EricW Posted April 29, 2006 Share Posted April 29, 2006 I hate being out of shape. I started running in high school. Ran all the way through college. Biked. Skied. Hiked. Climbed. Then 3 years ago my knees started to go - prior to which I had never known any type of knee pain. That was about 5 years after my doctor told me, "Eric! Low Impact!" Which, predictably, made absolutely no...umm...impact on my habits. Even when I was "out of shape" when I was fit, I was still able to pack up and go mountain climbing on 24 hours notice and keep up. By the last semester of school for (my last degree), my knees were so bad that I was taking the elevator instead of the stairs. Every step felt like someone jabbing an ice pick in my kneecap. I took it as a sign and finally hung up the running shoes for good. My knees slowly seem to be coming around. I wish I had known what I was doing to my body at the time. Running while overweight, and bare-legged in the cold (as a youth) probably did most of the damage. Mountain climbing did some (descending). Ignorance...Stupidity...Self-delusion...Stupid probably sums it up. I knew that I was doing some damage. Shin splints and ankle injuries were common for me. I either didn't believe or deluded myself into the idea that what I was doing would set me up to walk like a little old man as a young man. I hate that I didn't change out shoes more often. I hate that there is no decent running store in Spokane like there are in Portland. Those guys in Portland knew I was a clydesdale and would cut me deals on multiple pairs of shoes so I could afford to rotate them out. I hate that I didn't just cough up the dough and keep myself in new running shoes - which really helps keep the injuries down. I hate that I didn't know that hard-core runners change out shoes every couple weeks. I've spent the last 3 years mainly walking, hiking, and hunting with a little XC skiing thrown in. Now that I'm back on the bike, I realize just how out of shape I am muscularly and cardiovascularly. The upshot is that I have a bike that doesn't beat me up, so I can hit trails regularly. It's getting better, but I'm going to be hating life for a while. Exercise used to be the high point of my day. I hate that it doesn't feel fun right now. I miss running with my dog. I don't know what I'll do if I get to the point I can't hike or hunt with her anymore. I hate the uncertainty that I've set myself up for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Posted April 29, 2006 Share Posted April 29, 2006 Eric, you just voiced the anguish of an entire generation. I managed to avoid real injury for a long time despite some really close calls, until last year when I took a flight from about 4 steps up my stairs and landed on my left knee. Stupid accident which will most likely be with me for life. I was lucky enough that during my stupid years I managed to stay alive. Free solo rock climbing is fun but dumb, which luckily I realized early on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackdragon Posted April 29, 2006 Share Posted April 29, 2006 EricW, +1 Ivan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckS Posted April 29, 2006 Share Posted April 29, 2006 I know that this is a hate thread but I have to add what I like is a day where there are no NEW pains! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted April 29, 2006 Share Posted April 29, 2006 Just be glad you are a young man...even with bad knees, being a young man with bad knees is better than being like me and being an Old Man with bad knees...you can have them replaced...it is a waste of time and money for me to do it now...I just don;t run, jog, climb, or hike fast...I can swim a bit, walk a little (albeit slowly) and I take lots of Advil...so perk up...and enjoy life... Tightloop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricW Posted April 30, 2006 Author Share Posted April 30, 2006 TL, Sorry to see whiny. It was meant as more of a cautionary tale. E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n2ipsc Posted April 30, 2006 Share Posted April 30, 2006 Just be glad you are a young man...even with bad knees, being a young man with bad knees is better than being like me and being an Old Man with bad knees...you can have them replaced...it is a waste of time and money for me to do it now...I just don;t run, jog, climb, or hike fast...I can swim a bit, walk a little (albeit slowly) and I take lots of Advil...so perk up...and enjoy life...Tightloop What is it they say? The first thing to go are your knees - and I can't remember what the second thing is... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie McG Posted April 30, 2006 Share Posted April 30, 2006 Hey Eric, if you find some good mountain bike trails it wont take long to whip you back in shape, good thing is it's not hard on the knee's. take care Jamie http://singletracks.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted April 30, 2006 Share Posted April 30, 2006 Eric, This thread is not the least bit whiny, at least not to me. As for cautionary, the kids just pretty much ignore it! My brother, who plays golf, doesn't shoot at all, will eventually have both knees replaced. Both were screwed up playing basketball, one in high school, one while he was just goofing around at a cookout. I don't feel your pain, but have my own like all of us that are in middle age. I hope you're in middle age, the 1911 date of birth in your profile says otherwise The new bike is an excellent place to continue with excercise, without the pounding of your joints, good luck with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted April 30, 2006 Share Posted April 30, 2006 n2ipsc The second thing has gone too...But I am a huge believer in Pfizer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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