When did you realize you were done racing competitively?

old man shuffle wrote:

Most of my PRs were probably set before the OP was born. I'm still not done with racing competitively because I still love it. I can't see anything other than permanent injury changing that.

I have noticed that virtually none of my old running buddies and race competitors from 20+ years ago are still in the game. I'm now competing with masters who were adult onset runners; they started (or re-started) in their late 30s or 40s.

That’s what got me back into it, I love to compete and race. That’s what motivates me during the training. If I don’t race enough, then I start to lose the motivation.

still at it wrote:

theJeff wrote:

You don't quit competing because you get old.

You get old because you quit competing.

At least, that is what I keep telling myself.

I fully agree with this.

Jim Ryun still does a few workouts a week. Saw him doing hill repeats about a year ago.

Really ? Could you give us an idea of what kind of workouts and approximate times ?

Star wrote:

I think there is a difference in running competitively and training to run as fast as you can and improve your PRs.

You can't be in PR shape forever.

You can try to always be in the best shape for your age, but that is unlikely.

At some point you make a determination that you stop training all out for races.

For a competitive college runner that usually happens right after college.

Or you may keep racing all out for a few more years but at some point you end it.

Once you stop going for PR fitness there is a dramatic drop in your training because it doesn't make sense to work just as hard to run slower.

Your last sentence ... Someone who just doesn't get it. Sad.

I was chasing "B" Kenyans for a typical runner-up money or worse. While they bought grand palaces, goats and wives with their hundred bucks, I quickly realized I was going to do nothing but go broke and not be able to provide for myself let alone my family. About the same time I came to the realization that barring use of illegal substances, or finding 6 mile 10K's, I was done PR'ing. I hung up my flats and called it a career by age 25. Sure I would have liked to run faster. Wouldn't we all? Still I had many great experiences along the way starting in junior high, and ending well after college. Those I wouldn't trade for anything, and are far better than any meager prize money check I could have ever won.

competitions - no, really no. running - oh yes, i run regularly and hard. i were done racing competitively when...

- i realized that i started to think that all the time needed for competitions is somehow a waste of time (get up early in the morning, travelling a few hours, get your starting documents, waiting time, race, waiting time again, award ceremony, traffic jam, sometimes a whole weekend)

- i realized that all this is nothing more than additional stress

- i started to find excuses for poor performances regularly

- i observed that i am not hungry for competitions any more

- i began to feel exactly the same deep satisfaction after a good time trial or a new personal best for my training round.

If you started as a teenager/20s you can't expect to go on setting life PRs in later decades at the same events. But you can move up in distance, track age group prs, strava prs, fastest time of the year. I've been on Strava for 4 years now so even strava prs are getting hard unless its a new segment. So vary your route and pick up some new ones. :-)

Now, I just strained my hamstring.

Senior year conference 1500 final with 100m to go.

When I was 18 and hung my spikes up knowing there's way more to life than competitive running. Sure, I will always love running to keep fit and still enjoy running to a decent level but at 18 I realised a couple of things:

There's no cash in it for anyone unless at almost the very top

It's full of dopers and this continues to become more apparent

Competitive running is a niche sport that nobody really cares about

No regrets and so glad I made the decision then as opposed to later and losing my youth to competitive running!

As a 25 year runner who never was competitive this is an interesting thread. I still love getting out for a local race and running my best. Sometimes I win my AG (56 years old) but I honestly don't care about that at all. I imagine if I had been a serious runner when I was young i wouldn't want to do this anymore. Kind of feel glad I didn't burn out on running.

When I had my third stress fracture in the exact same place. I was barely able to train after my second and when it happened again, that was it. I simply can't train anymore.

This book by former Running Times editor Jonathan Beverly that was recently published, takes a look at 50 runners who have been "racing competitively" for decades. Lifetime PRs may be a thing of the distant past but being competitive, in whatever form that takes, has never really died in them. Personally, I am past 40 consecutive years of racing and I do it because, quite frankly, I sill like to race and beat people (and yes, far fewer people every day). The guys who were decent runners I have seen come and go during that time could fill a stadium but if I can stick around long enough, I just might just take that top spot. It doesn't have to matter to anyone but yourself. So, in answer to your question: 56 years old and still haven't realized it.

oldmanprs wrote:

Once you are 40, you can start setting and breaking "old man PRs" from the 40+ part of your career.

I 100% respect anyone who likes to compete in age categories. I really wish that did it for me. If I'm not completely into it then I can't find the motivation to train.

I took my interest in a different direction by coaching. I stopped enjoying competition when getting beat by people while running 5k's at my former Marathon pace. I just didn't feel like paying $30 per race to do that anymore. I would much rather watch my athletes and go running with friends at this point.

Right there with you, Glassman. I am still accepting that my hip/piriformis issues are never really going to be cured. I at least have the satisfaction of knowing I did pretty much everything I ever wanted to in the sport. I still miss it.

still at it wrote:

theJeff wrote:

You don't quit competing because you get old.

You get old because you quit competing.

At least, that is what I keep telling myself.

I fully agree with this.

Jim Ryun still does a few workouts a week. Saw him doing hill repeats about a year ago.

theJeff stole that from a famous runner, but the runner was so famous I can't remember who it was. Probably someone like Amby Burfoot or maybe an old codger like Ben Heinrich, probably more famous than Heinrich.

I was a decent college runner. Got a unique experience where I got to train with the top Kenyan runners and other world class runners in Australia. Realized at once I was neither talented or had the strength to train at that level. Made retirement easy. On the bright side, almost 20 years later I ran 16:25 for a 5km at 45. I still think I can go faster but I don't care, neither do my kids.

This morning.

Fall 1997. 3rd season of cross country. Finally earned an athletic scholarship after being a walk-on the previous years. Was beating scholarship teammates the entire time who I had beat in high school as well. At the same time, I let drugs and alcohol take control. I ended up failing every class that semester. Only stayed enrolled (as opposed to dropping out early) to be able to run the conference meet but never went to class.

The next 2.5 years were a mess of work and random attempts to clean up/run again. Former teammates/roommates would see if I wanted to meet up to run in the attempt to get me going again. This lead to a knee injury that was never rehabbed.

As a total humblebrag, the entire time I was in school I was on a full ride academic scholarship to the point that the school was paying me every semester. Loved the running but, looking back, the whole motivation was to prove the point that I deserved a scholarship out of high school as well. The moment I accepted the scholarship, I was done, MENTALLY.

Now, every couple of years I try to start up again. Just a mile. Surely, just a mile. I've been walking this time. I've been biking this time. I've been in the gym for a while this time. This time, it'll be this time. It'll be different. I'll go slower. I'll build up slower. I care differently this time. It's my heart this time. I love this time. It's only every other day this time. I'll warm up more this time. I'll stretch more this time. I'll cool down more this time. Ice. Ibuprofen.

Did I mention I care? I get it now. I proved them wrong and showed them how right they were at the same time.

After hitting a certain age when PRs are no longer attainable I think this strategy would work.

Every 3-5 years take an extended break from training and reset the PRs. This will give the mind and body a break and also have a fresh set of PRs to chase for a decent span.