Everyone needs to understand that at the end of the day NOBODY cares about your running but you. So if you're doing it for others or out of pure misery you should just stop because it won't get better.
Wouldn't be so sure about that. Some club runners eyeball each others results and try to out do each other. Strava takes this further (like all social media its about comparing yourself). Its like a race that never ends.
Everyone needs to understand that at the end of the day NOBODY cares about your running but you. So if you're doing it for others or out of pure misery you should just stop because it won't get better.
Wouldn't be so sure about that. Some club runners eyeball each others results and try to out do each other. Strava takes this further (like all social media its about comparing yourself). Its like a race that never ends.
I see it with elite runners where I live and most of their Stravas are not only fast but have inside jokes others won't get...
Everyone needs to understand that at the end of the day NOBODY cares about your running but you. So if you're doing it for others or out of pure misery you should just stop because it won't get better.
Wouldn't be so sure about that. Some club runners eyeball each others results and try to out do each other. Strava takes this further (like all social media its about comparing yourself). Its like a race that never ends.
Let’s qualify the initial statement by saying…
Nobody that MATTERS ( to you) cares about your running.
Why do people bother about others on something like Strava? People they will likely never meet…
I recall the early morning I was running 800s with short recoveries, things to do, places to be, and I was grinding away hoping to take 8 seconds off a 5K PR that was sitting there for nearly three years.
All became clear.
Yeah when improvement doesn't happen after so long it's time to move on.
It's simple - If you feel like you won't have regrets if you quit, then quit. If you feel like you would, then don't.
You could also add…
If your body and joints would thank you in the long run for stopping or severely curtailing your passion…
If your relationships with your family and friends would significantly improve if running took a back seat or stopped altogether…
If you suddenly realised that other areas of your life, so long rejected, and not flourishing because of it, would make a dramatic improvement if running was no longer your main focus…
I don't think anybody is suggesting there is some kind of moral imperative to train to the max - it's a sport, if it doesn't work for you, don't do it.
My experience is a bit different. Now 66-years-old and have competed consistently since age 14 or so.
In England, I ran for my area in high-school, then for the best part of 20 years competed as an English club runner, which unlike the U.S. meant a program of track and x-country leagues, as well as road-races. Not quite the intensity of U.S. College, as we all had jobs, but a lot of hard structured training. Did that for about 20 years - was fifth or sixth in the region at 3000m s/c at age 36, then moved to U.S. for work in late 30s.
Did a lot of club level road-racing over here, mostly 5k, then got into USATF Masters, and have pretty much trained in a very focused way for the last 25 years to the extent that I got into EIM (Easy Interval Method) a couple of years ago, and was doing four interval sessions a week coming into a championship meet.
Looking at things that others have mentioned here: when I was younger running provided the bulk of my social life. My friends tended to be from the running club, and in England at least we partied pretty hard on a Saturday when a meet was over.
When I came over to the U.S., initially not knowing anyone here, a running club again provided a social connection (and it helped that I was fortunate enough to relatively successful in local races). In fact it's where I met my wife.
I think, maybe, in England we were less body conscious, as far as worrying about being 'too skinny' to get dates. In addition, because of the club social environment at lot of the dating was 'runner with runner.'
The last 12 years or so, I've trained by myself. I think in that time I've run with another person about three times. I actually don't mind that as it gives me flexibility as far as doing a session at time that suits. I still do structured training and regular interval sessions. I did manage to win a race at the World Senior Games a couple of years ago (not as impressive as it sounds since it's 'World' in a similar sense to the 'World Series of Baseball - but fun none the less). I probably only race about four times a year, but they are all targeted for a big effort. I'm looking forward to setting some targets - God-willing - that I will go for when I turn 70.
I do enjoy the benefits of being fit (and I have now added weight training, which I probably should have started at least 10 years earlier), in things like being able to drop off a car for service six miles away and drop off. I don't think, however, without the carrot of competition I would have had the motivation to keep at it.
From a career point of view, I have been fortunate enough find a niche consultancy where for the last 30 years where I could work from home. I do work long hours, which I don't mind as it's been a life long fascination, but I also have the flexibility to train whenever I want. As with the running, I've no intention of retiring in the near future.
Of course there have been downsides. Like the OP and some others, certainly when young my whole identity would be caught up in running (I guess to a degree, I still tend to identify as a "runner" even though I'd be better known for my work). The other one that's tough to handle are injuries, and I have had a couple of knee surgeries.
Overall, however, I don't regret a lifetime of structured training and competitive running. It's taken me a lot of places I've never seen before; met a lot of interesting people; kept myself fit; and gained a lot of satisfaction from achieving competitive goals.
if you're physically beat up then moving in a new direction is only good sense.
and otherwise, to me, switch events or switch sports after college. driven people need a challenge and trying to match what 20 year old you did is an exercise in frustration, or a fading xerox of a xerox. move up, move down, do field, go play a new sport.
now, i would parse those 2 slightly because i am convinced some distance types who can't handle volume anymore could be serviceable 400/800 masters types. some of it is honesty with self and like, what will my body tolerate. eg i've had less tendonitis problems once i figured out and self-enforced a mileage/time limit. that limit then has implications for what i can race. i can pout about it or i can accept reality.
and i fully get if you've either had enough or don't want to work around an injury, do something else. i would be unapologetic about it. i did some other stuff, won some hardware, competed abroad in international events. just sit down and think through, ok, what makes sense with my body and what doesn't. eg, if i am managing tendonitis for the remainder, then i don't play hoops anymore.
side point, but for people who have been dedicated to a Thing for years, and suddenly that Thing is over, at least at the high level you were at, you need to be mindful of depression in terms of choices. to me it's a positive choice if you have some new plan B. even family, significant other. new sport. or at least a desire to try new things, even outside of sports.
i say this because, if running bores you, but also everything does, that sounds like depression. so before you chuck elements of your life, ponder that, am i looking forward to some new era or effort, or am i just down and not into anything i usually enjoy.
It's simple - If you feel like you won't have regrets if you quit, then quit. If you feel like you would, then don't.
Definitely the main reason I've kept going when I've like quitting. Been running since middle school and probably should've stopped after high school when I wasn't fast enough to run in college. But always felt like I had more on the table and managed to get a little faster. Honestly thought I'd keep it going after college but work has been a death sentence to my training and just don't get into shape like I used to. Most of my last years have been caught between wanting to build towards a real attack on decent times again and maybe lead towards a PR and then reality of not really have time/desire once things get hard or injuries pop up. At 30, pretty much accepted PRs are off the table and days of running open track meets are done. It sucks but just how it is. Still very much into the sport but definitely feel more than a little down when I think that my best days are behind me. Still haven't found that good replacement for competitive running in my life yet.
I'll quit bellyaching though and get back to work!
I have became skinny fat and tired, but I am not going to quit YET (new runner, 14 months from zero), not before I can do a high mileage marathon prep and see what happens
Your story really resonates with me. It’s incredibly brave to walk away from something that was once your passion, especially when the pressure and monotony start to outweigh the joy. I can imagine the relief of finally listening to your body and realizing that you don’t have to keep pushing through the struggle just because it’s what you’ve always done. It’s inspiring that you’ve found new challenges and avenues to channel that drive, and I’m sure it’s given you a new perspective on what truly brings you fulfillment. It’s easy to get trapped in the mindset that our worth is tied to achievements like race times, but there’s so much more to life than that. It’s great to hear you’ve found that balance.
The reason you guys quit was because you stopped winning, or never won in the first place. Winning feels good, losing feels bad. Justify to yourselves however you want that you are slow and uncompetitive, it’s ok. I got a participation medal for y’all.
The reason you guys quit was because you stopped winning, or never won in the first place. Winning feels good, losing feels bad. Justify to yourselves however you want that you are slow and uncompetitive, it’s ok. I got a participation medal for y’all.
I consider quitting because if self-important jerkoffs like you and the angry political hacks that post here are representative of the sport, then why suffer the social stigmas of being labeled an incel loser?
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