Life is a bit of a tease. Short enough to have regrets, but just long enough to lose perspective. I am in the same boat as you, disenchanted with the grind. However, there are many positives such as a commitment to fitness, discipline and a desire to lead a healthy lifestyle. These are attributes that transfer over to other aspects of life. Comparison is the thief of joy, be at peace where you at.
Life is a bit of a tease. Short enough to have regrets, but just long enough to lose perspective. I am in the same boat as you, disenchanted with the grind. However, there are many positives such as a commitment to fitness, discipline and a desire to lead a healthy lifestyle. These are attributes that transfer over to other aspects of life. Comparison is the thief of joy, be at peace where you at.
In my younger years I’d have been on the other side of this debate. But now in my 60th year I’m with trackchick on this one.
I don’t understand “the grind” if you are not getting paid for the activity. There are many on this site who treat running like a second, or even their primary job, even though it brings no financial benefits.
I don’t even understand how people can only get “joy” from running if they are racing. To me, that sucks the joy right out of the activity ( it does these days anyway) too much pressure, stress and cost.
There is nothing wrong with dialling the activity right back, to manageable levels for YOU and seeking to make progress from there, while keeping it at sustainable levels. It really doesn’t make you any less of a person. Honestly.
It’s not important enough to hurt yourself. Running is wonderful so long as one is able to maintain their perspective. A lot of good runners are OCD and have a hard time riding the razor’s edge between excelling and over doing. I had a great club coach early on who taught me to love running and understand the spiritual side of it. Now I run recreationally and even now that I am old and slow, I enjoy those long weekend trail runs in nature. Hard to beat being miles away from civilization running with the rhythms of nature immersed in one’s environment.
I used to be utterly obsessed with running. My whole life centred around it and each day my training session was the highlight. Then I got injured. Had surgery, surgery didn't go well, had further surgery, that didn't go well either. Injured to the point it was affecting daily activities, walking, getting around. For several years. In pain walking almost all of the time. Unable to do normal stuff. That is what matters. Being able to walk pain free, being able to do normal things, some sports, with balance. Being able to live life. I wish I could go back in time and do things differently. Don't get me wrong - I loved running and have a lot of happy memories from it. But those years came with a big price tag which wasn't worth it. Not sure why I'm typing this as I don't usually write about personal stuff on here but today is different. I wish I could go back and do it all differently.
As my life gets busier with children, family needs, work demands, etc. I constantly have to re-frame my running. Some weeks most I can get in is 20-30 minutes day or a quick lift, but what helps is to think of the next long run or session that I will have time for. It makes running more enjoyable when I think," today, I get to run vs. today I have to run."
As I have gotten older the day after a long session I tend to just enjoy a few dog walks for recovery, a quick swim before I pick up my kid from daycare, or a hike with my son in the woods before dinner.
What on earth would motivate you to write something like that? You must be truly unhappy in your own life if you want to kick someone when they're down.
Guessing here - but I think he was responding to the post just above his, which said "I don't care about your personal life"
I used to be utterly obsessed with running. My whole life centred around it and each day my training session was the highlight. Then I got injured. Had surgery, surgery didn't go well, had further surgery, that didn't go well either. Injured to the point it was affecting daily activities, walking, getting around. For several years. In pain walking almost all of the time. Unable to do normal stuff. That is what matters. Being able to walk pain free, being able to do normal things, some sports, with balance. Being able to live life. I wish I could go back in time and do things differently. Don't get me wrong - I loved running and have a lot of happy memories from it. But those years came with a big price tag which wasn't worth it. Not sure why I'm typing this as I don't usually write about personal stuff on here but today is different. I wish I could go back and do it all differently.
I used to be utterly obsessed with running. My whole life centred around it and each day my training session was the highlight. Then I got injured. Had surgery, surgery didn't go well, had further surgery, that didn't go well either. Injured to the point it was affecting daily activities, walking, getting around. For several years. In pain walking almost all of the time. Unable to do normal stuff. That is what matters. Being able to walk pain free, being able to do normal things, some sports, with balance. Being able to live life. I wish I could go back in time and do things differently. Don't get me wrong - I loved running and have a lot of happy memories from it. But those years came with a big price tag which wasn't worth it. Not sure why I'm typing this as I don't usually write about personal stuff on here but today is different. I wish I could go back and do it all differently.
You're not alone here. Cheers to perspective and reconnecting with running if and when you are healthy and ready.
Agreed. Running is a truly trivial issue in life and not even a valid form of exercise. Unless you are truly elite, centering your life around running is a terrible mistake.
"Running is a truly trivial issue in life and not even a valid form of exercise".
What does that mean?
If you're unable to use running as a form of exercise, Uhhhhh...DON'T RUN!!!
Bike
Row
Run in the water
Swim
Hike
Etc....
Some people can run, and some can't...Figure it out!
running will be a vitally important skill when the civil war starts, and all the hills will be controlled by small squads of elite light infantry snipers.
Mountain and ultra runners understand this sort of mobility will dominate the battlefield. These guerrillas will wake up at dawn, jog 20 miles behind enemy lines, snipe their artillery officers and be back in time for lunch.
I used to be utterly obsessed with running. My whole life centred around it and each day my training session was the highlight. Then I got injured. Had surgery, surgery didn't go well, had further surgery, that didn't go well either. Injured to the point it was affecting daily activities, walking, getting around. For several years. In pain walking almost all of the time. Unable to do normal stuff. That is what matters. Being able to walk pain free, being able to do normal things, some sports, with balance. Being able to live life. I wish I could go back in time and do things differently. Don't get me wrong - I loved running and have a lot of happy memories from it. But those years came with a big price tag which wasn't worth it. Not sure why I'm typing this as I don't usually write about personal stuff on here but today is different. I wish I could go back and do it all differently.
Ms. Ross... let's get real... you sided with the people on your side of the aisle until you couldn't and now you want empathy for your previous elitism.
You use a lot of I in your statements but as "track chick" you were outspoken against those who just tried.
A lot of also rans get surgeries. A lot of nobodies struggle without support and here are you Ms. Ross pandering for empathy.
Did you have it when you were competitive?
Did you have it when you had competitive teammates?
The reality is like every spoiled brat, you didn't think it could happen to you because only ugly and fat people get injured.
Ms. Ross... let's get real... you sided with the people on your side of the aisle until you couldn't and now you want empathy for your previous elitism.
You use a lot of I in your statements but as "track chick" you were outspoken against those who just tried.
A lot of also rans get surgeries. A lot of nobodies struggle without support and here are you Ms. Ross pandering for empathy.
Did you have it when you were competitive?
Did you have it when you had competitive teammates?
The reality is like every spoiled brat, you didn't think it could happen to you because only ugly and fat people get injured.
Karma, Ms. Ross. Don't respond...I don't care
Dude, why do you people in cults always feel attacked or personally offended?
Track chick gave her reasonable perspective. Being an older runner myself I agree with most of what she said.
You made the choices you made back then because that is what you wanted. You could not foresee the injuries and surgeries that would not go well. Judging your choices back then from where you are now is not fair to yourself. Try to make the best out of what you can do now and have now as you did at all other stages of your life. The time I dedicated to running in my life had in parts negatively impacted my professional career and financial settings but it also gave me the tenacity and will to overcome challenging times, private and professionally, it made memories, friends and connections that feed my soul and heart to this day. I stopped looking back on decisions I did earlier in my life that now, years and decades later seemed to be the wrong decisions. But if we continue to do so, we cannot move on. Be well please.
Ms. Ross... let's get real... you sided with the people on your side of the aisle until you couldn't and now you want empathy for your previous elitism.
You use a lot of I in your statements but as "track chick" you were outspoken against those who just tried.
A lot of also rans get surgeries. A lot of nobodies struggle without support and here are you Ms. Ross pandering for empathy.
Did you have it when you were competitive?
Did you have it when you had competitive teammates?
The reality is like every spoiled brat, you didn't think it could happen to you because only ugly and fat people get injured.
Karma, Ms. Ross. Don't respond...I don't care
Dude, why do you people in cults always feel attacked or personally offended?
Track chick gave her reasonable perspective. Being an older runner myself I agree with most of what she said.
Nothing is important. Nothing at all. There is nothing so common as older people saying running isn’t important because they cannot do it. Older people will say the same thing about sex because they cannot do it. So when older people tell you anything, take it with a grain of salt.
I used to be utterly obsessed with running. My whole life centred around it and each day my training session was the highlight. Then I got injured. Had surgery, surgery didn't go well, had further surgery, that didn't go well either. Injured to the point it was affecting daily activities, walking, getting around. For several years. In pain walking almost all of the time. Unable to do normal stuff. That is what matters. Being able to walk pain free, being able to do normal things, some sports, with balance. Being able to live life. I wish I could go back in time and do things differently. Don't get me wrong - I loved running and have a lot of happy memories from it. But those years came with a big price tag which wasn't worth it. Not sure why I'm typing this as I don't usually write about personal stuff on here but today is different. I wish I could go back and do it all differently.
I'm sorry to hear about your apparently ongoing injuries. I hope you can find solutions eventually. Those of us who have spent months or even years away from running share some of your pain.
We don't know what your injuries are and more importantly, how your surgeries may have impacted your ability to fully recover, but I would respectfully suggest that you don't give up hope of returning to an active, rewarding lifestyle. There might be a solution you haven't tried (or even heard about) yet. Please keep looking. There is an entire world of alternative therapies out there... some with amazing success stories. The challenge is to find one that works for your personal situation.
I can also relate to your last sentence "I wish I could go back and do it all differently."
I've been on the planet for, well, a very long time. I learned that we can't go back. We have now. Our number of tomorrows are unknown. Best to focus on what we can change than to worry about what might have been.
This post was edited 1 minute after it was posted.
I used to be utterly obsessed with running. My whole life centred around it and each day my training session was the highlight. Then I got injured. Had surgery, surgery didn't go well, had further surgery, that didn't go well either. Injured to the point it was affecting daily activities, walking, getting around. For several years. In pain walking almost all of the time. Unable to do normal stuff. That is what matters. Being able to walk pain free, being able to do normal things, some sports, with balance. Being able to live life. I wish I could go back in time and do things differently. Don't get me wrong - I loved running and have a lot of happy memories from it. But those years came with a big price tag which wasn't worth it. Not sure why I'm typing this as I don't usually write about personal stuff on here but today is different. I wish I could go back and do it all differently.
People that don't run or work out are also in pain. From obesity, from weakness, from a lack of aerobic fitness, etc.
And if you train correctly you won't have pain. And even if you do overtrain, at least you are still a functional human being. Most people that are in pain can't run a mile, do a pushup, do a pullup, or jump higher than a foot.
I'll go the opposite of your title. Running and muscular fitness are the most important parts of life. Our bodies quite literally express our lives and what we're capable of. Without our health and fitness, the heights and joys of everything in life is limited. After your injury that should be more obvious than ever.
I used to be utterly obsessed with running. My whole life centred around it and each day my training session was the highlight. Then I got injured. Had surgery, surgery didn't go well, had further surgery, that didn't go well either. Injured to the point it was affecting daily activities, walking, getting around. For several years. In pain walking almost all of the time. Unable to do normal stuff. That is what matters. Being able to walk pain free, being able to do normal things, some sports, with balance. Being able to live life. I wish I could go back in time and do things differently. Don't get me wrong - I loved running and have a lot of happy memories from it. But those years came with a big price tag which wasn't worth it. Not sure why I'm typing this as I don't usually write about personal stuff on here but today is different. I wish I could go back and do it all differently.
I completely understand. There's some really good posts here about perspective.
I spent almost 20 years coaching year round (summer running, XC, indoor, outdoor)...all along putting coaching, the athletes, and the sport ahead of myself & my family. The pay was terrible. There were no summer vacations. Missed out on experiences (concerts, going out to eat, being with friends & family, etc.) because of meets & practices. What was I thinking!?!
My wife & I were talking about it & I almost felt like I needed to apologize. Sigh.
But, I have to rationalize those 20 years knowing I did a lot of good for a lot of student-athletes & gave them opportunities that they wouldn't have had without the sport & the team. That is how I have to justify things. Yep.
I know, too, that running allowed me to be in great shape during that time (and I'll never get back to that level...because of age & time). But, now that I'm out of coaching & almost ready to retire from teaching, I think I have body issues with what I am know compared to what I looked like then. My mileage is lower. My weight room visits are almost nonexistent. My weight is up 15lbs. At least I have an understanding of fitness (that I know will take me through my later years).
I don't know. I guess I'm just trying to rest my head at night...with a little bit of perspective.
running will be a vitally important skill when the civil war starts, and all the hills will be controlled by small squads of elite light infantry snipers.
Mountain and ultra runners understand this sort of mobility will dominate the battlefield. These guerrillas will wake up at dawn, jog 20 miles behind enemy lines, snipe their artillery officers and be back in time for lunch.
Lmfao best post of the day. Top notch letsrun content
I used to be utterly obsessed with running. My whole life centred around it and each day my training session was the highlight. Then I got injured. Had surgery, surgery didn't go well, had further surgery, that didn't go well either. Injured to the point it was affecting daily activities, walking, getting around. For several years. In pain walking almost all of the time. Unable to do normal stuff. That is what matters. Being able to walk pain free, being able to do normal things, some sports, with balance. Being able to live life. I wish I could go back in time and do things differently. Don't get me wrong - I loved running and have a lot of happy memories from it. But those years came with a big price tag which wasn't worth it. Not sure why I'm typing this as I don't usually write about personal stuff on here but today is different. I wish I could go back and do it all differently.