to the next base, football you run to the end zone, soccer you run for the ball, etc.. and I've seen a main punishment for them when they screw up is extra laps, or extra sprints, etc..
Whereas for running, we just run, and most people don't understand it lol unless they try it themselves

Good point, don't knock it till you've tried it, right?

I just wish people wouldn't judge so quickly on runners, or think it's "stupid" to run without a main purpose other than the running itself.

They need to realize the purpose, at least for me, is to improve myself, my times, my mental health, and at the end feel I've accomplished a hard task and feel good about myself after a run.

Also, I don't want to end up being 70 years old and saying "I wish I ran a marathon when I was younger" or something like that. I'm not near marathon level yet, but I hope to run one eventually

I think you could definitly complete a marathon based on your mileage and having no ailments, lol.

I have heard though, that they take a toll on young peoples bodies, and some marathons don't allow you to race unless you're 18. I think you could deff do a marathon, but I don't want you to end up getting hurt in the long run.

I'm 16, too, and I figured I'd save my marathon for when I turn 20. For now I have my goals set on some 1/2 marathons, and hopefully by age 20 I'll have come far enough to complete a marathon.

There was a thread in one of the forums about younger runners and marathons that I was reading, but I don't quite remember what forum.

The road running gets to my knees too, and I like dirt and trails better...it's more interesting as I'm running then just asphalt lol

A 50k might be manageable being that the terrain is more forgiving to your knees, but 31 miles is still a pretty far distance lol. You can push yourself for it, but don't do it to the point of injury.

I haven't heard of any kind of 1/2 sections of the leadville or hardrock. Leadville is pretty high altitude too, right?
For info on the hardrock you can email this guy... hardrock100@bresnan.net and see if there's a 1/2 section available to run. That'd be pretty cool if there was.