Runners who retire

You don't have to compete to run. In fact most don't. Or you can be competitive at the races you choose with little negitive impact on your life. I find outsiders I choose to let know I run are impressed by it. I do not find most are impressed by the group at work that meets on Tuesdays to play b-ball.

I hardly ever wake up sore nor should you. Run slower. It does you just as well.

There is life OUTSIDE racing.

Waking up in pain is no fun.

Depends on what you classify as retirement.

A local running coach/regional/national-level competitive runner 'retired' about a 18 months ago, only to compete in a local race (5K/10K/half). He entered under a fictitious name, ran and ended up winning the half. You want to talk about a major crap-storm? There were folks freaking out for the next nine months about the thing.

His rationale for running under an assumed identity was to 'keep the press attention' off himself and allow it to be focused on another local coach/athlete running the Disney World Marathon that same day. The other coach won the marathon (first American to win Disney), but you can guess the rest of the story...

You probably will pick up the sport again. And you will spend most of your time trying to get your performance back to where you once were. You won't be able to get there though and will regret having given it up. You will continue to try to reach your old form and fail to do so. Eventually you will quit the sport again in frustration and put on 50 pounds.

Now that you are not running, I hope you are at least getting some action. Otherwise it would be a total waste.

Other guy wrote:

Or you can be competitive at the races you choose with little negitive impact on your life.

Yes, you can still do it, just at a different level. I train 4 times a week and win local races (with times a lot worse than I used to run, but I enjoy my life a lot more now and earn a lot more money!)

Listen to the posts above mine. Running can be a rewarding part of ones life. I started running in 1952 at age 16. I had a couple very light years recently but now hope to complete a marathon some time in the next few years in a time that is a little over double my best time.

In 1971, on the way to the Boston marathon, I met a group of runners on the plane. They ran 2 hours every Sunday morning and then had breakfast together taking turns hosting. We still exercise every Sunday morning for 1 1/2 hours and then take turns hosting breakfast. Some walk and some run. 7 are over 80. Many started running in their 30s, however, one started in 1942 and is still at it at age 74. They are all very very sucessful men in their chosen professions. We are great friends and have fun and good running together.

you didn't really 'retire', you just stopped running.

likewise, when you do start again, it won't be 'making a comeback', it will be running again.

you must have actually been someone first to retire, and then make a comeback.

i am 44 now and will always regret not using every season of my eligibility in college.

don't look back in regret since you don't know what you can achieve until you try.

change your training instead, or transfer to a coach/system that suits you better.

I retired with one track season left while at a D1 school. I don't regret it at all. Took 9 years off. Had a BLAST! Had some not so good times as well, but that happens no matter where you are in life. Started running again at the age of 30 (I'm 35 now) just so I wouldn't get fat. Then hooked up with a local club team, started racing. I'm better now than I was in college. And, 9.75 days out of 10 my head is screwed on way tighter. That's my experience. There's life outside of running. And when you want to come back, the people in the running community are quick to welcome you back. -- kk

If you've felt like you've accomplished everything you want in the sport, then by all means, move on. However, make sure you have something else to move on to. After being disciplined and having the goals and routine of running for so many years, you'll find that "having fun" will get old very quickly. Pick up another sport or hobby so you can select some new goals to work toward. It doesn't have to require the commitment that running does, but it will give your life more purpose. I'm at this point in my life (I'm 32 and I "retired" at 30) and although I miss the racing and training sometimes (especially when I'm on this website), I've moved on in my life and am excited about some new things I've got going. By the time I was 30, I knew that my PR's weren't going to get much better (if at all) and to me it wasn't worth the pain and commitment of training (I was injured again at the time).

I still run about 25 miles a week and lift weights to stay in shape, but I've got a ton of other things to enjoy so I don't have to worry about a race coming up or getting injured or whatever. I'm healthy and living pretty much pain free. I've loved running and could never imagine my life if I hadn't done it, but sometimes you just need to make a change.