Why did you quit running?

major injury (not running related) ran for about 20 years, and there was no thoughts of quitting or burnout.

Never quit...

.. just re-calibrate...

...55 y.o. been running for 45 years. Sometimes fast, sometime slow, but always running. 1:28 half marathon @ 53; three weeks later diagnosed w/ prostate cancer... but still running!!

30 pounds isn't that much. And you have time to smoke and drink, but not to run? What kind of sick joke is this?

douglas burke wrote:

major injury (not running related) ran for about 20 years, and there was no thoughts of quitting or burnout.

This.

Car accident, not my fault. Sucks Ultimate.

Ever tried quitting smoking? It's not easy, just like the ads say. 30 pounds might not seem like that much, but that's not the point of this thread. The point of this thread is to see if any other runners are going through the same thing and seeing how they feel and what they did after.

Walked off the track in college after running a 2:11 800 (I was a 1:58 guy in hs) and didn't run again for 9 years. Went to a local 5k because some girls I knew asked me to run, ran 24:30, had to walk, and was completely disgusted with myself. Started running casually from then on (15-20 miles) a week and gradually started to get faster and faster to the point where I decided I wanted to take it somewhat seriously, at least to the point where I average 40-45 miles a week.

Really regret ever quitting. Like yourself, I drank and partied alot in my time off which was fun as hell, but I can't help but wonder how good I could have gotten without the time off. The other thing I regret was I got really into working out and bulked up to almost 200lbs (I am 6 feet tall). Haven't been able to lose all the muscle which limits my ability to get fast, although I would say I look better than the average runner.

To answer the question as to why I quite though, it was mostly because I wwas in college, running terribly, and wanted to focus on partying.

I was a decent college runner: 14:32 5k and 30:31 10k.

At 33 years old, I ran a 10k in 36:28 and it was harder than anything I had ever done prior. I never stopped running, but I realized that my pathetic 7 mile jogs were not going to sustain the fitness I needed to run decent times.

In the 10k, I was passed at mile 5 by an nonathletic HS kid wearing what looked like basketball shoes. I crossed the finish line and realized that I didn't want to run if wasn't going to be halfway decent. For the last 6 months, I've been using our elliptical and lifting weights. I don't want to bulk up, so I do high reps with lower weight.

I still run occasionally when I feel like it, but I am no longer what you would call a runner.

There gets to be a point where you realize this is as good as I am going to get working this hard and I don't want to work any harder. At that point racing became kind of meaningless. I raced to see how fast I could be more than to seek that age-group trophy. For me that occured in my late 20's.

I stopped running when I started having severe gout attacks. Even after being on medication, I would still have gout attacks everytime I started running with any regularity, so I gave that up.

When every run hurts and you have no particular goals, that's a career ending point for most.

I discovered CrossFit and realized that it was so much better than running.

I quit serious training when I reached a point where I think I peaked and had to move on with my life and start working full time.

Didn't warm down after my last serious race. Didn't see the point.

Basically threw my entire past few years since I have been out of college into getting an OTQ in the marathon and failed. Lived the "Kenyan" lifestyle, early to bed every day, lots of sleep, eat very healthy, no social life whatsoever, lots of mileage and good workouts and came up a minute short. Realized after the last race that I'm not willing to do that for another four years espescially considering the standard is going to get harder. I want to meet friends in my new area, go out, enjoy life without worrying about my next workout or the goal race. I do enjoy staying active but I do that now by going to the gym or going hiking with friends. Those years of busting my a$$ and running on a collegiate team were great, wouldn't trade them but I'm ready for a new chapter in my life. Still a huge running fan (why I'm on this site), am actually headed to Oregon next week for the trials with some college buddies.

I put in 70-80 miles per week but can barely break 40 for a 10K. I am too damn slow to feel rewarded by running and it's embarrassing to be out there.

You probably don't work 75 hours a week. You mean, you worked 75 hours a week once and usually work 50? The only guys I know that consistently rock that many hours are medical residents.I've never been as fast as you but just maintain fitness and have stayed at my HS speed for the last 8 years. No peaks, no valleys, just constant mediocre speed.

"wicked cash"?

Is that like Wicked Tuna?

I will coach your return, but it will cost you.

Should I park my Cah in Hahved Yard and we can

go for a jog along the Charles?

Do you want to stick to mid-distance track stuff?

Or are you in it for the long run (25 laps or more)?

Any hopes or dreams of running a Half or Full Marathon?

P.S. I've been running and coaching since the 1970's.

Quit: did not like college coach

Started: 24, missed running, wanted to try a marathon

Quit: 28, new job, kids on the way

Started: 34, missed running, 25 lbs heavier, pants no longer fitting, don't want to be old and unfit

Starting again at 34 is harder than 24, but it can be done. I'm 6 weeks into training and although I'm embarrassed to admit how out of shape I am, I am confident that I'll make my goal of returning to running races in 2013.

Get out the door and on your feet. You have to put in the work, but it will come back to you.

I quit because of major life changes took away time for it. Now that the time crunch has improved, i have started back up, but had gained weight and losing it has proven difficult. Injuries have short-circuited me for the past three years, but I am steadily improving. I hope to get back to being competitive with my age group, knowing that masters runners do not have the luxury of setting PRs or winning major races.

I usually quit running when I get tired and start again when I'm rested, usually the next day.

unfortunate me :-( wrote:

douglas burke wrote:

major injury (not running related) ran for about 20 years, and there was no thoughts of quitting or burnout.

This.

Car accident, not my fault. Sucks Ultimate.

This happened to Ato Boldon.