After 40 years, running became a "chore". But I still want to be "A Runner".

Corporal Punishment wrote:

Certainly Not Skuj wrote:

Erm.....I'm in the Military. 35 years. Discuss.

You said you did shift work. That's not real military. You're probably some desk jockey with a foreign "military ".

You and I are done talking.

Next.

A couple of your statements made me raise an eyebrow. Are you sure your runs feel like a chore or is it that you have been made to feel guilty. Your statement that you "have to make changes" suggest that you are being made to feel guilty about your runs and that is why it feels like a chore.

If it truly feels like a chore then mix in some other stuff, try trail running etc.

I have run 99% of the days for the last 47 years. I find my interest in running began to wax and wane after about I reached ~45 years old.

There were lots of days when I did not want to go out the door and run, but I still went out there and ran anyway. Sometimes it was just out of habit.

I can not remember a single day when I regretted going out for a run, after the run.

There are hundreds of reasons to run. If you are only running for competitive reasons you will find it difficult to motivate yourself when you start to slow down and become less competitive.

Its ok not to run, and there are lots of other activities you can do which provide similar physical, mental, & spiritual benefits. But running provides one of the easiest, simplest and most adaptable ways to obtain those benefits.

With a busy life it can be valuable to schedule runs, as otherwise they may not occur at all. So if every run is a chore right now I believe your plan to schedule 3 runs a week is good. You might try scheduling time for 4 runs a week, and then trying to fit in other runs or other activities when you can.

If you do not schedule anything, you run the risk of getting so far away from a basic level of fitness that you could start slipping down the path of becoming sedentary, fat and worse.

Great post, thanks.

Indeed, getting to the mindset of "it's ok not to run" after so many years of dedicated running is a real mindset shift. I'm quite active, outdoors lots, and I eat well, so I'm not worried about becoming sedentary, fat or worse.

I'm excited about the 3x on MWF. I had a good run yesterday and I look forward to a good run Monday, but I am also happy to not think about running this weekend.

this and that wrote:

There were lots of days when I did not want to go out the door and run, but I still went out there and ran anyway. Sometimes it was just out of habit.

I can not remember a single day when I regretted going out for a run, after the run.

This is wise words...and I totally agree. I've never regretted going for a run, only NOT running. STILL doesn't make it easier to lace-up the shoes though.

All of us can make excuses. You either are going to run or you're not. Oh-so simple. STILL doesn't make it easier to lace-up the shoes though.

I always say today's run will make tomorrow's run easier. STILL doesn't make it easier to lace-up the shoes though.

I"m 58 and have been running pretty much daily for about 35 years except for injury timeouts. When healthy, I am still doing 60-75 mpw but much, more slower than when I was in my 30s. I still love running for its own sake and have little trouble getting motivated to get out the door. Although I feel somewhat frustrated by the decline in my level of performance, which is getting steeper as I approach 60, I also still enjoy going to races and racing against the people who are running near my pace.

I suppose it helps that I have only a husband and dogs, no kids, and my job is not physically stressful. And I live in central California where the nastiest weather I have to deal with is the occasional hard rain at 40-ish degrees.

I am 53 and am happy training "for the rest of my life." Multiple studies have shown that the only thing that supports your health or "delays aging" is exercise. Everything else - goofy diets, vitamins, hormone therapy- is NOT proven but rather just hype. I read where one financial planner said that one of the biggest mistakes most people make is not training for retirement. They work so hard to retire, but once there they are in such poor shape that they can't take advantage of it. So I run 3 days a week and bike/swim the others. It keeps me from getting injured or bored. I've always loved triathlons; I just have no desire at all to compete anymore. I did a Ragnar Trail race which I loved. Looking forward to doing more of that.

Certainly Not Skuj wrote:

But there comes a time when a 5:15 Mile or a 5:45 Mile don't really matter. Both are just plain slow, .

If you can't enjoy the time or effort of giving the best you can on that day then you should just hang up the spikes and take up shuffleboard.

Dr Geritol....... wrote:

If you can't enjoy the time or effort of giving the best you can on that day then you should just hang up the spikes and take up shuffleboard.

3/10, but if 'CNS' responds, 2 extra points for a pass.

This thread is something I can relate to at age 48, after 20 years of running. The joy is not there as it was before, though I almost always feel better after a run. However, the main limitation for me is a knee injury has made it so that I have consistent discomfort and become more afraid to take chances, as I hate the pain it causes. I miss being able to run pain free, but the medial side of my knee has been quite irritated the more I run.

After so much of my life involved the identity of a runner, it has been a difficult time adjusting to minimal mileage, though biking, swimming, and being in the weight room have helped a little. Still, nothing seems to bring the joy that running did. I greatly miss being able to run pain free, and find that my enthusiasm has decreased for running and other areas of life as well.

Been running for same time period, and now nearly 60.

I don't think I'd have the motivation to exercise at all if it wasn't to compete. I've always raced somewhat regularly, and perhaps through fortunate genetics and perhaps because I've always maintained intensity (track reps and tempo runs), I've ended up relatively better as an age graded runner, and managed to in some of the national masters champs without totally embarrassing myself.

I'm also fortunate that if I do get an injury weight comes off pretty easily. I'm actually lighter now than when I ran my best track times, 30+ years ago.

In addition to competition for motivation, I've found having a routine helps. I'm fortunate enough to work from home, but if I don't have a structure, then it's easier to skip days. If I nearly always run at midday (or whatever) it's a lot easier, it just becomes "what you do" rather than having to make a decision to go.

41+ straight years of running here and enjoying an uninjured stretch for 18 months now! Still enjoying running, but it is not the same as 30 or 20 or even 10 years ago. I am in healthcare. My experience has taught me that you old geezers should please consider getting a more comprehensive check of your hormones and Vitamin D levels. Many of you men are messed up a bit (hormone-wise, especially thyroid) and do you not know it (i.e. so-called subclinical thyroid issues, etc.) but most are messed up in ways that can be helped via diet and good quality supplements or a relatively-lightweight medical-pharma interventions.

Here is example of the type of testing to consider (plus vitamin d).

http://www.lifeextension.com/Vitamins-Supplements/itemLC100010/Male-Comprehensive-Hormone-Panel-Blood-Test

Good luck old geezers.

Do all of you that have been running for 40 years or so have kids?

I'm 36 with two young kids. My running sucks as a result. I can't wait until they are older and I can have a resurgence.

As a parent, it strikes me that a few of you

posting about how it is challenging to not run possibly don't have kids and have been able to live lives the require a very low amount of adaptability as a result.

If it is so hard to stop running then you possibly were doing it for the wrong reason....habit or OCD.

Going for a run is a privilege, not a drag.

Enjoy it or don't do it. Find something you like with your time.

wow well.....you pretty much nailed it with this. I'll suggest an alternative path after (6)

(7) You start taking up cycling and swimming seriously. Of course it's just to make sure you stay in shape for running

(8) You put swim meets and cycling races on the calendar but still dabble with running

(9) After 3 years, you can start training for a running race again but you realize that running speed work screws up your swims and bikes

(10) You come to realize that running and racing was great and you have no regrets but there is no shame in moving on and using running as a supplementary workout.

Actually that's a good addition. I did omit that around #6 I did the triathlon route for about 5 few years. Although I ended up taking out competitive events altogether last year. This year could be different.

I like the way you finished though, its a bit more optimistic ending than my list.

I'm really enjoying MWF running. I've embraced it.

Usually I do 4 mile jog + 4x100m strides + 400m push + 1 mile jog. I don't know why this session is so attractive to me, but it just is.