Anybody ever get bored of running because you realize you're never gonna get better?

At 38 I’m well aware I wont be setting any lifetime PBs in the distances I trained for at a younger age. I still enjoy doing the best I can each year and I’m as happy now about a 19:xx 5k as I was about 17:xx as a high school freshman. Cross training and changes of scenery are beneficial to keeping things fresh. It’s also kind of nice to not have to be super uptight about missing a workout here and there anymore.

+1

Cross train and find ways to improve, try different races distances or types of races like trail races, hill climbs, marathons or even relays where it can be fun to be a fast runner on a slow team where you feel like you have a big responsibility to make epic comebacks. Or you can use running as a social activity and just make it a daily ritual where you can chat with friends and just rant while you all jog it out.

fastboy77 wrote:

What'd you do?

Have 6 years of surgeries while being told running isn't likely to happen again, then there is tons of "better" again! Current goal is one mile at my previous half marathon pace

After many years of serious hobby jogging, my times started suddenly dropping when I hit 52. Here's what happened:

1. Did some triathlons.

2. Got seriously lost in the Vermont countryside. Thirsty and scared, had a breakthrough run.

3. Got Covid (or something) that caused my weight to go from 152 to 135 (now steady at 145).

4. Allowed myself to plow food down (especially carbs, protein, sodium) at all hours of the day.

So what do you do if your knee doc says you only have so much tread left on your knee after taking out some meniscus?

fastboy77 wrote:

What'd you do?

Happened to Kipchoge so he moved up to the marathon

That other post was a joke but start lifting. Studies show that squat is correlated with sprint times up to 1.7x bodyweight so you can improve your top speed quite a bit if you haven't reached that level yet. You also get a huge hgh boost that you don't get from running.

That's more how I'd start improving after a plateau, if you're really stuck I'd scope out a gym where the treadmills have a good view. For example, my gym has some equipment right above the basketball courts and some pretty good players stop by so I can run for 90 minutes and not realize it whereas if I'm out in the neighborhood just 20 minutes can feel very long. You can also get a treadmill at home and watch a show or a movie.

Also enter some big races and start at the back. See how many people you can pass. Even if you're slow you can probably pass hundreds of joggers. It feels like flying down the highway at 100mph except you won't get a ticket.

only a little tread left wrote:

So what do you do if your knee doc says you only have so much tread left on your knee after taking out some meniscus?

Get a different doc and a PT. The "tread on the tires" metaphor is nonsense. That's just not how organic tissue works.

As for the menisicus specifically, contrary to popular belief, the meniscus is not really a shock absorbing tissue. The problem with having some removed (even if it was necessary, and it often isn't) is that you've lost some of the guiderails that control the knee's movement. But if you get a good PT regimen and you do hamstring curls for the rest of your life, you will develop excellent muscle memory so that the knee doesn't need that structural guidance.

fastboy77 wrote:What'd you do?

Retired from competitive running and got on with my real life. Still run a bit but not much. I do ride a bike and hike. Played soccer, my first sport, until age 50.

I treat my run as a chance to check out the neighbourhood, say hi to a bunch of random people. I moved to a small fat lazy city so I can get age group medals I don't deserve on race day. I'm getting my teenager into the sport.

so true wrote:

At 38 I’m well aware I wont be setting any lifetime PBs in the distances I trained for at a younger age. I still enjoy doing the best I can each year and I’m as happy now about a 19:xx 5k as I was about 17:xx as a high school freshman. Cross training and changes of scenery are beneficial to keeping things fresh. It’s also kind of nice to not have to be super uptight about missing a workout here and there anymore.

This. I'm 38 but I still have hopes I can beat my modest PRs in HS and on my own after college:

5:15/11:30/18:33/45:00/1:39/3:24.

I was never fast enough to begin with so I have a shot at at least being as fast as I was in 2001.

As you age, you move past PRs into what I call "Recent Bests". I mean a PR is a great thing, but once you are 10, 15, or 20+ years past that what does it matter?

What you can do now is more important and more relevant. You can always look to tackle new distances, or try to see what you can do at whatever your favorite distance might be.

bobnfloyd wrote:

fastboy77 wrote:

What'd you do?

Have 6 years of surgeries while being told running isn't likely to happen again, then there is tons of "better" again! Current goal is one mile at my previous half marathon pace

You and me both! My goal is one mile at my 25-year-old training pace.

My last good race was 1988. I still love the discipline of training and still do doubles a lot.

I live in an over 55 community. ( I’m 66).. and my fellow inmates these old folks in golf carts think I’m good.

They stop and compliment me all the time. I thank them and tell them I’m not any good, there are people who don’t train at all and can probably beat me in any race, no I’m not any more healthy than anyone else around here, I’ve survived cancer and have 3 other doctors but thanks for the compliment and great talking to you...that’s how it generally goes.

When I was running pretty good several decades ago, it was the greatest time of my life and I like to hold on to those days as long as I can... 2000 miles a year.

I'm old enough I'll never beat my PR in most distances but I run for fitness. I no longer care about time other than doing my best on the day.

When I was young and improving I was a god (and was appropriately worshipped as such), so it is a come down, but I have enough accomplishments for five lifetimes so there’s that.

EZ10Miler wrote:

As you age, you move past PRs into what I call "Recent Bests". I mean a PR is a great thing, but once you are 10, 15, or 20+ years past that what does it matter?

What you can do now is more important and more relevant. You can always look to tackle new distances, or try to see what you can do at whatever your favorite distance might be.

Great point and positive thinking. I like that--my 5k right now is a joke lol, but if I go by Recent Bests it's probably in the low-20 minute range. But I'm more of a 26.2 runner right now. Once the marathon is over I may drop in distance to improve my 5k/10k/13.1 speed.

I wish it was that simple.