I turned 55 today can't run anymore and my life sucks do you guys the same age feel the same

Accept it: No more possible to force the body to anything. Running above 50 is a fine dialogue by setting fine stimuli and finely perceiving and measuring the reaction of the body. Do all which is possible without pain. Do not neglect speed and strength. Keeping the same performance shows great health and training. Any hickup of health such as an infection will set back. Suck it up in honour.

I'm 57 and I am in the same situation as you. I havent really had a good 6 months of steady, enjoyable running in 2 years, and honestly the last 7 haven't been good.

Time is undefeated, so I try to adjust, and not expect as much from myself. I do still workout and work to keep the weight off, it's not the same as going for a nice run. It's such a great irony that the one thing I truly love to do, I cannot do any longer. Lifting is no problem (but I dislike it) biking is easy (but I detest it) swimming is not an issue (but it's so boring that I think Id rather just get fat).

The only thing you can do is try to piece a few weeks together by starting back very very slowly, so maybe you do straights n curves around a soccer field or track, or jog/ walk 1:2 and progress on.

I dont have any great advice other than to tell you I am in the same sad boat.

I'm 42, so a bit behind you in age, but I've developed chonromalacia patellae the past few years. I can't run more than 10-15 minutes anymore.

You just have to replace the running with something else. Get into swimming, cycling, weights, yoga, or better yet a combo of all those. You can still get your endorphins flowing and keep fit without running. You can also still follow it an be involved with the sport without doing it yourself anymore.

Last summer, I got into open ocean swimming for fun and did my first open water race, a 2.5k in a crystal clear lake. The rush of trying something new and pushing myself felt like running used to. I also still watched all of the Olympics and Diamond Leagues on streaming, and watched Josh Kerr break the indoor 2 mile WR in person. It was all awesome.

Getting older sucks, but you just have to move with the tide, you can't stop it.

I had to stop running a few years ago at about your age due to low back issues. I was just starting to run fairly well again, too. But I had to consider my career as a surgeon first. It was tough and I still miss it as I am one of those original "running boomers." But I can walk every single day if I choose, which I could not do when I was still running. I'm out the door by 6AM for at least an hour of brisk walking unless there's lightning. It feeds my head and qualifies as "moderate" exercise, which is good for one's heart and brain. I don't get as beat up anymore and have an easier time when it's hot in the summer. I still bike once a week and swim when I can in addition to going to the gym. You just have to take the changes from aging in stride and be thankful for what you can do.

This. Plus you get the added bonus of possibly finding something that you *gasp* might even like more than running.

49 and trying to make a comeback. I peaked at 46 and it's been a few years of setbacks. I never considered the "anti-aging" i.e. TRT and HGH, that many masters runners opt into. For me that would be cheating myself out of what I could do naturally and negate all the progress I've made so far. But if your other option is giving up altogether, I won't judge.

Variety, just jogging a mile won't help especially if its a routine. Throw as much change as possible at the effort and something may click.

That's disguisting!

I think it's very individual whether you have to start late in life to run well as a senior.

I'm 67 and a lifelong runner. Never had the initial basic talent to set overall age group records, but do have state records I set in my 50s, and I ran the all-time second fastest time in my event in the World Senior Games another decade on from that.

Had knee surgery at 46, and again at 57, and got back to good form since. Have been fighting an injury problem for the last 18 months (I think coming back from various injuries lead to right glute/hip flexor/quad weakness), and in spring was down to a mile of walk 100m/jog 100m. Been working with a physio and a lot of strengthening exercises, and now running three times a week (2x20 min on treadmill and 1x3 miles on track). A lot of Elliptical training when I couldn't run. It's really been an 18 month project to begin to reverse the decline

Two years ago, I ran 19:45 from 5k, today I'd be about 27 min, but gradually improving, and goal is to make it back to around the 20 min range.

I was never quite as good as you (I was more like 17:30 5k in my mid-50s), but being able to train and compete is extremely important to me (although I'm still very much engaged with my career).

Obviously I don't know what your physical issues are, but it seems to me the options are (assuming there is just absolutely no fix) to commit to fix the issues and work through the process, accepting that you probably won't get back 17:00 (although to put that in proportion you were - like all of us - going to get slower). Personally, I found that there was plenty of satisfaction in training to run under 20 min at 65, but there may be a mark where I find it's so slow that it's not something I want to do.

Without knowing your issues, I would guess there is a good chance at a comeback, if you want to put in the time and effort, and while you likely won't see 17:00 again, only you can decide if running (say) sub-18:00 at 60 is worth it or not. You were obviously a nationally competitive level age group runner, and likely can be again even if it's older and slower.

If currently, time and life in general doesn't lend to that commitment, then it's question of coming to accept that for a period you aren't going to be a competitive runner. If so, I'd suggest you still make keeping physical fit a priority (maybe elliptical, stationary bike, weights) and down the road the issues may take care of themselves, and you might feel like a comeback.

Whichever way you go, good luck.

It's in your mind bro. Switch to cycling, you'll love it. Why? You'll be able to go farther and faster and open a new window of opportunities for you. 55? No biggie. I am 61.5 I ride one day on one day off and on the days off still do judo. Good luck!

M65 here. I’ve had to stop running at least 3 or 4 times over the last 48 or so years. Learn to do other stuff. Unless you are getting parts replaced you can always return to running in the future (and some still do after having parts replaced). Bike, swim, walk, lift, whatever...

Find excitement in other things that don't hurt you. You're not crippled you can still get endorphins on the bike, or - ie other things that excite you.

This is a question only you can answer.

I had a surgery and did months of rehab to get back to slow old man running. For me, the relevant question was not, is this worth it to run X time? It was, is it worth it to once again do something I love? My answer was yes.

My PRs were never anything special anyway, so no longer running them is no tragedy. I have always loved running and racing and I still do. So I didn't think twice - the surgery and rehab were worth it, and I was doing it.

How you answer that question is up to you.

I was recently diagnosed with bradykenisia and bradyphrenia. I am scared to death about the future since I already have some symptoms. Are any of you battling this or can tell me what to expect? btw I'm 62 and have been otherwise healthy.

Fully agree.

Idk why people think they have to spend an arm and a leg on a top notch bike and equipment, esp when you're doing this usually later in life and doing it as an alternative to running.

Get on a bike and enjoy it, dont worry about being the next Lemond. Lots of easy miles, you get a nice cardio workout enjoy the scenery and 2 hrs later you hope off and nothing aches! Bonus.

"comparison is the thief of joy"

Kind of tough for a lot of us who were fast in our 20s/30s, then slow down inevitably in 40s and 50s. It's a horrible position to be in and I'd give anything to be 25 yo again so I could train and run like I used to, you don't know how good you have things until they are taken away from you.

I don't find the 40s and 50s slowdown that hard, in part because I was never that great in my 20s.

I was a contender in my hometown Turkey Trot, and ran college track, but I was never an All American, Olympic Trials qualifier, or any of that.

Maybe since my prime wasn't anything special, I can still appreciate running past my prime. I still love running and racing as much as ever. The actual experience is essentially the same as it ever was, the numbers on the finish line clock are really the only change.

And since my love of the actual activity has always been my main motivation, I didn't think twice about going through the surgery and rehab needed to get back to it again. I just really like running and racing. The actual results? No one but me ever cared, and they certainly don't care now. My motivation is 100% internal.

I'm on chemotherapy for the rest of my life due to
metastatic cancer. My running is now very, very slow and I may never break even
30 minutes in the 5k again. I run until I'm too short of breath, then walk.
It's disappointing, but there are now other motivations. I also kayak, bike
slowly, do a bit of rock climbing or whatever my body allows. But it's still
really, really fun being outside and with friends, and it helps me feel good. It's a matter of finding new purposes.