Anyone else happier once they stopped running?

Ever since I've stopped running 2 decades ago, I've been generally fatter. Now I know it ultimately comes down to the circumstances of the person, but for me not having to stress about finding pastries in my runs around college (and trying to make a cake), collecting unemployment benefit and simply sleeping reduced the fitness in my life. I feel accomplished with what I did in high school (sub 7:30 mile, sub 25:20 3-mile, 100+ mile summer) so I don't need to prove anything more to myself. It's only been 2 decades so maybe I'll feel different later, but for now I'm fat.

Maybe further down the mattress once things get more settled, I'll pick it up as I don't see myself as someone who will be completely obese even though I am. Or might pick up another cardio sport like rolling in bed or swimming, which I know is excellent for the morbidly obese.

Anyone else have similar thoughts or experiences?

First paragraph excellent.

I have to say, the obese charts are shocking. I am 5 ft 10 in, 156 lbs. and ok, but a guy I work with is only 5'8" and 189, and his doctor told him he was obese. Really? He is not fat looking at all.

I quit my college team after two years and have no regrets about it. Only half my tuition was paid by my scholarship so I picked up a part-time job and got a small student loan.

I will be honest that the second half of college (the two years I didn't run for the team) were great. Initially I felt guilty but after that I had normal college fun. I had weekends to hang out with friends, evenings to go out to dinner, more time to study, and the the constant fog of "I have to get two runs in today" and "Another weekend of traveling to a meet" was lifted.

I still ran here and there, just didn't train daily. After college I started training for marathons and still compete as a competitive local runner.

No because I got fat.

The only times I haven't run since I was 12 (I'm in my early thirties) is for injury or post-season recovery. It never made me fell better, but I suppose that is different than quitting with an eye towards not running again.

You've only been out for two weeks. You might have been burned out and are recovering. Or you might start missing it. Or maybe running just wasn't for you, who knows?

I was the same as you when I stopped. Felt so liberating not having to run and stress about hitting PRs, hard workouts, mileage per week, etc

But then the weight came on. Fast. I gained 10 pounds in 4 weeks. And I am still trying to knock it off 2 weeks later.

Wait until you get fat :)

At the end of each run, I am generally happier than I was before the run, yes. The next day when I run again the same thing happens. Huh, thanks for pointing it out!

You aren't happier because you stopped running. You're happier because you've let go of your pride. You are no longer obsessing about chasing goals you'll never reach no matter how hard you train in order to move one quarter-step up the distance running pecking order.

Try running for the fun of it.

Typical runner or sockpuppet wrote:

You aren't happier because you stopped running. You're happier because you've let go of your pride. You are no longer obsessing about chasing goals you'll never reach no matter how hard you train in order to move one quarter-step up the distance running pecking order.

Try running for the fun of it.

Or you could try chocolate milkshakes. You will CERTAINLY be happier.

Typical runner or sockpuppet wrote:

You aren't happier because you stopped running. You're happier because you've let go of your pride. You are no longer obsessing about chasing goals you'll never reach no matter how hard you train in order to move one quarter-step up the distance running pecking order.

Try running for the fun of it.

Truth.

Oar Man wrote:

Typical runner or sockpuppet wrote:

You aren't happier because you stopped running. You're happier because you've let go of your pride. You are no longer obsessing about chasing goals you'll never reach no matter how hard you train in order to move one quarter-step up the distance running pecking order.

Try running for the fun of it.

Or you could try chocolate milkshakes. You will CERTAINLY be happier.

Yeah, that will work too.

Yes, although I never stopped running, I did give up on trying to run faster once I came to grips that my chronic injury would not allow it. Instead of running 80-100 mpw with hard runs and races, I just run whenever I feel like it. If the weather sucks, I may take off 3 or 4 days.

Although part of me misses the hard running and the challenge of getting faster, there is a part of me that doesn't miss the pain that sometimes comes with it or forcing myself to run 15 miles in a heavy downpour. Life feels so much easier than it used to and I have a new appreciation for leisurely runs.

Dolomite wrote:

Yes, although I never stopped running, I did give up on trying to run faster once I came to grips that my chronic injury would not allow it. Instead of running 80-100 mpw with hard runs and races, I just run whenever I feel like it. If the weather sucks, I may take off 3 or 4 days.

Although part of me misses the hard running and the challenge of getting faster, there is a part of me that doesn't miss the pain that sometimes comes with it or forcing myself to run 15 miles in a heavy downpour. Life feels so much easier than it used to and I have a new appreciation for leisurely runs.

But how do you deal with getting slower? I hate it.

Dolomite wrote:

Yes, although I never stopped running, I did give up on trying to run faster once I came to grips that my chronic injury would not allow it. Instead of running 80-100 mpw with hard runs and races, I just run whenever I feel like it. If the weather sucks, I may take off 3 or 4 days.

Although part of me misses the hard running and the challenge of getting faster, there is a part of me that doesn't miss the pain that sometimes comes with it or forcing myself to run 15 miles in a heavy downpour. Life feels so much easier than it used to and I have a new appreciation for leisurely runs.

Do you still do hard runs? Like HIIT? Supposably HIIT 3 times per week is all it takes to keep slim and keep speed up, instead of the "equivalent" of running 80-100mpw easy