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

Stopping running always starts with physical problems most of the time. For me it was some metabolic problems where the body would rebel at what I would have considered jogging paces so there wasn't much point after that. I then started doing less intense sports and it was just a gradual thing where I discovered I just wanted to move from point A to B and satisfy that physical need. Years afterwards on a whim I started jogging again and though I will never do hardcore training again, I got all these different activities that keep me happy so that is the final phase before your body quits altogether.

I “quit” running in the sense that I don’t do races anymore (except for random trail races when I’m able), so I’m not in the constant throws of training.

I run when I want to run, where I want to run, and how long I want to run.

Now I enjoy rock climbing, kayaking, backcountry camping, and bushcraft/survival skills.

For me it was just being burnt out. I’d done multiple races a year for over a decade (marathons, Ironman triathlons, ultras, etc) and was never not in the middle of a training cycle. It was freeing just to let go and decide not to register for a race in 2020 (good timing, too!).

It feels nice to only run when I want to run. Otherwise I go for long hikes, go climbing/bouldering, or head down the river of my kayak. I’m in way better shape now than I ever was when I was constantly training.

I got older. My pace slowed. I enjoyed just trail running. But injuries became too common. Frustrated.

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.

July, 2019 at age 59 years, 2 months. Had a heart attack. I was engulfed by a sea of bewilderment wondering how that could happen to a guy that was in excellent shape for his age. I would have definitely quit if it happened after I turned 60, but I came back and my 5K is down to 27:55.

I often tell myself that it is the distance that matters and walking would accomplish the same goal, but I continue to run. At age 60 years, 3 months, it is turning into a game. In the event of a 2nd heart attack, that could kill me.

What good is being alive if you can't run down the street.

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.

Would quitting make your life better?

Imagine your life without running. What are you doing instead? How do you feel about it?

My advice would be to never quit anything. But instead to add something to your life you feel is more valuable, which automatically makes you reduce time/effort spent on other things. Quitting leaves a hole. Which makes people feel empty inside. You need something to fill it.

Good luck with your decision.

I realized I was never going to pr again and I was okay with that.

It was really wearing down my body even outside of running.

Wanting to have a more balanced life and try some new activities that my body is actually better suited for (very glad I did as It turns out I'm much better at some other sports lol).

It was hard at first but I remember pretty clearly. I had taken some time off. Several months. And I've done this before. Even for years. And I was ready to start training again. I started a run and my gut feeling was. Wait I'm not enjoying this at all. And didn't finish the run.

I've run on the beach a bit with a friend sometimes. Sometimes its fun sometimes not. It's frustrating to be tired with just a few miles of jogging or to feel lingering aches or near Injuries even with some light jogs. My body is done running and that's okay.

Got old and knees were too sore to continue running consistently.

Started running consistently in my 40's and was serious about it (for a hobby-jogger). Now 58 yrs old. An illness stopped me for a couple of months, then injuries kept me from getting back to normal, then it just lost its appeal. Took some time for me to be OK with it, but now I walk 40-50 miles a week. Takes almost twice a long as my old 40 mpw schedule, but I don't need to change and I can break it up during the day - 20-30 min here, 30 min there, an hour later. I even do some occasional 15 milers on the weekend. I have as much energy/stamina as ever and don't miss the pounding. It was a good 15 year run, but that phase of my life is over. There are a lot of ways to stay fit.

jonathon wrote:

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.

Would quitting make your life better?

Imagine your life without running. What are you doing instead? How do you feel about it?

My advice would be to never quit anything. But instead to add something to your life you feel is more valuable, which automatically makes you reduce time/effort spent on other things. Quitting leaves a hole. Which makes people feel empty inside. You need something to fill it.

Good luck with your decision.

yup. we all like to bash Ryan Hall, but this is exactly what he did.

I've known more guys that quit than that kept at it. All at different ages, all for different reasons. Some it was injury, some it was that it seemed dumb to do all that when they couldn't run X time at Y distance, some had job and kid responsibilities that just made going running seem kinda dumb, others were truly burnt out on it and wanted to do another activity golf, rock climbing, lifting... whatever.

so quitting is the norm, those that stick with it are the outliers.

SummerSlogger wrote:

I've known more guys that quit than that kept at it. All at different ages, all for different reasons. Some it was injury, some it was that it seemed dumb to do all that when they couldn't run X time at Y distance, some had job and kid responsibilities that just made going running seem kinda dumb, others were truly burnt out on it and wanted to do another activity golf, rock climbing, lifting... whatever.

so quitting is the norm, those that stick with it are the outliers.

Everyone quits. Some quit after HS, some quit after college, some quit at 30/40/50, etc. Even people who still race at 80 quit, often years before their death.

With the exception of freak accidents like what happened to Pre, I haven't heard of a single person who kept training seriously until the day they died.

Dam, this thread is kind of depressing but interesting.

I'm only 31 and never have quit running, but I have gone through fazes of training much less. I find that it's sometimes fun to run casually at 40-50 mpw, and I can still show up and race to feel that competitive spirit of running that I enjoy so much.

I did that for about a year and got the fire to train hard again. I'm fine with it ending eventually, but I hope I still enjoy it 10-15 years from now.

On a positive note as long as you're competitive and/or personally PR'ing you will keep at it. You can do this into your 70's or more if your lucky with your health as more and more competitors start dropping off.

Quit running? Go ahead and try.

"Ya can't quit the mob"

--Ken Kesey

My end came after 12 years of competitive running...i started out at 21:00 5k and worked down to about 14:00 at year 8 or so. The last 4 years I got hurt, put on 30 pounds I cannot lose. My job and responsibilities are so that if I get too tired I cannot be good. That was at 50 mpw. Now, after 3 years of deconditioning that is 35 mpw. My 35 mpw self will never beat my no schedule and responsibility 90 mpw self. There are otherbthings i have to do that running too nuch would negatively effect.

Injury, lost motivation and seeing others run much faster. I got off strava because of that but I was much happier when I used to jog 10 miles a week with my club and didn't race.

I just didn’t care anymore. I knew my career bests would peak around 14:50 5k and a 4:08 mile. No one cares about those times and they won’t make me money. So I went into the corporate world.

Going through a short break right now. I probably will get back to it, but It’s been sub freezing for months, usually around 10 in the morning, the treadmill is broken, and the gym is 20 minutes away.

Running in winter can be tough.

I used to train to race…many moons ago…but just stopped.
Personally these days I cannot understand why the thoughts of beginner runners turn to their first race, not long after their first running steps. It seems as though, in today’s society we are conditioned to equate running with racing. It is, in my opinion due to the influence of the media and sports / fitness industry. Not much money can be made from a person who jogs or run / walks a few miles a week for general health. You won’t sell many carbon plated shoes, energy gels and race entries that way.
Yet our ancestors did not run for time ( if you believe the born to run hypothesis). They ran only due to necessity. Even Daniel Lieberman, the instigator of the born to run to run theory states that running for food probably only happened sporadically ( once a week or less) at best, and that the concept of training for such feats is a foreign concept even to such modern tribes as the Tarahumara.

Good health and total fitness require more than just cardiovascular ability in such a narrow specific window of one activity.
Quite a few in this thread have advised the OP to slow down, run and walk for enjoyment, and stop to smell the flowers and see the sights. I would concur. Enjoy the process and forget about the results.

I took more time getting over ending my soccer “career” ( it was just a hobby) than my running one. The moment injury ( knees) stopped me stepping over the white line onto the field of play, I felt instantly older. But the feeling diminishes if you find other activities to replace it with.

I now just look back on those days with bewilderment. I can keep anything I do, with regards to physical fitness in better perspective. I’m not getting paid for it. No one cares what times I run, or what weights I lift etc, except me. Not even my nearest and dearest. So I shouldn’t worry too much about it.

Looking at things that way is a more liberating way to think about it.