RUNNING: Is there anyone who has been a runner for a LONG time and can refute the "inevitable injuries"?more..

Question

Please step up and tell us how you have strung together many years of running and reassure all the nonbelievers that your knees are indeed, not dust.

Answer 1

Sorry, can't help you!!! I ran for over 35 years before having to hang it up. Most of those years were injury free and running became a big part of my daily life. In retrospect, I would recommend cross training, STRETCHING before and after running, it is critical that you learn to become flexible and maintain that flexibility. Watch your weight if your carrying a few extra pounds, it all adds to the stress on the joints. Have fun, I miss it dearly!!

Answer 2

I'm not a "serious" runner, but I can run decently well and stay injury free by minimizing the amount that I train, always running on grass, and by doing other low-impact sports. For ex., I run at most twice a week (30-40 mins each time) and try to play ice hockey once a week (very low impact if you don't fall into the boards!) which is much like an intense speed workout. This keeps me in shape to do about a 19-minute 5k. Been running off-and on for more than 15 yrs.

Answer 3

Ive been running competitively for the past 5 years. I've done 2 half marathons, 7 ----5k's, and have run varsity track for the past 5 years for school. Im 17 years old, and when your constantly running and putting stress on your legs things are bound to happen. The best you can do is to stretch 2-3 times a day, use alot of ice, and rest. Don't overpush yourself. My knee cracks every now and then from hitting it on the hurdles but thats the price i pay to do what i love to do. From a fellow runner to a next fight through the pain, it only makes you stronger.

Answer 4

I have been running a few years and through my experience, running does not hurt a person's knees. What I found out that hurts a person's knees is when they cut. Like in football or soccer when a person is going at full speed and they stop suddenly to change direction. I think that hurts people's knees, because it sure does to mine.

Answer 5

Well, unfortunately, I cannot share my personal "success" since I always had some niggling knee stuff, and hamstring stuff, and maybe its not due to running but I used to play footbal (soccer) and basketball a lot when I was in school... but one thing I must say though, I was always too lazy to get a good stretch, and was always rushing onto the field/court to start playing... so maybe that is the answer! STRETCH!