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

At 55 and 7 minutes slower at 5k than my PB i take my kids to trail races every weekend. They are active and they like it, no further motivation needed. There is no point in improving my results, I'm happy just to be able to run at all.

hey man, I'm 65 and there were 2 times in my life I couldn't run. one at age 37 which lasted 8 months and I solved a calf spasm thing. Another time back in 2011 to 2013 no running x 2. years. I found the answer, got my running back moved from San Diego to Fairhaven WA and run amazing trails now. Let me know if you want me to see what I see that could be in your way of running. It's what I do as an integrative physical therapist (39+ years as a PT) Reach out and we can chat. you can find me on a search of Bellingham, WA and my name Ralph Havens. I hope you can run again,

I’m 65 and still running strong and enjoying competing. I’m much slower than I was in my prime and even when I was 50 but that doesn’t hamper much my love of running. The beauty of age group racing is that I can continue to compete in local races. I have had ups and downs in my racing ability but so far am excited about training and continuing to try to improve on where I’m at.

Wish you the best in your battle with cancer, glad you keep moving!

I'm 64 and ran competitively since I was 16 (more enthusiasm than talent, Div III in college, lots of marathons and 10Ks since then). Like others here, the wheels started falling off about 10 years ago with injuries and then in the last few years just going down stairs got painful. In addition to slowing down due to mechanical issues with all joints involved and arthritis in my back, it looks like I will need to get my knees replaced due to wear over decades of long runs. As others said, it snuck up on me when I was dealing with other injuries but now I am old, broken down and slow as sht. I also wasn't sure I could enjoy running 10-12min miles now when 7 min was a jog before and I am still baffled how I got there because I always thought I'd be an age group contender in my 60s and 70s. Not happening.

Not sure what to tell you but I recalibrated. I run 3-4 times a week 3-7 miles on trails and with my dog as my training partner (off leash) having her as an enthusiastic training partner brings me a lot of joy. The therapeutic part of getting out is still very important to me. So I also rucksack with my dog to supplement this when I can with my work schedule (60hrs plus). I'd like to bike but it bothers my knee so I think I will try that more when/if I get my knees replaced. While I have high hopes that new knees will get me back into it, I also know my back, hips and other problems will probably limit how much I can do or how fast into "the second half" of my life's journey.

Good luck to you all, keep moving, keep active.

You know, there are other forms of exercise. My buddy had to stop running due to an injury and became an enthusiastic cyclist.

Don’t lament, reinvent. I’m 72 and have had to put running on hold b/c of knee issues. Maybe I get back to it in a limited way, maybe not. I substitute treadmill walking. “Intervals” like 20 X 1 min. 5 mph, 10% grade, 1 min. recovery or 15 X 3 min., 4.5 mph, same grade and recovery.

if there are any young ones reading this....learn this:

your running career could come to an end at any time. One bad step, one ice patch, one misfired part of the body. Feel blessed to have every step.

think about yourself at age 65. Do you want yourself to have run 40 marathons with all that wear and tear...or maybe take a more middle road so you don't beat yourself up so badly?

Most of the 60+-year-old people I know who are still running fast...were not marathoners. Consider that.

It might be worth it to get just a little bit more exercise everyday. Add to your mile jog. Join a gym where you can swim, play basketball, and lift light weights. Bike.

I of course don't know your overall health, but you could try to get 45 minutes of daily aerobic exercise with some light weight lifting twice or three times per week. Unless of course this would be too strenuous on you for whatever reason.

Phooey !!! I'll agree with your point of being thankful for every run. But as far as your marathon statement I've raced over 50 and broke 3:00 hrs 17 times. At 60 years old I still run every day and am still competitive in my age group bracket. Different strokes for different folks.

I'm turning 42 and trying to quit running but it keeps sucking me back in. I've run for 29 years, isn't that enough? The problem is how convenient it is as a cardio workout.

Well I said 'most!'

and there's a survivor bias on this website...all those who put too many miles on their body and failed out of running as a result...are not here on let'srun talking about running. They are doing something else. but they are very real.

On my large marathon-focused team I can only think of one or two 60+ men who did a lot of marathons and are still at the same age graded level as they were in their 30s and 40s. None of our top guys in the 60s were marathoners.

the marathoners all tend to injure-out.

But sure, there are exceptions. I don't think the odds are good though.

I turned 61 this year and I go for a jog a few times per week and happy to do so. I was a sprinter when I was younger and felt I used to run like the wind. Now, there are people pushing their babies in prams running pass me. I don't fret myself. The cliche... 1/2 a loaf and all that stuff.

Stop beating yourself up and just enjoy yr jog.

Sorry to hear about your injuries. Focus on your overall fitness and health, not on running. If you are able to walk/jog 3-4 days per week, do that. Focus on cross-training the other days-swim, bike, lift weights, work on your flexibility and core. You may not be able to run fast again, but your overall fitness will improve. I'm 57 and run 4 miles 4 times per week, and cross-train the other days, with an occasional day off. I'm not fast, but my overall fitness and health are good and I actually enjoy working out more.

I'm 55 and started racing at age 10 in grade school cross country! I have bad knees but not bad enough to not run. These days, it's 4 days a week of running with stationary bike and weights on the off days. I've tried to quit running a few times, but keep coming back. I love it and it seems to help slow the ageing process compared to most people my age who are in terrible shape.

Same here at 85, having run for some 75 years and now competing in national masters championships and preparing for worlds, I doubt there is any inevitable breakdown and I doubt that it helps to stop running. I don't know if I ever ran a 17 minute 5K except in the Marines at Parris Island with a pack (it might have been high 16s actually; I did do a reasonably hilly five miles in 27:30). When ever I feel an injury coming on, I shift to the Fitness Center ellipticals for a few days.

Think about getting involved as a coach for a local grade school or high school. You could also be a group leader/mentor for a local adult training group. A lot of coaches know a ton about running/training, and have great experience to give back to the community. It is very rewarding to see your athletes or friends break a PR in their race, even if your own PRs are in the rearview mirror. It may also help you cope with your other things in your life. Wish you the best!

I'm 68 and have run, mostly but sometimes off and on, since I was 15. Over the last 5 years I've found it has been very difficult to get in racing shape - never had this problem when I was younger. Anyway, I'm experimenting with a 12 day "week" - the purpose of which is to allow me to add more rest and easy days.

Recovery isn't what it used to be. I find it too easy to overdue things. Also, I've started lifting and doing body weight exercises. This is all well and good (and necessary) but adds to the recovery issues if I'm not careful. Exercise is exercise. So even if I am lifting upper body, I still need to allow time to recover.

Obviously sleep and diet are the other important variables.

Otherwise, no other advice. Good luck to all the oldsters!

You might benefit from reading this book:

https://a.co/d/cz9CJqv

Motivation can be tough at any time in this sport. I'm 59. I haven't trained seriously or consistently in, honestly, 15 years. I'd like to say I have periods every year where I'm serious about my training, but that wouldn't really be true. I haven't had what I'd call a "good race" in probably 20 years. I stopped defining "good race" as a good time well before that and now "good race" for me would be going through it with decent strategy given my current fitness level and feeling like I was in race mode the whole way, as opposed to "being in a race".

But I still love every run I go on and I'm happy I can get out there. I'll usually have a few 3-4 week periods in a year where I'll get out most days and run a few miles. Sometimes I can string a few of those together - a year ago I had a 100+ day streak which really made me feel pretty good about my running. Outside those times I get out once a week or so, maybe 2-3 times if the mood is there and maybe a little less if I get busy with life.

Over the last 15-20 years I've been a lot more motivated when I have people to run with regularly. Don't need every day, just need a few friends who want to be steady and get out once or twice a week and I can piece together a week. That social time is important.

Mentally it's darn tough to be so slow now. I was never a super fast guy, I did okay and was happy for what I achieved. At my best I was barely a sub 3 marathoner, had some decent tri's. Training pace BITD, I was cranking out 6-6:30s for my daily runs. Even in my early-mid 40's I was still able to hang at 7:30 or so for daily mileage. These days I'm struggling to dip under 10:00 pace, mostly because I've been so inconsistent this year. I've been getting back into it a little lately and I know if I stick with it for a month I'll be back down in the mid 9's and if I can keep any momentum going I'll be right around 9:00-9:15 this winter. I just laugh at myself when I get back from a run and download my watch data and it says 10:05-10:20 for the miles.

Injuries have been an issue for a lot of people I run with but not too much for me. Little stuff pops up but I get through those things quickly. I did have to shut my 100 day streak down last winter because I tripped on a sidewalk crack and took a hard fall. But that's not breakdown injuries which seem to be more career enders.