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Time on my hands

Instead of time on my feet, I now have time on my hands

Due to my knee issue, I’ve been advised not to run for the next 7-10 days.

pink floyd, time
Time Marker
Courtesy of wordlesstech.com

I’ve managed to catch up on all of my DVR’d Colbert Report shows and we are making a dent in the backlog of John Stewart’s The Daily Show as well. I even have more time to write blog posts.

Taper Time from Hell

This is the worse taper ever: totally unplanned and way too early. In addition to the agitation that comes with decreased physical activity, in the back of my mind I worry about my running future.

All runners confront the end of their running days at some point in time. All of us will get to a point where it hurts too much or takes too much physical effort to even jog.

This is probably just be a bump in the road for me, but it gives me pause to think about THE END. What will it be like when I can’t run anymore? Ever.

I’m a runner. It’s a big part of who I am. What would I do from now on if I could not run?

At 49 I feel like I have many more years of running in me.

The Male 40-50 bracket always has a good number of runners in it at most races. It is also a competitive bracket with many strong runners. It’s not unusual for the top 25% of men 45-50 to beat the bottom half of the men 40-45.

running numbers, time
Running Demographics

The statistics here are in 10 year chunks so the drop off looks dramatic. If these were “by year” stats I think the slope would be relatively flat until age 45 and then drop off dramatically after age 50. From my personal observations, I think a lot of men, and women, run well into their late 40’s. These stats don’t show it but I think the dramatic drop off begins after age 50.

The decade between 55 and 65 cuts our number by more than half!

Achy, breakey, bite me!

I’ve had hip problems,muscle problems and tendon problems. A runner’s body always has an ache somewhere, it just moves around. None of those issues made me think about the end of the road the way this injury has. I was in PT for months with a sore hip and hanging up the shoes never crossed my mind.

I often see people running with various knee supports and braces and always hope I can get to 80 and avoid all of that. I still have that hope.

I’m still in the early phase of my recovery and I still have twinges. They worry me, but I keep telling my self that the healing process has just begun. I’m going to miss a race or two, but I will run again. I still have Boylston street in my sites.

Run well my friends!

Andy

ยฉ 2014 anagelin

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3 responses to “Time on my hands”

  1. Pandora Viltis Avatar

    I’ve noticed in the female 40-49 group that the 45-49 often outdoes my age group of 40-44. But my age group is pretty competitive too with lots of participants. Which is exciting for me as a woman who took up running just under a year ago and with plans to run until I’m 100.

    1. imarunner2012 Avatar

      I like your attitude! The older folks who are still running and fast are faster than the slower 1/2 or 2/3 of the next bracket down.
      There is some luck involved in staying in the game – you need good genes. You also have to be smart and not hurt yourself. If you have bad genes or hurt yourself, I don’t care how motivated and determined you are, you are out of the game.
      I would rather give up running and still be able to take my grand children for a walk.
      I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

      1. Pandora Viltis Avatar

        Well, hopefully I got the genes as I have grandparents who didn’t exercise and lived to their 90s.

        As for the injury part… fingers crossed. I hear you about not being dumb about injuring yourself so much to make yourself hobbled for life.