When is it time to hang up your running shoes?

Get orthotics. I have foot levelers- I rarely get injuries anymore and when I do, it's because I didn't stretch enough or something that's my fault.

I even get my running shoes (free- insurance) through my chiropractor and foot levelers.

You don’t stop running because you get old. You get old because you stop running.

runn wrote:

Get orthotics. I have foot levelers- I rarely get injuries anymore and when I do, it's because I didn't stretch enough or something that's my fault.

I even get my running shoes (free- insurance) through my chiropractor and foot levelers.

Did you get custom ones or did you just buy something like Dr. Scholls? I don't know anything about orthotics.

theJeff wrote:

You don’t stop running because you get old. You get old because you stop running.

I don't want to stop running. My injuries keep forcing me to. Its frustrating because I am not old (35 years old) and I have been dealing with injuries since my early 20's. Heck I got hurt my freshmen year of high school cross country.

With those injuries it sounds like your biomechanics are the real problem. If done right, running should not cause a lot of injuries. I would start there if I were you.

1. Do some research to find out why you're getting injured. Do you have a flaw in your form? A muscular imbalance? You'll probably have to enlist some professional help to get to the bottom of this (ask around your local running community for a referral).

2. Are you doing any cross training? Weights and biking saved my running and keeps me injury free.

3. You're not old yet, but you're not young anymore, either. With age comes the need for more preventative maintenance (see # 1 and 2 above).

4. Your injury list did not include the main one that usually means "game over" for a runner: cartilage injuries. If you're willing to spend time and money looking for solutions, and then actually make the needed changes, I'd bet you can still have a running future.

Be like Mark Cucuzzella.

1. Run easy for nearly all of your miles. Aerobic, conversational, nasal breathing.

2. Run barefoot, in minimalist shoes, or sandals.

3. Run with good form.

4. Eat a healthy diet, with no simple carbs or sugars. “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”

5. Sleep enough. 8+ hours per night.

6. Do what you love and love what you do.

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2018/05/30-years-sub-300-marathons-despite-setback-boston-mark-cucuzzella-looking-extend-epic-streak/

http://bluegrass-runner.blogspot.com/2017/04/q-with-mark-cucuzzella.html?m=1

I am willing to try just about anything at this point.

I have never really done cross training beyond things like leg lifts, wall squats and core exercises. I do the DALMAC bike trip with my brothers every year but I cold turkey it and don't ride at all until the first day of the trip. Ill look up some weight training plans and maybe try and find a bike trainer used somewhere. All of my exercise time is at night so biking is tough for me because of daylight issues.

I'll check around to see what is available for bio mechanical stuff. I am sure someone around here has to do some sort of gait analysis. If there is something wrong it can't be super obvious but once again I will try anything at this point.

I've been running a long time. My list of injuries is long and impressive. The last few years I've been so hobbled that what I'm doing now can barely be called running. I start out so poorly each morning that I usually question why I'm doing it.

But I keep doing it because I can, and because at some point in the run it feels like running again, even if only for a short time. When that's not true (or when I no longer feel safe running, which is equally possible), then I'll stop.

Forget the mileage. Frequent and shorter runs and longer recoveries; varied terrain and vary the footwear and paces. Check your form.

I’m gonna offer contrarian advice. Yes, quit running. It’s time. I’m your age so I know where you are in life.

That being said, my recommendation is because it’s time to find something new. You’re clearly frustrated and a serious change in targets might lift your spirits.

My PR days are long over and I’ve accomplished enough. I always lifted weights but got way more into lifting in the last 5 years as the running injuries mounted. I also took up Muay Thai,rock climbing and yoga for fun and something new.

Basically, I decided to focus on well rounded fitness rather than running specific. I no longer worry about mileage and I don’t run more than 4 miles in a shot. I maybe do 5–10 miles a week.

The upside to all this, I’m actually fitter, haven’t been injured for years, and look better with my shirt off. I may not destroy my local 5k charity anymore, but surprisingly I often still age group place and that’s fine by me.

There’s more to life than running like you did in college. Explore more and find passions you didn’t know you had. It’s ok to hang them up for a while and be proud of what you’ve accomplished in your running career.

theJeff wrote:

You don’t stop running because you get old. You get old because you stop running.

Thank you for sharing

theJeff wrote:

You don’t stop running because you get old. You get old because you stop running.

+1

theJeff wrote:

You don’t stop running because you get old. You get old because you stop running.

Confucius say it is better to give than receive advice.

People get old because they age, you dolt.

ConstantlyInjured, I've been in your shoes, as I've had dozens of severe injuries over the years, yet I've managed to overcome them all... including being told by two doctors at the Mayo Clinic that I could never run again.

You have multiple issues to address here: possible biomechanical imbalances, shoes, orthotics, and running form, just to name a few.

I would urge you to read 200 Tips Every Runner Should Know: Train Smarter, Avoid Injury, and Become a Better Runner. I wrote and published this book back in March. You can get it on Amazon. Chapters 2-8 address shoes, running form, injury rehab, making your own orthotics, and future injury prevention. I've already gotten reviews from injured runners who have benefitted from the tips in the book.

You may be able to fix several of your injuries by making form adjustments and making your own orthotics. Your shoes are probably wrong as well.

How much do you weigh? Are you overweight?

35 is young. Very young. Age is not a factor at 35.

You really need to hit the reset button. Stop running. Definitely stop stretching. Get in the weight room and add strength to your legs. You can swim, bike, or do the elliptical machine as long as it does not affect your injuries or cause any other aches or pains. If they do, just lift and do lots of PT exercises. You do not need to get huge. The main goal is to activate all your muscle groups and erase any imbalances. It make take a couple of months, but once you are 100% free of any pain and really feel like your legs are strong and well balanced, you can very gradually get back into running. Too often runners get into injury death spirals where they go from one chronic soft tissue injury to another because they try to get back into shape before they have completely recovered from their injury. So, an upper ham injury turns into an Achilles tendon because full range of motion and strength on the ham never really returned. The Achilles turns into a calf strain for the same reason. And so on.

ConstantlyInjured wrote:

theJeff wrote:

You don’t stop running because you get old. You get old because you stop running.

I don't want to stop running. My injuries keep forcing me to. Its frustrating because I am not old (35 years old) and I have been dealing with injuries since my early 20's. Heck I got hurt my freshmen year of high school cross country.

People who say they have no choice have already made theirs.

If you want to whine, whine. If you want to run, get in the pool and aquajog until your booboos heal and get back out there.

Dumb and dumber wrote:

theJeff wrote:

You don’t stop running because you get old. You get old because you stop running.

Confucius say it is better to give than receive advice.

People get old because they age, you dolt.

Man who stand on toilet is high on pot.