Any Runners here?

[Jamer]

I have just rediscovered it.

About 10 years ago, I ran longdistance completing several half marathons and one full.
Then I was forced out of running due to some chronic inflammation in my foot.
Unfortunately, I had this great idea to lift weights when I couldn't run anymore.... my weight SKYROCKETED (probably something to do with not changing my marathon diet)

My work just sponsored a contest based on the Biggest Loser TV show
This prompted me to try to get back into shape again.
6'3.5" 246 LBS at May 14th (start date)
I'm at 235 LBS right now.
I'm cycling to work each day and running every other day.
I'm thinking of capping my runs at 10K since I have a bit of history with my body breaking down with high mileage.

It feels just GREAT to run again.


I'd love to hear your stories & experiences.

[codemonkey]

I run but not as often as I'd like. I really enjoy it but it bothers my knees so I limit myself to once or twice a week. The rest of the week, I crosstrain doing other stuff that isn't has hard on my knees.

I have the nike+ ipod thing. It's AWESOME!

[Blobbenstein]

I used to be a runner, well for a few years. I did a half marathon and a few 10Ks but I had some problems with my hip and knee and now I am way over weight.
But I would like to run again someday.

[codemonkey]

I used to be way overweight. Then I exercised my butt off (literally)

[Jinga]

I'm a casual runner ... 3 miles once or twice a week :D I'm another person who gets killed knees and/or tendonitis (even at a low weight). Despite the potential for injury, I love running in the mornings or evenings. Its my meditation.

[hopi100]

Hey, Jamer! I too am a runner. I've just gotten into it over the last year and have really become enamored of it. I used to be that kid who hated running (as I recall, when we had to run the mile in fifth grade I "ran" mine in a whopping 22 minutes!!), but when I started training for triathlons, I learned to embrace the long runs as a chance to get away and just pound the pavement for a while. They've become the highlight of my week.

Welcome aboard!

[Jamer]

I'm seeing a common theme of running injuries
I have to admit I've always wondered about whether running longdistance is really a wise thing to do?
I know so many people who have chronic injuries from running.
My Wife's uncle was a nationally ranked senior marathoner in Germany... he recently had hip surgery (related to the high mileage)
I think some people have the genetics for it but for me, 10K seems to work for me. (as long as I don't run 2 days in a row)

Thanks for the posts everyone! :-)

[*veggie4life*]

I occasionally run, mostly on the treadmill and I also do long distance jogging on it. On a nice day I will run outside. Like others have said, I get pains in my ankles/knees, and sometimes an area in my leg so I don't do it too much. I think it's from gymnastics, I must put so much stress on my joints, I just feel it when I run/jog sometimes.

[codemonkey]

I injured my knee before I ever started running. I hyperextended it a few times when I was a kid in gym class (I'm pretty accident prone.) Knee injuries tend to not ever heal completely. I think if you don't have prior knee injuries, you should be fine to run as much as you want.

[Brandon]

I'm a casual runner ... 3 miles once or twice a week :D I'm another person who gets killed knees and/or tendonitis (even at a low weight). Despite the potential for injury, I love running in the mornings or evenings. Its my meditation.

I consider myself to be a casual runner as well, but I've started trying to further my distance. I've been a 5 mile runner for a couple years now and I'm trying to push on to 6, and get to where I can do it comfortably.

I just replaced my shoes and I'm hoping it will deal with the ankle pain I was experiencing. I had a bad knee when I was younger but running seems to have strengthened it, if anything.

Running is definitely a form of meditation for me as well.
I'd actually wondered if anyone else found it to be such. :rockon:

[holly golightly]

I love it. I've just started again this week after taking some time off due to my damn knee. As far as injuries go I think it depends. Some people are just built to run and not get hurt. I know many long distance runners in their fifties who run marathons and never get injured. Then there are others in their twenties such as my friend and I who have constant knee injuries but still force ourselves to do LD runs :)

[Jamer]

I injured my knee before I ever started running. I hyperextended it a few times when I was a kid in gym class (I'm pretty accident prone.) Knee injuries tend to not ever heal completely. I think if you don't have prior knee injuries, you should be fine to run as much as you want.

The accident prone comment reminded me of a friend of mine....
She actually broke a finger while running uphill
She was pumping her arms and hand hit thigh....ouch

[Jinga]

I'm seeing a common theme of running injuries


I actually get injured doing pretty much anything :P ... not just running. In taekwondo, I broke and dislocated a toe and cracked a rib. I cracked my collarbone falling out of bed. I broke my wrist when some other kid ran into me. I regularly fall down, burn myself, scrap things up, bruise, etc. etc. My small frame can only take so much and I'm just not that coordinated. :dunce:

[Jamer]

what is it about some people that they are so accident prone?
I always bug my friend about it telling her that "the medical clinic has an entire filing cabinet devoted to you"

Actually, I used to be pretty accident prone when I was a kid but I really don't have many problems now (knock on wood)

[harper]

what is it about some people that they are so accident prone?
I always bug my friend about it telling her that "the medical clinic has an entire filing cabinet devoted to you"

Actually, I used to be pretty accident prone when I was a kid but I really don't have many problems now (knock on wood)

:lol:

My mom swears we paid for my orthopedic's several new luxury cars when I was a kid... 6 broken bones from 1st - 5th grade!

[Poppy]

I've been running (jogging!) for the past 20 years. I was logging about 30-35 miles a week, but recently went down to about 23 and added 2-3 weight-room workouts each week with a shorter run to and from the gym. I've honestly never had any sort of injury. I've always maintained a normal weight, and I religiously replace my running shoes every four months. Running seems to suit my body type.

I don't really meditate, but I use my time running to think about things - my work, my family, any conflicts I'm feeling. It's good focused time for my brain and my inner self.

[Jamer]

I've been wearing my ankle brace for my runs lately. Hard to say if it is helping me much but at least I have piece of mind that I won't be turning my ankle on a pebble.

anyone else use braces of any sort?

[wholesaleplum]

I've recently started running, I always hated it as a kid but as I was trying to get fit and lose about 15 lbs I thought I'd give it a try, I'm so glad I did because it's completely addictive! I was actually laying in bed the other night thinking about how I couldn't wait to go for my next run!

[Jamer]

I've recently started running, I always hated it as a kid but as I was trying to get fit and lose about 15 lbs I thought I'd give it a try, I'm so glad I did because it's completely addictive! I was actually laying in bed the other night thinking about how I couldn't wait to go for my next run!

:up: So true :-)

It's amazing how addictive it gets. For me it's partly the fitness element and partly the meditative aspect.
Do you get cranky if you can't run for a few days?

[veg*nrunner]

i cant believe i just found out about this thread:P im a pretty serious runner. i run about 50-80 miles a week. however, i havent done any races outside of school competition as i just graduated from high school last week.

[veg*nrunner]

:up: So true :-)

It's amazing how addictive it gets. For me it's partly the fitness element and partly the meditative aspect.
Do you get cranky if you can't run for a few days?

i agree its addictive. ever since i was a kid i was also into sports but never really liked to run. that changed when i broke my neck during a wrestling practice and then the only thing i could do was run. suprisingly i actually turned into a really good runner after only a year of running.

[Jamer]

i agree its addictive. ever since i was a kid i was also into sports but never really liked to run. that changed when i broke my neck during a wrestling practice and then the only thing i could do was run. suprisingly i actually turned into a really good runner after only a year of running.

Ouch!!!!
glad you were able to discover running!!!
One of the things I love about running is seeing even non-athletic people develop into very good runners. It's very cool!

I also see a number of ex-athletes turn to running when they get older.

[eggplant]

I'm always hesitant to call myself a "runner" since that seems to imply that I run fast or something. I do run, however. I alternate running and doing the elliptical machine, so I usually run 2 or 3 times a week. I run between 3.5 and 5 miles regularly, and then I do a number of races a year ranging from 5k to 1/2 marathon. I've thought of doing a full marathon, since the 1/2 is not difficult for me, but I'm not convinced it's really good for the body, and my primary reason for running is health. At the end of the 1/2 marathon my feet are always just starting to hurt, and I wonder how they would feel if I ran the full 26 miles! I've never had a running injury, and at age 38 I don't really want to test fate. I'm pretty proud of myself as it is since I used to be a chubby person who thought 2 miles was a long run. Now I can run for a long time and feel quite good. It is definitely meditative for me as well. It's a natural anti-depressant!

[Jamer]

Thanks for sharing Eggplant!
You are definitely a runner! :-)

Good point about running being a natural anti-depressant, It REALLY does make you feel better mentally.

I know what you mean about not being convinced that running is good for the body. I ran a full marathon and my body just started to self-destruct while training for my second. The inflammation in my foot was so bad that I couldn't run more than 10 minutes for over a year!

[Brandon]

Thanks for sharing Eggplant!
You are definitely a runner! :-)

Good point about running being a natural anti-depressant, It REALLY does make you feel better mentally.

I know what you mean about not being convinced that running is good for the body. I ran a full marathon and my body just started to self-destruct while training for my second. The inflammation in my foot was so bad that I couldn't run more than 10 minutes for over a year!

Nobody ever said love was without its share of pain. :D

It's hard on me but I still keep at it.