A lot of you will know that I haven’t had a lot of luck where injuries are concerned of late.
My latest being a fall on a club run through Wytham Woods yesterday. I have quite bad soft tissue damage to my hand, along with the normal grazes associated with going posterior over chest! 😊
This is one week after recovering with Tendonitis in my foot and various other running related injuries this year.
A lot of my family and work colleagues... non runners of course, are saying I’m to old (70yrs) to be doing this and should heed the warning signs etc.
I’m too pig headed to listen to them, I love my running and have no intention of quitting!
Anyone else experienced this sort of negativity?
Written by
TedG
Graduate10
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Don't listen to them, Ted. Yes, running does seem to bring out a few injuries, but just think of the positives. They definitely outweigh the negatives!
When I first started running I had lots of comments about it being bad for the knees and it would make my bad knees worse, whereas the problems I had before were more likely through inactivity. They are now much improved.
Also when I fell and cut my arm the nurses all joked that running is bad for you. I guess they saw lots of sports injuries in the minor injuries unit.
However, advice from my GP practice nurse and doctor and my physio is keep going. It has done me the world of good. BP now normal and almost back to healthy weight.
Maybe look at your speed though and see if you would be safer by reducing it.
Please ignore them Ted. They no doubt mean well, and they’re no doubt not runners! If they were, they’d understand that yes, running can cause the occasional injury, but it’s a whole lot better than being sat on your posterior on the couch!
Heal quickly (you will) and have fun getting back on track again! 👏👏🏃🏃
Oh Ted. So sorry to hear you fell whilst running. To be fair, that can happen to a runner of any age…I have taken a tumble myself at 47, so should I stop running?! Anyway, do not let other people's negative comments get you down. If you are suffering from any running related injuries, they are usually do to over-use or pushing too much. Slower running is usually recommended in terms of less likelihood of injury, so if you yourself are worried, just slow it down. If you are not worried yourself, then as you were! Age really isn't an issue I don't think. I have had a few injuries myself, but as runners using our bodies more than most, we are all going to pick something up now and then. As Mike wisely said, the positives of running for your health far outweigh the negatives.
Sadie-runs xxx
P.S. Never listen to advice from non-runners! What do they know?!! Pfffffft.
Aah Ted I’m sorry to hear you fell - it’s no fun. I have been lurking on this site for ages now but am still running at least a couple of times a week. I recently fell and sprained my ankle and then did the same thing 3 weeks later - turns out I’ve got a weaker ankle due to spraining it a few times in the past. So my first thought like you was .... I don’t care what they say I’m not stopping running 😂.... luckily the dr and physio are both of the opinion that exercise is good for the body and the mind and adapting it is better than not doing it. So if it’s a slower run TedG it’s still a run and if you know that makes you feel good then there may be no big decision to make. I hope you heal quickly and feel positive about your next move. I have definitely benefitted from the encouragement you have given me on this forum.
Negativity from others? yup. plenty! But what do they know? I've also experienced a fair bit of pig-headedness too. Great stuff. You carry on doing what you want to do, and let them look on in envy
I am lucky that my family have been so supportive. My younger son runs and is always posting his latest times to me, but he is always really encouraging about my efforts. My wife bought me a running watch when I graduated in C25k. Only negatives I have had have been from two walkers. One was quickly told to shut up by his partner " he is moving much faster than you ever do" style, and the other was comparing my pace unfavourably when somebody else sprinted past; I said nothing but just thought"idiot". An old friend once had a saying "death is nature's way of telling you to slow down" I am 66 and have no intention of slowing down ever!! You are not being pig headed. The lovely thing about being older is that you just don't have to care about what other people think of you. Keep on running and simply "note" other people 's views; code for completely ignoring them!
Any physical activity has its risks. We would injure ourselves far less if we sat about on the couch doing nothing. However, for our overall fitness and mental well-being we would be doing far worse damage long-term and short-term.
Running is your activity of choice and the associated injury risks are the potential downside we have to face from time-to-time.
Name an activity and you will find a list of associated injuries. It doesn't mean we should stop. You have just been unlucky that yours have come in close proximity to one another.
Negativity? All the time... I’m too old (I’m 46!) it wont do my dodgy knees any good (I’m pain free for the first time in 30 years) I’m too slow (I don’t care, I love the slow) etc etc etc. None of this ever came from a runner, it’s always the ones who don’t do it who know best!
I say you love it, it keeps your fitness and health ages way below your chronological one, and you’re stronger than virtually all 70 year olds out there. I wish you many many more years of happy running.
Not the negativity Ted..( except from one person) who is convinced that every unpleasant thing that happens to me, is because of my running at 68. She literally hates, (and that is a word I never use... ) the fact that I run... that I am able to run.. and that I love my running...
The injury scenario...I can totally empathise with... although mine have little to do with running..!
I am sorry about your fall... but it will heal...
Our injuries may hit us hard, although I am convinced that because we run, we bounce back quicker... I have been on the IC so many times this last year.. and have come back each time and reached my last point of exit and moved on even further.
You have done incredible things...truly....5K to 10 K to HMs... and The North Run....?
If these are warning signs... we don't want to be warned... !!!
So...in answer to your question... should you stop running..?
NO! Not on your Nelly!
You and I, and a whole load of others.. are here for the duration... !
Stick with it mate and ignore the negative ones, I remember when we met up the day before the GNR you said taking up running was one of the best things you had ever done and you wished you had done it years ago.
Absolutely not Ted, you are a brilliant runner, out enjoying yourself and achieving so much...and you have put in a lot of work to get there too!💪
You are definately a strong runner, and I know you have taken a few knocks ( one was whilst stepping off the treadmill!) but your commitment has remained and you always come back stronger.
Keep on running Ted, and having fun with it, you know what's best for you😊
Sorry to hear about your fall, and your hand must be very sore, sounds like a nasty gash...hope it heals soon. xxx
Hi Jan, my problem are the negative comments I’ve been getting after my fall yesterday.....it’s not a gash, just a lot of swelling and bruising to my right hand....it really gets to me sometimes 😬
I’ve no intention of quitting, I was just curious if anyone else had been in the same boat as me and how they handled these people!
I must learn to pick me feet up in the woods, this is the second time it’s happened 😂
I’m terribly accident prone and not yet 50, Ted. (Earlier this year I managed to fall off a rock and into waist-deep water when I slipped crossing a stream! Really embarrassing due to 2 walkers I didn’t know watching it! 😂😂)
Glad to hear you’re just ignoring the comments! ❤️❤️
There is a small amount of truth in what people are telling you... but they probably don't realise why. Yes, it is likely to be ever more important to look after your vision and your hearing and feet, take proper safety precautions and recover properly from illness. And you are more likely to develop various disorders as you age... But running's a good investment in reducing the risk even though you can't eliminate it - and how many times have we heard it here that running has led to earlier identification of treatable problems? Giving up something you enjoy doing before you have to seems like premature aging rather than prudence.
BUT if you put all your emotional coping eggs in the vigorous exercise basket.... then I can tell you from close and current observation of someone who has been obsessed with it all his life.... it's not pretty if and when some malign illness gets you so you really can't in the same way. Make sure you have other strings to your emotional bow. Learn to sit still too and value that and other ways of enjoying yourself and looking after your emotional health.
Keep going Ted, don't listen. I get this negativity all the time too, mostly from friends or relatives of a similar age to myself (61). Its got to a stage that when they ask "How's the running going?" I just say "It's going well" regardless of whether I have any injuries or problems at the time. I'm on the IC myself currently with a hip flexor strain, I'm now into the third week of not running and I'm just itching to get out there again. I'm stretching, doing some yoga and walking to console myself at the moment, but as far as family and friends are concerned I'm still running
As many have said, criticism and words of "wisdom" usually come from non runners who are actually jealous of your achievements. They would never admit that of course.
I am just shy of 50 and in the best health for years. Migraines and Crohns finally manageable and weight under control.
We all think you are fab and look forward to continuing to watch your running career!
Although I've not experienced this with my running (yet!), I was previously in a roller derby team and got that sort of 'advice' all the time. Ooh it's very bad for your knees. Ooh that can't be good for you. Ooh what if you break your leg. Ooh that's not very ladylike (!). There's risk in everything, especially sports, and we already factor those risks in when we make the choice to take part. Bystanders just like to say their piece—if you feel there are benefits to running and you think the positives outweigh any negatives then personally I'd just tell them to stick their opinion in their pipe and run away cackling.
My motto is do what you love while you can. Ok you might fall and hurt yourself but then again you might slip in the bath or on the way to the shops. Happy running 🏃♂️
I think running does come with the obvious addition that injury does happen. I have had many and am currently on a running streak whereby I have run through illness etc. Loads of people said oooh be careful etc etc but I just think its taking the rough with the smooth for a better long term outcome AND obviously being sensible too. People who are negative are often non runners and they just dont get it. Id say #nevergiveup
Ouch Ted I hope you are ok. But no! Whilst physical injuries may happen due to running, the mental injury of not running far outweighs any risk. You run for so many reasons but overall most of us agree it is for the buzz we get as much as staying healthy. Your negative people are worried and maybe scared but they cannot understand the pull of running unless they try it. Maybe they need you to explain it or encourage them to try! I have to admit this time last year I had no intention of running and yet now I can't cope if I don't! I had to miss 10 days recently due to a bug and I was reminded of how I was before running. My mood dipped and I was itching to get out there. My first run again on the weekend was amazing. You have had a few times where you have had to stop for a bit. Didn't your friends/family notice how badley you wanted to be back out there? Maybe they are also a little threatened by you running.... if you can run, age and injuries included, shouldn't they?! I know you won't give up anyway lol. But maybe go slow and avoid leaves? It's my first Autumn/Winter of running and boy are those leaves lethal! Lol. Take care. X
You're not too old. There's an Indian man of 103 running marathons and didn't start till he was in his 80s. You're just having a run of bad luck injury wise. This too shall pass.
Anyway, running increases bone density and does all sorts of miraculous things, so when your detractors are struggling with heart attack, stroke, obesity and osteoporosis, you will be leaping along like a spring chicken. x
Anyone running in a group, or on forest trails, or running on ice or mud, or running up/down hills/ ramps/outdoor steps or just running on the flat but losing concentration is going to take a fall from time to time. How many times have we seen the pros do it on the track? Mo Farah, Lasse Viren, Mary Decker etc...I fell down some concrete steps right at the start of c25k and cracked a rib so I had to take 5 weeks off running! It happens.
I too think the " You're too old" brigade are just projecting mostly, "Come sit on the sofa with us!" is what they probably are thinking. However, I do think losing a certain amount of confidence is an issue as we get older since there's more potential to do damage -so it becomes a fear and hence unfortunately more likely. Maybe what I'm saying is that I fully expect to take a few tumbles each year. It is what it is.
The only strategy that springs to mind is to learn how to fall. Some of the worst "splat" moments I've seen are when someone doesn't in any way commit to the fall and try to roll or to mitigate the damage. I think people who have been sporty ( especially martial arts and field sports involving diving and catching ) are more likely to do least damage to themselves in falls simply through not using their hands and knees and head to break a fall but rather an instinctive revovery/ landing/rolling ( no splat moment). Learning how to fall sounds a bit odd but there may be some benefit in researching it. Taking up martial arts or cricket wicket keeping catching is probably not a good move as we get older though! Keep at it Ted!
A lot of good points there Lordi. Unfortunately I did not have time to think about how I was going to fall, first instinct was to put my hands out to break the fall and that’s what caused the severe bruising to the palm of the hand along with a grazed knee and damaged pride 🙄😊
I'm thinking like a cricketer I suppose (ball in hand after taking the cat-like diving catch of the century, so no option but to judo roll!) . P.S. that hardly ever happens to me
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I joined a running club 😃
I wonder if I (we) can improve my (our) running technique ?
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My first running bling! 
