Anyone over age 30 and have zero pain starting, during, and finishing a run?

I am 39 and I have been a high mileage runner for over two decades (60+ mpw, into the 100s during and post college). I was fine until about last year. I got PFPS in my right knee and it just will not go away. Doctors and MRIs find nothing, but it is just persistent.

It has changed my relationship with running from "cannot wait to get out there" to "okay, I can do this."

I seem to feel other things more, since this has happened. Tight quads, aches in my IT band... I hate it.

I am 46, been running 32 years, and currently have no pain issues other than occasionally sore quads after a race. I have had multiple ankle twists that caused lingering pain but nothing right now. I listen to my body and rotate my shoes. I'm currently rotating four pairs of Brooks Adrenaline. The high mileage shoes (300-600 miles) I use on easy days or trails. I wear the newer ones for tempo runs, long runs, and intervals. It seems ridiculous but it seems to help me get more miles out of them with less soreness.

After 40 years off running I have taken it up the last few years, and the more I run, the less aches I get. About 40 m/week now, 10 mile pace at easy / long runs (down from 12 mile pace last year). I also swim and that works as a great natural painkiller ( at the moment I swim, at the hottub after, and the day after.)

I eat fantastic well, and think that is a prerequisite for a healthy body. (a lot of vegetables, berries, salmon, cod, nuts, oatmeal).

My running is a constant seesaw between back/knee/hamstring problems versus Achilles problems. If I wear a low offset, the extra elasticity demand on my Achilles causes problems. If I wear a high offset, the jarring at heel foot strike causes problems up my leg and into my back. I basically see saw between this to mitigate whatever is worse at the time. I occasionally go a week or so without a problem, but one randomly damaging workout usually sets me back into the pattern for a while.

iliveunderabridge wrote:

I am 46, been running 32 years, and currently have no pain issues other than occasionally sore quads after a race. I have had multiple ankle twists that caused lingering pain but nothing right now. I listen to my body and rotate my shoes. I'm currently rotating four pairs of Brooks Adrenaline. The high mileage shoes (300-600 miles) I use on easy days or trails. I wear the newer ones for tempo runs, long runs, and intervals. It seems ridiculous but it seems to help me get more miles out of them with less soreness.

Brooks glycerins huh? Interesting that shoe probably has the most support out there but if it's kept the injuries away it's doing the job, heavy as well though!

I've been running with pain for 4 years now. I'm 32. Achilles, hips, and groin.

Shoebacca wrote:

My running is a constant seesaw between back/knee/hamstring problems versus Achilles problems. If I wear a low offset, the extra elasticity demand on my Achilles causes problems. If I wear a high offset, the jarring at heel foot strike causes problems up my leg and into my back. I basically see saw between this to mitigate whatever is worse at the time. I occasionally go a week or so without a problem, but one randomly damaging workout usually sets me back into the pattern for a while.

You might want to try Hokas. They smooth out the jarring found in most normal-soled shoes.

I alternate between Hoka Clayton, Hoka Huaka, NB Zante, and Newton Distance. My Achilles will flare up a little in the non-Hoka shoes. I don't have firsthand experience with the new models because I stocked up on the Huaka years ago. My training partner liked the Bondi 4, hated the Bondi 5 and the Arahi. He likes the new Cavu so you might start there. Good luck.

Up until 3 years ago when I developed a chronic Achilles tendon issue at age 57, I was running typically 70 mpw usually with no pain. Sure, I would sometimes have a little niggle here or there, but the usual situation was that running was pain-free. Even running hard was usually not painful, just exhausting.

fisky wrote:

You might want to try Hokas. They smooth out the jarring found in most normal-soled shoes.

I alternate between Hoka Clayton, Hoka Huaka, NB Zante, and Newton Distance. My Achilles will flare up a little in the non-Hoka shoes. I don't have firsthand experience with the new models because I stocked up on the Huaka years ago. My training partner liked the Bondi 4, hated the Bondi 5 and the Arahi. He likes the new Cavu so you might start there. Good luck.

Hokas are rubbish- smaller shoe companies like this have poor quality control of their product. Always go back to Nike- will only wear namebrand shoes that have the money to invest in quality production and research.

"Pain is the purifier. Love pain. Embrace pain."-Percy Cerutty

I used to be that way...from late 20s to mid 30s, every run was a drag. Always tired, with something almost always hurting. I was seemingly always battling, resting from, or coming back from an injury.

Then in my late 30s, with the help of a physical therapist, I discovered the gym. It has been the fountain of youth for me. Four times a week, I hit the gym for weights and the stationary bike.

I replaced some of my running miles with gym work. I know that may cause some heads to explode, but hey, I wasn't PRing anymore anyway.

Now in my 40s, I run about 40 miles a week, plus the gym work, and I feel better than I did in my 30s when I was still trying to grind out 80+ miles a week with no supplemental exercise. Of course I'm slower, due mainly to age, but not by as much as you'd think. But the main benefit is that I actually feel good while running again, instead of just dragging my broken down body through another run.

The gym fixed me. I honestly feel better in my mid 40s than I did in my mid 30s.

The hardest thing seems to be that you could take a significant amount of time on the shelf rehabbing and getting better just to do your first workout when you come back and bam it comes back, or worse a new injury pops up. Almost makes you want to take the mindset of if you can physically run without a 10 level of pain, do it

Past 40. Knock on wood, no issues. Only run 40-50 mpw. 2 workouts and a long run per week with easy runs in between and weights 1-2x. Lost about 10-15 lbs in late 30’s and have felt much better since. Diet not great but take in fewer calories. Mileage slightly up from my early 30’s. Feel and look better now than I did then. Biggest problem I have is lack of sleep given work and small kids, but it’s made me realize that sleep and relaxation are overrated.

nike all the way. wrote:

fisky wrote:

You might want to try Hokas. They smooth out the jarring found in most normal-soled shoes.

I alternate between Hoka Clayton, Hoka Huaka, NB Zante, and Newton Distance. My Achilles will flare up a little in the non-Hoka shoes. I don't have firsthand experience with the new models because I stocked up on the Huaka years ago. My training partner liked the Bondi 4, hated the Bondi 5 and the Arahi. He likes the new Cavu so you might start there. Good luck.

Hokas are rubbish- smaller shoe companies like this have poor quality control of their product. Always go back to Nike- will only wear namebrand shoes that have the money to invest in quality production and research.

After spending the last 50 years training and racing. I must vigorously disagree on the nikes.

Nike flats are trash, and way overpriced.

Mizuno and now hokas have become my shoes of choice.

I prefer mizunos. But hokas are kinder to my feet during arthritis flares.

Once you pass 60, the most important thing about a workout is being able to run again the next day.

I'm 68 and running about 40 mpw with no pain or problems for the last year or so. I have run in the 30-55 mpw range for all of my adult life. I have had a variety of minor, transient overuse injuries at various times. After developing a case of runner's knee about 3 years ago I got serious about regular cross-training strength exercises and stretching, and have had no problems since then. I also have been a lifelong surfer and spend most of my time barefoot if shoes aren't absolutely required. I run in minimalist shoes, NB 1400s, Skechers GoRun 400s, and Mizuno spikeless XC shoes with about 80% of my running on pavement. E.g. this morning was 4 miles at 7:34/mi mostly on roads with some unpaved bike path.

This is the one thing that makes me jealous of people younger than myself. I wouldn’t sell my soul to be able to run pain free again, but close to it.

Don’t squander your youth. Treat your body well.

My muscles feel much less sore than they used to. Unfortunately my bones and joints seem a bit more brittle.

old guy II wrote:

I'm 68 and running about 40 mpw with no pain or problems for the last year or so. I have run in the 30-55 mpw range for all of my adult life. I have had a variety of minor, transient overuse injuries at various times. After developing a case of runner's knee about 3 years ago I got serious about regular cross-training strength exercises and stretching, and have had no problems since then. I also have been a lifelong surfer and spend most of my time barefoot if shoes aren't absolutely required. I run in minimalist shoes, NB 1400s, Skechers GoRun 400s, and Mizuno spikeless XC shoes with about 80% of my running on pavement. E.g. this morning was 4 miles at 7:34/mi mostly on roads with some unpaved bike path.

Good for you! I hope I'm knocking out 40 miles a week at age 68. Mostly pavement, you ever do treadmill and find it's easier on the joints? Also what kind of injuries did you have and were you still able to manage to more or less train through? Nagging chronic stuff can be weird because you can have something for 4 or 5 years then just wake up and it's gone!

I'm 42 and currently running 70-90mpw. I'm not hurt but do have constant vague pains . Groin pelvis mainly. It's minor but never gets worse and won't go away.

I say most days it takes 2-3 miles of running to get pain free. I do alternate treadmill sessions and cross training after hard long runs. I've also noticed if I do my vo2 sessions uphill I recover way faster.