How a lifetime of running changes you

[LiberalArkie]

I started running only a few weeks after my 12th birthday. My best friend and I had impulsively decided to join the middle school cross-country team to get out of gym class.

I didn't even know what cross-country was at the time — before the first day of practice I suspected it would involve some form of skiing equipment. Being the two youngest and slowest runners on the team, my friend and I started training after school by running with rocks in our backpacks. As far as I knew, we were merely holding out until the other was ready to call it quits.

I do not know how those painful and dangerous mid-October afternoon training sessions somehow became the start of my longest, most dedicated relationship with any activity. But 14 years later, I still get single-word texts from the former teammates I trained with on that grassy, mile-and-a-half-long pitch in the Bronx: Run? That's all I need to read and I'm already reaching for my shoes.

The first question people ask after learning that I run is whether I am training for a marathon. I'm not. Nor am I training for a half-marathon, although on occasion my former teammates and I do go out and run 13 miles. I am not running to stay in shape, but I do wonder what might happen if I decided to stop.

Snip

http://www.vox.com/2016/3/25/11290566/running-lifetime

[closeupready]

1. I exercise regularly, but I don't run because it's high impact -

instead, I walk/fast walk, whilst trying to keep good posture; in this way, I minimize stress on my aging knees and joints.

And it's a vigorous walk - even on days with sub-freezing temps, I come back drenched in sweat.

[Phentex]

2. I like to run but I'm not built for it...

bad feet that betray me no matter what I do. Not so great ankles and knees.

I walk very long distances usually without problems but I have to watch that too. Still, I do a little running here and there and I run/walk a 10K once a year. Used to do more but now I am just preserving my feet for everyday use.

Now, in my dreams I run all the time and it feels great. *sigh*

[LiberalArkie]

3. When I was in my 30-40's I ran and walked quite a bit despite Asthma and Mitral Valve

problems. I am glad I did back then. Now as I approach 70, it is hard to do the walking. But I indeed do dream running with a long gait and watching the scenery go by. I even wake in a sweat some mornings.

[Phentex]

4. Isn't it amazing?

In my dreams, it's easy and not painful at all. Fluid and smooth and it seems so real!

And then I wake up.

[Aerows]

18. I am eternally grateful to the TA that noticed I was built for it

and absolutely horrid as hell at volleyball.

Team sports stressed me out, but run? Oh yes, I know exactly how to do that!

[meaculpa2011]

5. I was a sprinter in high school...

and I'm a sprinter now, 50 years later.

I hate running long distances. I go 100 yards, flat out... 100 yards walking... then 100 yards, flat out...

I do that for 20 minutes, then cool down for ten.

I get my heart rate up to 165.

That's my routine three days a week.

Back in high school I ran in the mid 10s. Not great, but I won a few medals, much to my daughter's surprise when she found them in the attic a few years ago.Those days are long gone. I run the occasional 10K but those are social events.

[tabasco]

6. Best thing in the world for you

but anyone with knee problems should do it in moderation.

[underpants]

59. I love it. Just started back last week.

Long break due basically to laziness.

As much as I love it swimming is actually the perfect excercise but that depends on availability and getting a lane once you get to the gym at O'dark thirty.

Started 5 marathons, finished 4.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. What really matters isn't the specific type of exercise

But finding the one that agrees with you physically and emotionally. That's the one you're most likely to stick with and benefit from.

[polly7]

8. I was a sprinter in junior high and high-school but have always loved to

run the trails here. My friend and sister-in-law and I did a half-marathon a few years ago - it was sooo much fun. I haven't been able to run for long distances since breaking my ankle over a year ago but hope to get there again soon. For me, there is nothing like the joy and freedom of it (but galloping on a fast horse is a close second) - it's exhilarating.

[Aerows]

16. Amen to that!

and yeah, riding on a fast horse rocks, too !

[polly7]

19. It does, Aerows.

[Aerows]

25. I started a post in DU lounge about what proffesion

you could choose - I chose jockey.

[polly7]

30. Wow!

You'd have to have an instinctive knowledge about your horse's every move, right down to it's ear-twitches ... and very strong arms and legs. I bet you'd be great at it. We used to race when I was young around the small tracks at different fairs and things, but I really loved just galloping across the fields. Being a real jockey would be super-exciting and dangerous ..... though my enthusiasm for horse-racing has lessened a lot, seeing all the injuries, and the doping and how many are treated poorly after so few years when they don't pan out as winners or aren't sound enough to race, but that's not the jockey's fault.

My first 'race' at the fairs at about the age of 10 was on my sister's Welsh/cross pony that kicked ass! the first half way around the track then decided he was just done, and cut straight across back to the barns. My poor dad shook his head, tried his hardest not to laugh, and we loaded up and went home.

My choice of a profession when I was young was always to be a doctor, or a vet, but d/t stupid decisions I didn't do either, or even the RN course which I also really wanted and had in the first year of - we moved around too much to be able to finish the training for it, but I did at least get my HC/SCA and EMT/PCP courses after so many moves which, in the end, suited me just fine. Still though, if I could do it all over I'd be a GP.

I'm going to go look up your thread, I bet the replies are interesting.

[Aerows]

31. I'm light but strong.

I wish I had the opportunity to do it professionally. I was riding bareback on a lovely mare, she jumped the coolie, and I was suddenly on my ass. It is a weird trait that I have that spills happen and somehow I roll right out of them without a scratch.

[polly7]

33. You're lucky! You must be agile like a kitty-cat.

I guess I'm sort of lucky too, I haven't been seriously hurt, but our family doctor, when mom took one of us in (there are nine of us) would just ask right off - "horse, or cow"? Then he'd either stitch us up or set a bone. I can see you racing and leading across the desert on a gorgeous Arabian mare, free as the wind. Wouldn't that be great?!

[Aerows]

34. You are string-bean like me.

My friend Polly We wouldn't be racing off into the desert.

We would ride together, and dig up enough dirt on Ted Cruz that people strangle on it.

[polly7]

36. LOL ... that, we could. :)

I've been reading up on his mistresses. For once, I really was actually shocked - he's such a good liar. I think that *'er is toast.

[Aerows]

42. Now wait a minute.

I re-read this post.

You rode a COW?

I think that is pretty fantastic.

I know up there in Canada that some folks ride elks.



Kind of neat !

[polly7]

43. LOL.

Well, actually ....... I rode a bull. I even laid on his back and sun-bathed reading my book. He was a big, tame teddy bear - but I suppose he couldn't help but be when he had three of us girls brushing him, washing his hair and generally treating him like a doll - poor thing. But I was in 4-H Beef for years and my heifers and steers were my babies - I never had real dolls. And, we never had very many cows ourselves - my dad finally got his little herd of about 25 so when their calves were born in the spring we'd spoil them too! and sleep with them in the sun on the straw. Sometimes we got stepped on and stuff playing around them, but the mommas never meant to. And ....... we rode our big pigs!, but never an elk ...... that would be cool. That picture is great.

[Aerows]

44. You, my dear Polly

are too much

Does it count if I rode a bull riding machine in a bar? I stayed on!

[polly7]

46. OMG I would love to try that!

I doubt I'd be able to stay on ..... it looks pretty hard! Our bull mostly just shambled along eating grass as he went. It was like riding in a boat on a calm day lol.

[Aerows]

48. It was really fun!

Now, you know this is Louisiana when I tell you the name of the place - Mudbugs.

That's a euphemism for crawfish.

It was fun. I went there ONCE, but I saw the damn bull riding machine and decided that it was something I needed to do!

[polly7]

49. I'm glad you did it!

They should have bought you drinks all night for staying on. It really does sound like fun and I bet it gets pretty wild. We don't have bars big enough for it right around here. I did forget to mention though, my first horse I trained all by myself (a wild paint yearling who'd never even been touched - we traded a truckload of oats for him - and who my dad made a halter with reins for a bridle out of binder twine, sat me on, slapped his butt and said "there you go" - bucking and racing out of the yard onto the road with me hanging on for dear life) never really did stop bucking. But I got used to that. It was about every tenth stride while galloping and sort of fun once you got the hang of it. I wasn't the world's best horse-trainer at that age and I think he just thought that's what he was supposed to do. He loved it. He knew how to get me off though, all he had to do was put his head down and off I slid. The only way to get back on was to line him up by a fence, hop from the fence on to his back fast and hang on tight until he stopped running again lol. Looking back it's pretty funny. No saddle, no bit ....... nothing but a binder-twine bridle and his mane. My job I really treasured was to get the milk cow from the pasture with him every night. But he refused to go into the sloughs, and she knew it, so off I'd have to get and go in after her with all the mosquitoes, chase her out and find a way to get back on him faaast before she ran back in. I was pretty little, he wasn't very helpful - it was ........... interesting.

[Aerows]

57. "a wild paint yearling"

Now I'm so damn jealous of you that it is ridiculous!

Can you please stop being so awesome?

There are people less awesome than you.

(Okay, I secretly like how awesome you are)

[AngryAmish]

9. Running is bad for your leg joints

Lifetime of golf has given me good joint health.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. Is it the golf? Or the beer?

I think a beer after golf helps with hydration, and rebuilds cartilage. Nature's miracle food.

[panader0]

12. Beer "after" golf?

I haven't golfed in a while, but we always took a cooler with us, and usually a doobie.

[AngryAmish]

23. Why not both?

[polly7]

37. I 'wish' I could golf.

I stand and swing at that damn ball on the tee twenty times before I hit it, then it goes somewhere that god only knows. I used to play hockey a lot and had a great slap-shot if I do say so myself - maybe I shouldn't be hitting a golf ball like that? I've only been, twice though - my sister and I figured wtf do we need to carry a whole bag of clubs when we only need a couple, so she took a wood? and I took a putter. We had to hit across a river and lost all our balls before the third hole. The next time we took a couple more irons? and they didn't help much either, so I gave up. We were also laughing so hard that people were telling us to get moving. wtf? Harsh. But it looks like fun, and the beer after would be great.

[PasadenaTrudy]

10. No thx, I'll walk nt

[840high]

35. I don't run. I do

walk a lot.

[FLPanhandle]

13. I'm a runner

It's run or go insane in this world.

It really is addictive after awhile.

[Aerows]

15. I would have likely lost my mind

had I not had a pair of shoes and a stretch to run on.

[PersonNumber503602]

20. I used to be like that...

I wish I get back into it, but I can't see to get back that point where it becomes something I neeeed to do.

[underpants]

60. HELLO FLPan

(Said in a gravely voice like an AA meeting)

I'm a runner too. Just started back last week due basically to laziness. Don't think I need to do another marathon but I just love a morning run to clear things out and plan out my day.

[Aerows]

14. Ran the 880 and 440 in track

and participate in 5K's.

I'm not about to stop running!

[Ex Lurker]

17. 89 year old ultramarathoner

http://missoulian.com/news/local/year-old-missoula-runner-the-subject-of-documentary-film/article_1580aa59-1b1a-570d-bda6-5edd541a985d.html

[malaise]

21. I love running

but these days we walk - I love exercise - I love the fresh outdoors

[Marr]

22. God, I hate running.

But to each his own. I trained for a tri that had me doing a 10 mile run about three times a week. Hated every second of the runs.

I much prefer strength training and a daily walk. I think it's just better for your joints, posture, everything.

[Aerows]

26. You either like it, or you don't, my friend

I also strength train and have found a rowing machine to be a fantastic outlet.

Do what you like best.

[Pakhet]

24. 10 years of Army running has destroyed

My knees and hips. So I'll walk rather than run anymore

[Aerows]

27. Ever considered a rowing machine?

It's low impact and might help you gain more movement.

[tabasco]

28. Excellent machines for the entire body

But a good one is kind of expensive nowadays. The cheap ones are worthless.

[Aerows]

29. Don't write them off

I'm using an "off-brand" one and the results have been fantastic. I have a lot of upper body strength now, and my legs are looking better.

Caveat: I have to eat like a starving Rhinoceros.

[tabasco]

63. If you don't mind me asking, what brand is it?

Is it air resistance or those hydraulic pistons? If it's a decent air resistance model for a good price, I'm interested (know somebody who wants one). Thanks.

[Pakhet]

41. not a bad idea. hadn't thought about it :) thanks n/t

[Aerows]

58. Best wishes

It is low impact and you can pick on up for around $60.

The model I use was around that price, and I find it to be sturdy. It also records your times.

[Bayard]

32. I SOOOO Miss Running

Loved it since I was a kid. My favorite in my 30's was 5K (PR of 20:45), but also did 10K's, and one half-marathon. Even a few Masters track meets.

BUT, my body isn't really built for running. Very flat feet, and my podiatrist used to say I had the weirdest bio-mechanics she'd ever seen as a fore-foot runner. Lots of stress fractures. One pulled hamstring that bothers me 20 years later. And asthma.

I miss it desperately. Walking is nice, but just not the same fix. And yes, I still have dreams, where I'm running pain-free.

[2naSalit]

38. Never could run

not built for it. But I do ski, and hike a lot. I have problems in my neck and a messed up shoulder so bikes and things I have to hang on to aren't good but I do lot of leg work to make up for it. These activities are addictive but I can't imagine any better addictions to have.

[hay rick]

39. Loved running while I was able to do it.

Started my running career when I was 40, was done 5 years later. My brittle, one-leg-longer-than-the-other body crapped out on me. I trained on the boardwalk (in NJ) a couple days a week. I mostly ran 5 mile road races and got down to a personal best of 34:59. I was never in better shape in my life and really enjoyed the company of other runners. I gave up running after a series of injuries (back, knee, foot, groin) kept me on the sidelines more than I was running. I migrated to the stationary bike in the gym and stay in decent aerobic shape, but it isn't the same.

[tenderfoot]

40. I like running but it doesn't like me :-(

especially my shins

[Beaverhausen]

45. My husband has two new hips at age 57

He was a runner. It's very hard on your body.

[madville]

47. I'm surprised the author is only 25

I was expecting a 40+ year old's perspective for some reason. He says "Running long term has trashed certain parts of my body", goes on for a few paragraphs about all his injuries and chronic aches and pains.

I'll pass, I've always loathed running anyway and at age 40 at least my feet, ankles, knees, and hips are pain and problem free. I do like elliptical machines and walking though.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

62. Sounds like the author started young and trained hard

which I think explains why he sounds like he has problems of someone 40+. I think the problems are usually caused by ignoring pain (not talking about muscle soreness, but actual pain) and running through it anyhow. If you don't give yourself enough time off when you are injured you just wreck your body even more.

My son had Osgood-Schlatter's last year. He seems to have gotten over it, but it was pretty bad for a few months. It came on in 7th grade from doing karate. He had been doing karate since 2nd grade, but he started having knee pain from all the jumping around in in 7th grade because he was growing a lot at the time. I guess it comes about from doing running/jumping activities during periods of rapid growth. The ligaments around the knee take a little while to catch up with the bone growth I think. It results in one of the knee ligaments being stretched to the point that it is painful. My son even had trouble just walking around some days. He had the pain in both knees. It was like he had suddenly turned into an old man. I had never heard of it before, but I guess my husband and his brother both had it in middle school too. We basically cut back on how much karate he did to let his knees recover and had him take it easy on the jumping.

[Skittles]

50. every avid runner I know complains about a running injury

f*** that

[YOHABLO]

51. Running maybe addictive, but is it really good for us physically?

I've read how many experts on training are now saying that type of cardio activity can actually do more harm than good. Tough on your joints and bone structure. Perhaps not that great for you heart.

[CentralMass]

53. It has really saved me I think. I went from 260lbs with high blood pressure

to 198lbs and no medication. I also experienced some great personal losses and changes during the year and the running has helped me cope with it.

[Skittles]

54. probably it was EXERCISE that helped you

there are many forms of exercise besides running

[CentralMass]

52. After a long hiatus I started (at 55) running again last year.

I've dropped 65 lbs and am running 5 miles about 4 times a week. The body is not quite what it was 20 years ago but the mental toughness is still there.

[DreamGypsy]

55. The article is a bullshit appeal for sympathy...

... with statements like:

leaving the house without a coat in single-degree temperatures, forgoing the use of oven mitts unless a pan is hot enough to burn skin, trudging almost unaware through bouts of fever or bronchitis — only to realize that these very same behaviors were practiced by many of the long-distance runners I know. It is not that we cannot feel pain, but we simply choose not to care

I was an active long/ultra distance runner between 1978 and 2011, doing over 100 marathons (pr: 2:40:39) and nine 100-mile runs under 24 hours (including 19:09, Western States 100 mile endurance run in 1985; and 18:16 100 mile split in the PacRim 24 hour run in 2009) with a total racing mileage of 6490.13 miles (10,444.86 kilometers) in that period. I was not sidelined due to injury once during that period. Not once.

Run for satisfaction, run for companionship; if you are running through/for pain, then you are doing something wrong.

I still run (not race), alone or with friends, occasionally, even though I am now 2,000,000,000 seconds old (my 2 billionth birth second ticked by at 3:56 this afternoon...no cards or gifts necessary). My weight is approximately the same as it was at prestart check-in for Western States in 1987.

Have fun. Run.

[JI7]

56. i love long walks ,especially at night

i use to run a bit when younger but i think long term it hurts more.

[pampango]

61. Was never much of a runner, but my 'mid-life crisis' hit at 60 and ran a marathon.

I've done 6 since then. 1 a year in the fall. I'm slow, 5 1/2 hours or so - no threat to the Kenyans - but it motivates me to exercise all spring, summer and early fall which seems to help keep my weight down - around 190 now but it was higher before - and my health good. I run 20-30 miles most weeks. I enjoy the solitude. It's a great time to think. Others I know enjoy running with a partner.

I am lucky that my legs, feet, heart, lungs, etc. are healthy enough to be able to 'run' 26 miles even though there are relatively few who finish after me. A lot of folks are not that lucky.

[edhopper]

64. Are you also a Vegan

cause i would love to hear about that too.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

65. When a 26-year-old talks about "a lifetime" of doing something ...

... I just sorta automatically tune out.

I'm glad there's a high, not so glad that injuries happen.

I hope he doesn't "text" while running.