Has anyone else destroyed their lives over running?

Yes 100%.

At 17 years old I accepted an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, thinking it would be all I dreamed it would be. The coach at the time, Al Cantello "promised" me a spot on the team. They are Division 1, and the prestige surrounding the Academy was enough for me to want to go (all ego).

I ended up attending. Did really well during Plebe Summer and the first semester. All the while with Coach Cantello making it apparent his "promise" meant nothing and that my "spot" on the team would come and go as he saw fit.

The first day back from Thanksgiving break, he made all the freshman line up and race an 800m, and he ended up cutting the bottom 5 from the team.

That's all fine and dandy. But in my extremeness, I poured myself into my running, making it the most important thing in my life. I upped my mileage to ungodly amounts (over 100 miles per week, plus whatever we were doing for military purposes). My nutrition was awful, I ended up losing about 10-12 lbs. This certainly didn't last long and I started developing health problems.

My heart couldn't keep up. I was fainting in formation, couldn't sleep, had panic attacks. Did my best to soldier through, but ended up getting diagnosed with 2 heart conditions and quitting the Academy.

From there things got much worse. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, did my best to stay healthy, but went off my meds. Had 2 psychotic breaks, was suicidal, in and out of extremely expensive mental health treatment facilities.

NOW, however, I am stable. Been so for almost 10 years. Living my best life.

My addiction to running absolutely ruined my life.

But it's a thing of the past. I'm involved in jiu jitsu now, been training for 7 years, and it is now my new addiction, but in a healthy way.

Had I not been addicted to running, I would have most likely gone to a different college and run there and from there, who knows.

But I wouldn't have met my fiance and been in the place I am in now.

So, yeah, the journey sucked, but I feel grateful for it in the end.

I almost crippled myself. Over a year ago I strained my adductor tendon so bad that I had loss of power in my left leg. I couldn't sit up, lie down, turn over in bed or cough without pain for 15 weeks.

I also wasted a lot of time. I could be forgiven for running so much during the pandemic, plus I was new to the sport, but I let running take centre stage when I should have been doing other things. I regret that. Ironically I am fitter now despite running less.

Not destroyed my life but I think about running too much.

I wouldn't say it has destroyed my life as that would be silly, but it has caused me 2-3 problems which are pretty serious.

1. Mysterious knee issue which I have had for 4 years. 2 MRI scan show no cartillage damage, so it seems to be that my patella simply isn't tracking properly, but some days it can really hurt. Before running a workout on that fateful day I never had this problem.

2. Tendonitis. I suppose this one can be cured with time and it has got better, but it worries me.

3. Affected my studies. I was due to attend medical school in 2022 but I wasn't ready. I used running as a distraction and still do to this day when things get rough.

This is an old post. Anyway, the biggest mistake a female runner can make is to choose not to have a baby because that would interfere with her running. Being a mother is the greatest experience you can ever have.

All of these responses are minor league. In the 1960's there was a Japanese runner who ran poorly in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. He committed suicide so great was his shame.

I'm working on it.

My life has only gotten better since I started running. Been a lot of places, met a lot of people. Lost the little bit of weight I put on in my late 20s. Getting it more than ever although that's more likely about other factors than running. Running rules!

Cathy ormsby

How is this true? You're very evidently a huge showerbag.

Let’s take this in a different direction. How many of you ruined, or at least negatively impacted your life by pursuing running without talent? For example, you delayed career and meaningful relationships chasing a pro contract or being the King of Local Roads and then woke up at age 30, 35, 40 etc. lonely and with no prospects? Essentially, your obsession didn’t pay off.

got a dui after run club at a brewery.

I have in a way except I just do sports as a subsidy for other more important things, like relationships and career

I was a dedicated runner for over two decades. Got into the sport because I loved the movement and wanted to find out how good I could be. I had plenty of setbacks due to injury and illness, easily as many disappointments as successes. Maybe more. Certainly there are physical limitations that i have now that are due to the miles run. I can only hope that you can look back on your running career and find the positives from the experience. Running is a gift not a curse.

Yet you have had time to make multiple vague posts. Basically you have a bit of knee arthritis s many people do, but you are not bed bound, just a drama queen.

Yes they’re all your regular LetsRun posters