I quit at 38. I have some sort of large bone spur in my foot that just wouldn't stop hurting. Plus I had PF pretty frequently, and my achilles tendons were often injured.
You know what? After a couple months, I actually enjoyed the fact that I could get out of bed in the morning without hurting. I can walk up and down the stairs now without my achilles complaining.
I got an ElliptiGO and after nearly 40 years of running came to a halt, I am having just as much fun-if not more!
Just curious, where do you ride it? Do you ride it the same places cyclist do or do you only have a few places where it feels safe?
TDF wrote:
I got an ElliptiGO and after nearly 40 years of running came to a halt, I am having just as much fun-if not more!
It gets better. I had to stop running because of sudden lung and heart problems during college, it was devastating at first, but I've tried to channel the energy into work, lifting, and personal development. It's worked for me... In general I'm a more balanced person now than when I ran.
I'm sorry this is a late reply, but how about getting swimming lessons and learning to do front crawl. Breast stroke isn't particularly good for your knees, let alone your hip issues. Front crawl is probably the best style of swimming. You can get adult beginner lessons. Just thinking this might help.
I had to give up running as well after 20 years, early hip arthritis due to congenital defect in hip joint (FAI). Very very depressing, not to mention painful. Here's what helped:
- get outside as much as possible, in nature, not city.
Even walking helps mood. Studies show walking in
nature (not city streets) lowers cortisol
and improves immune system.
- running provides some people with lifestyle structure,
which is lost when you stop, so try to rebuild some
structure via hobbies, clubs etc.
- huge loss of endorphins/hormone changes when you stop
running, so try to get out there doing some high
intensity stuff. Biking is somewhat painful for me,
but helps. Strength training (e.g. 5X5 stronglifts)
has similar endorphins/growth to running because you
can feel yourself improve every week, that's helped a lot.
- if lifting weights, be sure to have perfect form,
I tore my rotator cuff due to poor form on BP and
overhead press.
I've had brief contact with running friends, i've distanced myself because i don't want their pity, and let's face it,
injuries are boring and bad karma for most other runners.
Still not sure what to do on that front. Have volunteered for some races and when people ask why i'm not racing, my reply is a terse "giving it a break for now",
but i always feel good after volunteering.
Biggest loss for me is not racing or going for PB/SB. Bike racing is too hard if you're new to it. I just focus on small goals, timing myself on sections of a route/climb etc.
Enjoy sleeping in sunday instead of waking up early for long runs. Pamper yourself a bit. Read about the 5 stages of loss/love, you must spend time in each stage before full acceptance. You will bounce back and forth for awhile, but it seems to get better with time and reflection.
Better to have run and stopped, then not to have run at all, i've got a lot of great memories. And let's face it, we all stop running at some point, except for the "lucky" ones who die while out on run!
Other people have offered good advice on finding another passion and exercise you can do.
I would recommend staying in running and coaching of some sort. Many schools need volunteers or sometimes paid depending on your experience and knowledge. What area of the country are you in?
If you live in the North, or other snow-blessed climes, cross country skiing, preferably the skating method, imparts nearly all the rewards of running without the impact on joints and bones. With constant Achilles problems, I found that the winter heals me completely and I can do trail races for several months after a thrilling season of skiing.
GG
I was told by a doctor in the Mayo Clinic that I could never run again. I got a second opinion from another Mayo Clinic doc... same advice. Well, I took two years off and then returned to running... slowly at first. It took weeks before I could run more than 3 miles, but today I'm no longer limited by the injury.
My point?
OP, I suggest that you don't give up. Learn all you can about your injury. Figure out what caused it and how you will avoid re-injury in the future. Talk to more than one doc. You may have options that your doc doesn't even know about. Let's face it, most docs only know three options: rest, pharmaceutical drugs, and surgery. You may have other options... physical therapy, platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections, prolotherapy, etc.
Until you can resume running, or if you can't, find another positive addiction. Having a vaccuum in your life can result in turning to negative addictions and you don't want that to happen.
fisky wrote:
I was told by a doctor in the Mayo Clinic that I could never run again. I got a second opinion from another Mayo Clinic doc... same advice. Well, I took two years off and then returned to running... slowly at first. It took weeks before I could run more than 3 miles, but today I'm no longer limited by the injury.
My point?
OP, I suggest that you don't give up. Learn all you can about your injury. Figure out what caused it and how you will avoid re-injury in the future. Talk to more than one doc. You may have options that your doc doesn't even know about...
Second this person. I've had so many "career ending" type of injuries/health issues, including torn cartilage in my hip, and I've bounced back every single time. I've even been diagnosed with a potential heart condition, and yet I'm still doing it.
I run past an older guy almost every day who puts in 5,000+ miles every year- he literally "runs" like he's running with his arms and dragging his legs. I don't know what's wrong with his legs, but he's all bow-legged and has no spring, but he's moving (almost like a racewalker). Who knows how long it takes him to run as much as he does, but some how he does it, even if it looks painful.
I have another friend who had quadruple bypass surgery, and he's already run a marathon, about a year after his surgery. I see him out running a few times a week, always with a big smile on his face.
Don't give up figuring out your injury, even if it takes a really long time, a lot of opinions, and time off from running.
I gave it up for 6 years because it was causing depression. Just easing back to it now. I really missed it, and I can't train hard, but it's something.
Hiking was my exercise for those six years.
Be kind to yourself.
Duns Scotus wrote:
I gave it up for 6 years because it was causing depression.
Do you mean that an injury was making you depressed?
If you're saying that running itself made you depressed, I'm shocked. I really didn't think that was possible.
hike/bike/swim/find another sport
focus on your career/education/family
go out with friends
drink more beer
stay up late
not running isn't so bad.
thank you, i really like to hear this. and there is still a part of me that has not given up. i do know that running is nowhere in my near future but who knows what will happen years from now.
im curious, did you have surgery for the torn cartilage in your hip or did is resolve by some other method?
i am in the north, moved to minnesota a few years back and i am really wanting to start xc skiing this winter, planning to take lessons and learn the skating method properly. im very scared that it will bother my hip but am hoping not!