Running to get fit

Maintaining a better wellbeing, mainline or alternative
pavel131
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Re: Running to get fit

Post by pavel131 »

Kuikentje wrote:
Totally Scrambled wrote:I saw a report the other day saying that joggists of Middle Age and upwards were costing the NHS a fortune by needing their worn out joints replacing. :-D
Dom


Well, that just sounds like a bit of an excuse to me :-D and it isn't going to cost as much over time as trying to minimise the effects of all the health problems caused by lack of exercise. Our bodies will tell us when to stop and we have to learn to distinguish between the pain that's saying "Oh, you haven't used that bit of you for a while" and the pain that's saying "You'd better stop." People whose joints need replacing are generally not the fit ones but the unfit ones, and joints are more likely to be damaged by overweight and underuse than they are by healthy usage, which is what they are designed for.
The worst thing for me is that if I do hurt myself it takes me longer to recover than it did years ago and it is frustrating to have to take things easy to give an injury time to heal up. Running/jogging is a healthy way of exercising, we just need to make sure that we have comfortable shoes and build up gradually.

Just to add my two penarth.
I am 64. Height 6' weight 10st 8lbs. In my early thirties, I joined the Territorial Army. I got the running bug. I completed 9 marathons. The constant road running has resulted in both knee joints need replacing.
IF YOU HAVE TO RUN, then do all your running on grass. To keep fit, running is totally non essential. A brisk 30 minute walk per day,is all that is needed to maintain fitness.
I am neither fat or overweight, nor have I ever been, yet I have chronic arthritis in both knees, caused so I have been told by "to much running"
Be warned.
I am an Dyslexic agnostic insomniac. I lay awake all night wondering if there really is a dog.
fabindia
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Re: Running to get fit

Post by fabindia »

pavel131 wrote: I completed 9 marathons. The constant road running has resulted in both knee joints need replacing.


I don't think it is quite as simple as that. I have ran literally thousands of miles on the roads and I am 62 now.

I think there is a lot of 'luck of the draw' when it comes to injury and wearing out joints; I seem to be fine but my dad has had bad knees since he was a lot younger than me. But also running style or gait is a critical factor. People who over-pronate are far more like to end up with injuries and joint wear (so if you have a problem with this - don't do what I do and buy cheap trainers - you probably need specialist shoe inserts).

It's a hard one, I wouldn't really like to advise anyone one way or another.
Michael
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Meanqueen
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Re: Running to get fit

Post by Meanqueen »

I think the luck of the draw has a lot to do with it. My sister is five years younger than me, and as far as I can remember was never a physically active person. Now she has a bad back and arthritis, whereas I have always been physically active and have no signs of either.

I have come to the conclusion that moderate exercise over a longer period of time is better than pushing yourself too hard in short bursts. Really fast walking suits me better than running. I enjoy striding out on a long walk and enjoying my surroundings. I enjoy a steady climb up a steep slope because I know the views from the top will be great.

I don't enjoy running round a track, or round the country roads, passing everything in a blur and not seeing anything because I am too busy puffing and panting. I probably won't go back to do the Parkrun again.

Ilona
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