Serious responses only: about to dive off the deep end. Will I regret it?

You can get outrageously fit without running, and there is evidence to support that too much running isn't good for you anyway.

Run 3 miles 3 times a week, or not even at all, and then just lift and do body weight exercises. You mentioned Yoga. That's good. If you need something more, do P90X or some other similar program.

I can completely relate to this, as I was in the same boat as you in my early 20s, post-college years. Yes, there is life after running. Like yourself, the joy had gone out of it for me; I was working at a job I detested, training alone in the dark early mornings and evenings, and the realization hit that I was never going to be the world-class runner I'd envisioned myself being when I started running at age 12. I just didn't want to continue, but I didn't want to stop either, because my identity was so tied up with my running that I felt if I quit running I'd cease to exist. It seemed a form of suicide. I just went through the motions for several months, with no motivation other than that I was afraid to stop -I dropped out of several races during this period- but when I eventually did stop it was the best decision I ever made, and I regret nothing.

As the above poster mentioned, there are numerous other fitness activities you can pursue that will keep you in top shape, and won't grind your joints to dust the way running will. Post-running, I got into cycling, recreationally at first and then competitively, and I also got serious about powerlifting. I do x-country skiing as well, and some MMA training. I've never been happier. I had some great experiences via running and met some terrific people who became lifelong friends, but I don't miss it one iota. You can have several incarnations within a single lifetime.

Best of luck to you.

Mix it up. Swim, mountain bike, trail run for fun, strava peaks if you have mountains, xc/alpine ski, fish. You’ll get back into competitive racing/training if you want to. No use forcing it. Putting on some Ryan Hall muscles is a good option too.

I've had a major injury that has taken me out of running. It's hard to stay in shape, but you can do a ton of other stuff. I think if my goal weren't to be a good runner, but just to be "in shape" my perfect week would be something like:

Mon-Crossfit/gym/lifting

Tue- Hill repeats with a 1M w/up & c/down

Wed-Crossfit/gym/lifting

Th-repeat work at the track, nothing longer than 800

Fri- yoga

Sat-Crossfit/gym/lifitng

Sun-"Long run" 6-10M preferably on some trails.

My quick takes:

1) you won't regret taking 2 weeks off. in fact take 3.

2) you will regret completely quitting.

3) is the problem running or other parts of your life?

4) it's hard to run for an hour alone everyday after work. so don't. change it up. go to track a couple times a week. join a running club and run with other people.

At the end of college I felt the same. I hated running - not just workouts and racing, but even going for an easy five mile run. Like you I didn't want to hate it, I wanted to love it - but I literally did not want to take a step out the door. I decided to take time off, and didn't run a step for a year and a half, and in the interim time started doing other activities that were fun and that I had never had time to do (climbing, some cycling, rec basketball, hiking). I stayed fine shape, and after a year and a half the idea of going for a run suddenly sounded nice. I've been back into running for the past decade, but more in the 30mpw range. Its a nice part of my life that makes me happy, but my life doesn't revolve around it anymore. (Though here I am, posting on letsrun...)

Anyway sorry for the personal ramble, but my point is take some time off. Its ok, and will be healthy for you. Taking time off doesn't mean you are quitting running forever, it makes sense that you need a break sometimes. There are other great things to do to stay fit!

DO go to the gym. It will make you strong and better looking.

Do NOT do crossfit. It will make you a douche who thinks he's stronger than he really is.

I took several years off after college. I was like you: I just didn't want to run anymore. I gained about 10 pounds, but my clothes fit better and I was still healthy.

Then, the urge to race hit me again. I started running a few days a week and jumped into a few local 5ks. I started training more but the structure was far less than when I was in college. A year later, I had built up to 50-60 mpw and was back to winning races and having fun. I eventually set my marathon PR and mile PR the following year.

I was 25 -26, so several years removed from my "peak" college days. I actually think the time off made me a better runner. That and coaching myself...I learned to listen to my body rather than just doing workouts blindly.

3hr-marathoner wrote:

My quick takes:

1) you won't regret taking 2 weeks off. in fact take 3.

2) you will regret completely quitting.

3) is the problem running or other parts of your life?

4) it's hard to run for an hour alone everyday after work. so don't. change it up. go to track a couple times a week. join a running club and run with other people.

I just wanted to expound on your #3 and #4. I think #3 is almost always overlooked when somebody is frustrated with their running. Nothing used to kill my motivation to run, go out with friends at night, etc compared to staring at a computer screen all day doing a job I hated way more than I realized until I quit. Ironically, having a soul-sucking job seems to result in you sitting on the couch staring at soul-sucking television, it becomes a downward spiral. I would encourage the OP to examine other parts of his life.

Regarding #4, I would also suggest to the OP that maybe he just should completely quit racing and "training." Become a hobby jogger who goes out and runs a handful of miles. I bet if the OP dropped all workouts, stopped thinking about mileage, and just ran whatever he felt like each day (which includes not running some days), he may find those runs enjoyable again. I am glad that I took this tack rather than quitting completely, because now I actually enjoy a 5 or 6 mile run through the park again, since it is no longer training, it is recreation. When I travel for work, I now seek out a park or trail in the area and go for whatever length of run I feel like. Sometimes I feel like running 8 or 9 miles through that park, so I do. Other times, I end up a mile out and feel like stopping because I come across a nice view, so I do that, and end up with 2 miles for that run.

The only races I run now are when a friend is involved in a charity putting on a 5k, so I end up running a 5k about 3 or 4 times a year, many minutes slower than my PR. I know that I will be way off of anything fast, so that takes off any pressure and allows me to just enjoy it as another run that I just happen to be running faster than normal.

Anyway, that is just my 2 cents.

The points about how quitting would feel like suicide really hit home. It’s such a big part of who I am and who I was that I feel like a has-been.

There’s been a lot of solid advice in this thread. Maybe I shouldn’t pull the plug completely, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with diversifying and easing off the pressure. I’ll report back in a month.

Excellent post. Running is a slot in my day and it gets me off my butt. Sometimes I think I'm mad for still running and racing but here I am.

3hr-marathoner wrote:

4) it's hard to run for an hour alone everyday after work. so don't. change it up. go to track a couple times a week. join a running club and run with other people.

Depends mainly on whether you commute a long way. Once I had a job (rolling contract so didn't want to move) a 2h drive from home. Sometimes I stayed in a motel and could train easily in the evenings. In fact there wasn't much else to do. Then I had periods where I drove home so I could sleep in my own bed. Getting home at 7.30 and ravenous, no way was I going for a run.

Absolutely, if 5-6miles in the park is what you enjoy, terrific. I actually really enjoy doing track work but for some reason stopped after college. I had some nagging injuries and I suppose it just wasn't convenient and as a result I got stale and bored running 5 to 7 miles at the same pace every day after work. Anyway, I guess our main point was the same: if you aren't really training for anything, you may as well make it enjoyable.

Someone who knows wrote:

You can get outrageously fit without running, and there is evidence to support that too much running isn't good for you anyway.

Run 3 miles 3 times a week, or not even at all, and then just lift and do body weight exercises. You mentioned Yoga. That's good. If you need something more, do P90X or some other similar program.

Nailed it.

Run three times a week, fast or slow, however you want. Shoot for 3 miles, see what you feel like.

Join a gym, and lift twice a week, more if you want. Take the yoga class, either same day you lift or another. If you don't want to visit a gym, do the P90X or Insanity workouts online. Just totally mix those up, don't repeat much if at all. Toss a basketball around if you're into that.

Hike every so often, go out for 3, 4, 5 hours. Get a bike, ride it for an hour or two or three when you feel like it.

You will still be a runner, still be able to run fast if you want, and be way, way, way fitter overall.

I trained and raced heavily until my late 20s, then backed off a lot when my kids arrived. I never took more than a month completely off, but extended time away from racing (and even the self-induced pressure of timing reps) was a relief. I have always maintained a reasonable level of fitness, so in the periods when I want to race I am never too far away from getting back into it. The desire to race comes and goes, and as a masters runner it usually returns when I hit a new age group. Taking time off now (even a year or two, if you stay active in other ways) will not derail you.

(I am astonished by the level of civility and support in this thread. Usually within 3-4 posts someone begins acting like a jerk.)

I'll offer a few thoughts of why I'm still training into my 30s in case anything resonates with you.

First, I get high on being in good shape. It is a serious rush to hit paces I never used to think were possible. I remember as a freshman in HS, my coach was in my ear all through XC and the winter off-season, "You can break 10 for 32. You can break 10 for 32." I remember thinking, "Back-to-back sub-5s??? Not possible." Not long after HS I did 3 x 3200m on the track in close to 10:00 average. Ran 9:58 on the last rep and had more in the tank. A year or two after that I averaged 5:00/mile for 8k. Being in shape is exhilarating.

Second, I've dreamed of an OT qualifier for more than 10 years. Ever since I realized that it might be within my reach. I don't think I can stop trying until my body is obviously on the decline. The romance of the marathon and the excitement of seeing how low I can go has me hooked.

Finally, the inglorious daily grind gives me great satisfaction. Nobody else gives a damn. Most times not even my wife (though she's a very polite listener). But to me, showing up day after day, rain or shine, feeling like crap or feeling great, makes me feel like a badass. The lonely miles are spiritual. Sometimes. Other times I hate it. But looking back on a 90 mile week when I struggled through early mornings after late nights at work or dealt with crying babies in the middle of the night.... It's like looking down from a mountain I've climbed. The view is worth it.

Start running trail ultras. Also triathlons can be a fun new challenge.

Y'arggghhhhh

well said, matey

After years of running and seeing people come and go I can attest to one thing. Running is more or a less a drug when you run like 90% of this forum does. If you cold turkey quit running after years of training you are usually hit with depression and health issues. Your body has a delicate balance and when you disrupt it by doing something drastically different than what it is used to you screw it up.

MY vote is if you are beginning to hate running just cut your mileage in half and pick up a hobby or like you said lift weights, i wouldn't cold turkey quit running, trust me, you will have issues.