"I always knew running would be dangerous at y... - Couch to 5K

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"I always knew running would be dangerous at your age..." and other helpful advice to the IC...

Ucandothis profile image
UcandothisGraduate
21 Replies

Why do people who have never done any exercise feel the need to be smug now I am on the IC? "Well, that's running for you, it ruins the joints" "All that impact straight onto the joint? Not a good idea at your age" "Cycling's a far better bet, or have you tried swimming?"

My reply: "No, I haven't, but I might have to think about giving it a go instead."

My thoughts: "You are at least five stone overweight and on your fourth beer in an hour. You do no exercise, eat enough to fell a small pony and have a family history of heart disease. Your social life consists of back-to-back box sets, football on the TV, football on a Saturday but strictly as a spectator [which involves vats of beer, a couple of greasy burgers and a pie at half time]. Obviously you are a fountain of health wisdom and I have long looked up to you as a role model. If I follow your carefully thought out and considerately given advice I can be sure to be dead before I hit 60 [and I'm 56 already]. At least then I will be spared the pain on my tricky Achilles tendon. So thanks."

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Ucandothis profile image
Ucandothis
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21 Replies
Ucandothis profile image
UcandothisGraduate

Love the tag - all of that and the system comes up with 'vats'. Tempted to follow it and see where it takes me!

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70

Well yes they definitely sound like a great example to follow.😕keep at it,you will recover and be back out there where as they will always be full of excuses (and beer and pies) and you will have the upper hand soon enough 😊

OldPossum profile image
OldPossum

You will recover and get out there again they will be stuck on the sofa. I'm 57 years young ( or will be in 3 weeks time) so totally get where you are coming from but suspect I'm fiercer than you as no one has attempted to give me such misguided advice! Except my mum but that's normal 😬😬. Hope you are off the IC soon.

Clawmum profile image
ClawmumGraduate

you don't need to be on the IC for comments like that, I hopped on the bus the other day to the next village so i could run back just for a change, a bloke spent the whole journey telling me i was cheating and how bad running was for you that i should cycle/swim, i was like SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!! i love what i do :)

BTW he had his dog with him and the bus dropped him off at his door perhaps he should have tried getting off one stop early and walking the poor thing :(

Ucandothis profile image
UcandothisGraduate in reply to Clawmum

It's amazing isn't it how total strangers feel qualified to have an opinion! It also tends not to be those you would wish to emulate!

dddd4 profile image
dddd4Graduate

Hope you are off IC soon and out proving them wrong. I am sure that running puts less stress on the body than sitting around over eating and drinking! Before running I could think up a lot of reasons for not running but now I won't give it up as I can feel the benefits. i expect you can too even from the IC. Don't let negative people pull you down. You know better than them.

plop profile image
plopGraduate

I had that when I did my knee.

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate

Sorry your on the IC and I know you will heal and get back out there again with or without "helpful" comments. It is strange what people say. I once was complaining about the balls of my feet hurting a bit (not a lot) on runs over 14km and one helpful friend turned round without skipping a beat and said well you are putting a big load on the ball of your feet each step with your weight. I could of floored him instead I laughed and changed the subject but again from someone who never does a jot of exercise.

Ucandothis profile image
UcandothisGraduate in reply to Realfoodieclub

Yes, we always laugh and brush it off - I need to think of a really good one line response!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Folk can be just plain mean.. I feel so much, just comes from envy... a knowledge that they cannot be bothered to do anything about lifestyle changes or whatever, and a perverse need to put down those folk who can, and do.

We all have our views, and make our choices, they are all different, but what happened to simply respecting other people's choices and views?

Well done you...rest that ankle and ignore the jibes. I love this quote...having felt a bit got at, myself, from negativity last week I searched it out again...:)

" There are always people telling you, that you can't...just look them in the eyes and say... watch me!"

Go youx

Ucandothis profile image
UcandothisGraduate in reply to Oldfloss

Thanks - this injury has scared me, but whatever happens I will do something again to get back that feeling of pride and euphoria I got from completing my first 5k!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Ucandothis

You will get back,,, honestly, just try and stay positive, plan some new adventures and bask in the knowledge that you have and can still do this.. whereas the nasties will never know that feeling! :)

Haha. You hit the nail on the head for me! 👍🏻👍🏻It made me laugh. I really enjoyed this especially as I am currently having crisis of faith( 3 weeks on IC awaiting knee MRI results) apart from walking I've been 'good'. Had so many oh well you can go swimming etc. Nothing against swimming, love it, especially August in Med😉. But actually I am chomping at the bit, even if I need to start at week 1.

Seriously gave me a jolt when I couldn't garden though and truth be told I am a gardener first. 🌺🌷🌹

Ucandothis profile image
UcandothisGraduate in reply to

Hope your scan results bring good news. I think swimming is best outside under a sunny sky. Don't see the point of going up and down n the same space with no view.

Ullyrunner profile image
UllyrunnerGraduate

Oh this rings so true - all those experts sitting on the couch talking themselves and anyone who gives them any attention into never doing anything to improve their health.

Believe me, you will have the last laugh!

JaySeeSkinny profile image
JaySeeSkinnyGraduate

I only get comments like that so far from my older son, who smokes and does no exercise, but hasn't caused himself any major damage yet. Running is very bad for your knees he tells me. I tell him no exercise at all is worse for them and exercise actually fuels the cartilage with oxygen and keeps your knees fit. I have 2 overweight friends who have major hip and knee problems, both rarely did any exercise. In fact my knees start to ache if I don't do something for a couple of days.

And I'd prefer to run and be happy, even if I am wearing my knees out, rather than getting miserable, depressed and fat on the couch.

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate

I've said this before here but I think it's a good response to people like this. Just smile and say " but it's great for my sex life". 😉

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate in reply to Irishprincess

Ha ha ! Love it ! :-) xxx

Ucandothis profile image
UcandothisGraduate in reply to Irishprincess

Brilliant response! Thanks.

turnturtle profile image
turnturtleGraduate

I feel for you but injuries happen to all runners. Not just us older ones. My knees hurt a bit today after a 14K run but does that mean I shouldn't run? No! It just means I need to take time to recover between runs. I do hear tut-tuts from other people my age but my children and grandchildren are SO proud of me and they are the ones whose opinions I value. Rise above it! Oh another answer suggested to me to reply to people who say 'why I earth do you run at your age?' Is 'BecauseI want to look good naked' 😀

Ucandothis profile image
UcandothisGraduate in reply to turnturtle

Another good one!

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