For those who quit running, what were the mental stages leading up to finally doing it?

Progression not profession

it gets old chasing PRs or goal times you feel will never come. I don't know your running history. Maybe if you took some time off and came back to work on something like 400/800, or even shorter, that would give you a new spark.

Take time off and do other stuff that’s outdoors and fun.

Then just go for a run when you feel like it.

The past 7 years I haven’t done much running, and then recently I enjoyed hammering when I feel good or doing some hill sprints.

Don’t run any races.

Knee pain. My right knee just constantly hurt, even if I took long breaks. What was once an unthinkable and depressing possibility became an easy decision. Started lifting weights instead, and I feel just as fulfilled.

Debilitating injury is generally a cause.

jamin wrote:

I think I might be on the cusp of finally quitting. I'm curious what are the typical mental stages leading up to it.

How can you even think of using the word "Quit" for such a beautiful sport that gives us so much Life... Or does it not ? .....you have to ask yourself an honest question . what attracted you into running in the first place ? ... and decide accordingly ,,,all the best

First, lack of interest, no big deal. After a while tried cycling and definitely never went back to serious running.

You don't necessarily have to quit running. But it's very easy to lay off the serious, goal-oriented training. What I'd suggest, is to take a few weeks completely off. When you feel like running again, just quit thinking about your runs, leave your watch at home, and just go have fun. Seek out some trails, and stop to take photos along the way. Maybe even fast pack (mix hiking and running, and pack a lunch for a mid-adventure break). Just do something radically different from what you've been doing. If it still sucks, then you can reassess. A lot of people quick because they have no other choice—injuries stop them.

There's been some solid advice in this thread.

I quit in my mid-20s after I'd hit the limits of my potential and running ceased to be fun; I was training 100-plus mile weeks around a full-time job I detested in an ultimately futile chase at an OTQ, and the monastic focus that required had me feeling I was putting far more into running than I was getting out of it.

I continued training and racing for several months beyond where I should have stopped, because that was my norm and my routine and my identity was so wrapped up in running (I'd been racing since junior high). I soldiered on, however, in hopes of waking up and feeling differently one day, or having a breakthrough. Neither ever happened.

Actually quitting came in stages: first came a series of horribly sub-par races (because I'd already checked out of the sport mentally.) One day I went to a X-C race and, after being shot out the back of the lead pack in the first hundred meters -for no other than reason than not wanting to be there, but I didn't recognize that yet- I just dropped out.

I continued training, however, and two weeks later I went to a road race, picked up my number, did my usual warm-up...and didn't bother starting the race. I just walked to my car and drove home.

Two weeks later I was in my car early on a Sunday morning headed to another road race when I exited the highway, made the first turnaround I could, and drove back home. I realized I didn't have to do this anymore unless I wanted to, and I didn't. It took a long time to get to that decision -at one point the thought of quitting running seemed like a sort of suicide- but once I did I didn't have a single regret, have never looked back, and have tremendously enjoyed life post running. I got into other physical activities -cycling, x-c skiing, powerlifting, and explored other avenues I never would have if I'd continued running.

NovemberCure wrote:

Physical pain. When you reach the point where the activity is nothing but pain, then eventually you will break and give it up. You can't even enjoy going for a daily 4M jog around the neighborhood or park just to keep your weight down. Usually it's a knee, calf, Achilles thing that brings you to your end.

The thing is, you can still be around "the scene" meaning you can coach, work as an official, volunteer at road races, become an RD, etc.

Too, too true.

Bingo!

Don't quit. The ability to run is a gift from god that you should exercise whenever possible.

When I quit I had a serious of health issues/injuries, many of which were likely the result of the start of alcoholism. I told myself I was just "taking a break" and that I would be back once my injuries cleared up. Eventually my injuries did clear up but I was too heavy into drinking, smoking, and other miscellaneous drugs to even seriously consider a comeback. 5 years later I finally sobered up, but by then I had put on so much weight I couldn't even dream of doing something like an easy 10 miler. Today, (5 YEARS after wanting to get back into it), I am content with an easy 3 miles on a daily basis, still 50 Lbs heavier than I was.

Let that be a cautionary tale, keep running, keep the pounds off. If you don't like racing or are burnt out from it don't race, don't "train" in the sense of keeping track of mileage, intervals, Strava, etc. Just go out and run free.

Timmy Treadwell wrote:

Injuries that just wouldn't go away. Tired of being in pain all the time (mostly achilles). Quit at 39.

Wow!..Quit at 39! ? When I was 39, I was on top of the world running 40 mpw, racing year round and virtually injury-free. Now at 59, I'm so broken down it's not even funny - post-traumatic osteoarthritis and chronic injuries galore. I'm grouchy, miserable, anxious and in pain a lot from only running a pathetic 15 mpw. My body is sagging, despite lifting weights 3 times a week, that I can't even run with my shirt off anymore without scarring the women & children ?.

The good old days are gone and I'm about ready to quit. Bottom line: If you don't have great aging genetics running will literally beat the snot out of you in your middle-age. ?

Portland Hobby Jogger has a lot of great points. I ran in college and still competed until just before I turned 30. I lived a very disciplined lifestyle in my 20's with very little social life. I loved the training and competition.

As I got into my late 20's, my body was breaking down and after I hurt my IT band, I realized that I had accomplished about as much as I could. I didn't accomplish what I wanted (OT qualifier) but I mentally knew I had given it everything I could. I simply didn't have what it took to get to that level.

Also, I was ready to move on with my life I was building a business and coaching high school and finding much more fulfillment from helping others through those avenues than I was from my self-centered running lifestyle. I still ran with my team and with friends to stay fit and because I enjoyed it (still do), but my body and psyche needed that change.

There are two questions you should ask yourself to help with this decision.

1. Do you feel you've accomplished all that you can accomplish with running? If not, do you still have the desire to push yourself to your goals? As I said before, I realized that my body was not able to produce the goals I had set for myself. Did I want to keep pushing myself if I couldn't get to that next level? Some people keep on going while others (like me) move on.

2. What will you do with you time and mental energy if you do give up competing? I was coaching a successful team and enjoyed seeing my athletes succeed more than I enjoyed succeeding myself.

Two major factors in being happy are depth of involvement and meaning. Right now, you are deeply involved with your running and find a lot meaning from it. You will need to find something else in which you can engage yourself at the same level (or at least close). The Olympians that struggle after they are done competing usually don't have a an for their post-competitive career.

I had a guy I coached years ago that ended up being a two time XC D1 All American in college. He was a natural to move up to the marathon post-college. He ran a couple of marathons and got to about 2:21-2:22. He decided to move on with his life and give up competive running about two years before the Olympics. He realized that it wasn't worth it for him to make the sacrifice needed for another two years to maybe get to that level. Many years later, he has a thriving career, a growing family, and a very happy life. He is very much at piece with the decision to walk away while he still had something left in the tank.

Good luck in making your decision.

If you are under 40, there is no reason to quit. You are just giving a way your best years for running. Those are years you will never get back. Just roll with the ups and downs that come with running. No one gets to PR every time out and run injury free year in year out.

For me, I was not able to train properly due to lots of travel for work and ended up with patellar tendinitis in both knees after a good streak of about 10 years of consistent racing and training hard. It took about two years to get completely over the knee injury and then it just wasn't worth it anymore. I still run and do a workout every know and then. But I doubt I will ever race again. I have done all that I wanted to do with running and have other interests I want to do instead. I do miss it and am glad I got every year I could out of my legs. I cannot imagine missing out on all those years of training and racing.

Excessive posting to a topic-specific message board yet frequently posting off-topic. In short, more posts per week than miles.

I ran from 1998 to 2002. I was never that fast, but then I took off 15 years (until May 2017). I was in ROTC and was scared off by the Major. He had quit running due to needing knee replacements and said running was overrated. It spooked me. I did walk every day and that helped.

Ran my first half in Oct. 2017 and was hooked again. Did another half in 2018, a half and my first full in 2019.

I took some time off after the full, tried to get motivated this past Feb.-Aug. but due to Covid and not having the Cbus I gave up. I'm giving it another shot though, esp. if Covid improves and we can get our races back next year.

For me, it comes in waves--I get on a period where I don't run at all, and then when I do run it's for given races.

I got injured and felt it was time to put my energy toward my career.

Good post.

A "chore" indeed.

I think the most annoying thing about running is that 98% of your effort is just to try and maintain, or reach your previous level, of fitness. This is even if you have been extremely consistent, not sidelined by injury or sickness. Think about even the pros. If they are improving one year compared to a previous year (which is usually not the case), there is maybe only a period of a couple weeks, or a handful of workouts, in which they are, just barely, exceeding their best ever shape. Then there are many unknowns and uncontrollable factors that go into whether they can capitalize on their peak shape to have a good race or a PR.

When I have a great workout these days, instead of being excited about my fitness, I instead have this depressing thought of "Great. Now I just created some extra chores for myself."