Has any runner, specifically masters become tired of running?

what I did wrote:

Here's how I restored the desire to run:

Get majorly injured to the point that you can't run at all. Spend the next year looking at every jogger you see, wistfully thinking, "I wish I could do that...". Seek medical intervention, do another year of rehab, and finally start slowly running again.

Your desire will be through the roof.

bingo. I have run about 80,000 miles over 42 years of running. No more marathons in last 17 years, but still race up to half-marathons. I feel absolutely horrible if I don't go running just about everyday. Of course I am much slower than when I was 27 and setting PRs.

I had a run this week up in the mountains on trails over 9,000 ft, snowing, sun peaking through the clouds, incredible views, my body with pretty much no pain anywhere and I thought... I love running as much now if not more than at any time in my life.

48, running for 37 yrs.. I'm hurt now, but slowly clawing my way back.

You just need to take some time away. What's the worst thing that could happen, you get into bad shape?? Big deal. You start training again and get back into it.

Take some time. Get your head straight. Explore some new activities.

high schooler feeling this wrote:

well, i'm by no means a master, i'm in high school. but running is becoming less and less enjoyable- i like doing it but i hate competing. i want to run marathons or triathlons and continue doing yoga and surfing, which i truly love but never have enough time to do because of running. competing stresses me out and i don't think i've been happy for a long time, except on my long runs (leading me to think it's just the competition i don't like and the pressure). i plan on taking a break from competetive high school running in my junior year and maybe try a 10k or a half marathon- and from then on who knows... life is too short to punish yourself by doing something everyday you don't love.

That is the conundrum of High School athletics, participation vs excellence. As kids we are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities and coached to do our best. If the athlete has potential they are pressed to excel and that pressure can sometimes turn away kids from participating. A catch 22 that all coaches struggle with. That is part of the job.

Running is a feel good activity, get a good run in and you feel good; everyone is a winner. But competition is stressful, it's the reality of sport. Put in a good effort, sometimes a painfully hard effort and there is no glory; except a personal best and may be some points in a meet. It can be a let down to put in all that work, race to you puke and then have a coach tell you that you could have done better.

Just keep this in mind, it's the coaches job to say those things and some are better at it than others. Sometimes teammates can be hard to get along with. That is life and you will have that to deal with that the rest of your life. Heck, your friends and family are sometimes hard to get along with at times. That is the human condition of socializing with others, no matter the activity; work, family, sports and surfing. Surfing is fun but I bet you that competitive surfing is stressful, especially if you have to make a living at it.

You are young and High School is one place along the way where we find the things we love to do. I liked competing in High School but wasn't good enough to get a scholarship. Truth be told, I never considered myself good enough to get a scholarship and my coach told me that is why I didn't get one. A Yoda moment in my life that has some resonating truth. But I never took Track that seriously, I did it for fun and I still like running 30 years later.

totally fried wrote:

Not tired of it, just finished.

PR range:

sub 2:20 marathon

29 10K

sub 14 5K

4:05 mile

similar relative success past 40.

late 40s everything broke down: metabolism, muscles, joints.

Some MDs offered everything from testosterone to HGH; I refused.

Now: I can only jog up to 40 minutes(if lucky) 4 times a week. Even with that, there is pain or fatigue. And, it is largely uninspired as my willingness to train in discomfort is greatly related to racing.

I will never compete again because I am unwilling to further destroy my body or "do things" to re-create ability.

Do I miss some aspects of my youth and outlier ability? Of course. But, there are things I have and enjoy now that I never had as a competitive racer.

If you are suffering fatigue, which is how my downward spiral began, beware of the possible ensuing injuries.

In some ways this sounds like myself. Trained very hard from age 14 and ran at decent level in the track as well as some decent road races. However I now seem completely unable to train at any level at àll without becoming completely knackered. Absolute most I can manage is 4 easy runs a week and any intensity leaves me destroyed. Have given up for a few months on several occasions but always end up really missing it. Doesn't help having been so involved for so long, because sad as it sounds I'm kind of lost without it and can't find anything else to replace it. its quite depressing really as my self identity has revolved around being a runner but now it looks like it's game over

No, my disillusionment typically centers on the troves of ignorant cretins who inhabit LRC.

What a bunch of whiny pu$$ies. Sack up and get out the door. Or quit. But do so because it is what you wish!

I am still, taking days off, relaxing and will run when I feel inspired (soon). I will likely run again. It feels good to train, especially when I get in to some faster sessions. Thanks everyone for your responses. I found them to be inspiring.

qewr wrote:

>I also benefit from the advice of a Dr. Grace in Long Island who told me how to do Achilles stretches asymmetrically (down only).

gglider, could you please describe this a little more (are you referring to heel drops)?

Yes, I am essentially referring to heel drops. Asymmetrically down only. I usually do them on stairs. Just drop down one heel for 10 seconds or so and then use the other leg to pull back up. Dr. Grace says to do it even if it hurts a bit. You can get the same effect on the flat by leaning against a surface until the back achilles stretches.

Definitely one of the best threads here in a while. Lots of frank posts. Some encouraging; others – not so much.

I’m 58, and I still have the desire. Just missed three weeks with a lower back injury that was never fully diagnosed. As others have noted, take three weeks off due to injury, and you would just about give your left nut to go out for an easy 6 or 8 miler. Until maybe a year and a half ago, I don't think I ever had a “bad” run. Even ho-hum runs were still runs, with the resultant endorphin high, etc. But as an old man, any smoothness or light-on-my-feet feeling is gone. I feel very heavy legged and ungainly until I get warmed up. That used to take 10 or 15 minutes, but now might take 40.

A life without running is not a pleasant thought for me. I'm sure I'd figure something out. I already swim, ride, and lift weights. But I think all runners know this – nothing satisfies like a run. I'm truly grateful for all the miles, years, races, etc. I've had. I just wouldn't mind another 10 or 15 years of them.