What's Normal? - Are you a runner? (1 Viewer)

[titusbramble]

No, but I might try starting in the new year

 

[Da Guru]

If you weigh over 150 lbs you should not be a long distance runner. The pounding on hips and knees takes a toll on your body. I am 6-1, 210lbs. No more running.

I can do almost 4 miles in an hour walking as fast as I can without running. Usually doing a mile in 15 to 15:30 minutes.

 

[MAC_32]

If you weigh over 150 lbs you should not be a long distance runner. The pounding on hips and knees takes a toll on your body. I am 6-1, 210lbs. No more running.

I can do almost 4 miles in an hour walking as fast as I can without running. Usually doing a mile in 15 to 15:30 minutes.

There's certainly some truth to this, but it's not an absolute. I think the important thing is to not be a full time long distance runner. If you want to compete (whether against others or your prior self) then you need to establish a base, but bigger people doing it year round probably isn't EV+.

Get to a training cycle healthy then challenge yourself for ~3-4 months. I think I've figured out the right balance for me, but haven't been able to create > 1 hour during my day to exercise. Since I refuse to get up in the 4's I am still in base mode, but if I ever see a window to work towards something I'll take it and don't think I'm doing my health a disservice by doing it.

 

[El Floppo]

 

[El Floppo]

I voted no.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Stopped lifting several years ago, when I decided vanity wasn’t worth the wear-and-tear on my joints.

were you trying to max out or do you think lighter strength training would harm your joints?
as I approach 50 I’m getting more into strength training, figuring if I don’t improve now I’ll pay for it later. Nothing huge, focusing on form over max weight. The plan is 2-3x weekly of 20-40 minutes usually before a swim. I’ve been inconsistent with it so far while also doing triathlon and other activities. It’s a challenge to balance everything.

Unlike running, which I find useful to clear my mind, lifting is booooring. As a very goal-driven person, the only way I found it engaging was to push my max. It was difficult not to gauge myself by numbers, and how I looked in the mirror. The activity itself isn’t very enjoyable, imo.

Lower weight with more reps is probably OK, but I’d rather do functional strength training with body weight exercise. Climbing is great in this regard, and way more fun. Plus it involves balance, flexibility and problem solving, which are all important, too.

All that stuff causes wear-and-tear, but for me, the risk:benefit of continued weight training just wasn’t worth it.

 

[Terminalxylem]

If you weigh over 150 lbs you should not be a long distance runner. The pounding on hips and knees takes a toll on your body. I am 6-1, 210lbs. No more running.

I can do almost 4 miles in an hour walking as fast as I can without running. Usually doing a mile in 15 to 15:30 minutes.

I agree with this, but think it’s probably true at any weight. It takes longer, but walking a greater distance on variable terrain can provide all the same benefits.

 

[-OZ-]

If you weigh over 150 lbs you should not be a long distance runner. The pounding on hips and knees takes a toll on your body. I am 6-1, 210lbs. No more running.

I can do almost 4 miles in an hour walking as fast as I can without running. Usually doing a mile in 15 to 15:30 minutes.

I agree with this, but think it’s probably true at any weight. It takes longer, but walking a greater distance on variable terrain can provide all the same benefits.

It’s settled, hiking >>> running on roads.

 

[-OZ-]

Unlike running, which I find useful to clear my mind, lifting is booooring. As a very goal-driven person, the only way I found it engaging was to push my max. It was difficult not to gauge myself by numbers, and how I looked in the mirror. The activity itself isn’t very enjoyable, imo.

That’s fair and a big reason I like doing it before a swim. Although many would consider swimming for an hour+ staring at the long black line to be boring too.

 

[Da Guru]

Stopped lifting several years ago, when I decided vanity wasn’t worth the wear-and-tear on my joints.

were you trying to max out or do you think lighter strength training would harm your joints?
as I approach 50 I’m getting more into strength training, figuring if I don’t improve now I’ll pay for it later. Nothing huge, focusing on form over max weight. The plan is 2-3x weekly of 20-40 minutes usually before a swim. I’ve been inconsistent with it so far while also doing triathlon and other activities. It’s a challenge to balance everything.

Unlike running, which I find useful to clear my mind, lifting is booooring. As a very goal-driven person, the only way I found it engaging was to push my max. It was difficult not to gauge myself by numbers, and how I looked in the mirror. The activity itself isn’t very enjoyable, imo.

Lower weight with more reps is probably OK, but I’d rather do functional strength training with body weight exercise. Climbing is great in this regard, and way more fun. Plus it involves balance, flexibility and problem solving, which are all important, too.

All that stuff causes wear-and-tear, but for me, the risk:benefit of continued weight training just wasn’t worth it.

Just the opposite for me now. I love weight lifting. Of course now that I am getting older I never try max out anymore. Always switch my routines as well.

Try to hit failure on the 15th rep of so now. Then after I put the headphones on and take a brisk 30 minute walk. To each their own though. As long as you enjoy exercise is all that matters.

 

[SoBeDad]

Two years ago, atrial fibrillation forced me to stop running.

I had episodes of tachycardia triggered by running for years when I was in my 30s and 40s. I used to do about 5 miles in just under 40 min. The episodes were infrequent but scary lasting for up to 5 minutes. wore a 24 hour monitor and had several treadmill stress tests. But I could never trigger an episode of tachycardia under those conditions. So, I switched to walking in my late 40s and those episodes became rare, a few times per year.

Finally, now in my 60s, I wore a cardiac event monitor patch for 2 weeks earlier this year. Before I got the results I had an episode of tachycardia believed to be triggered by covid and the use of Musinex-DM. It lasted more than 5 minutes so I walked 100 yards from my apt to the ER and was diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia with a rate of 215 bpm. I had no chest pain or light-headedness, just anxiety. Intravenous Adenosine did the trick. Having 8 ER staff hovering over me increased my anxiety. Turns out I'm a good candidate for ablation, where the success rate is high, but there are some risks. I'm considering it. Was also prescribed metoprolol which slows down the heart. BTW, the heart patch showed several short asymptomatic episodes of SVT.

I walk about 3 times per week, up to 8 miles each walk. In the Miami heat and humidity, especially May to Oct, that's a draining workout. Walking is more enjoyable than running, cause I can see more and don't feel pressured to compete against the clock. I stop to take pictures, stop at Publix to check my BP, buy a lotto ticket, check out the specials. I walk among the people in touristy spots like Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive, sometimes pick up a few grocery items at Publix, TJs, or Fresh Market which are on my normal route. Overall, I enjoy walking more than running.

 

[Tecumseh]

I wish. I’ve tried over the years, and just can’t get it to stick. I simply don’t enjoy it. The sense of accomplishment doesn’t outweigh the grind for me.

 

[SoBeDad]

If I lived in California, I'd probably do a lot of weekly hiking. There are many nice trails and urban walks where my daughters live in LA and SF. And year-round.