Outside of CA, I'd bet the Wash. DC area has the best running culture in the US. There are a lot of great places to run, which was usually my motivator. Before I got really hardcore, I'd have a friend drive me 10 miles or so from my car and drop me off. I had nothing but my ignition key, no wallet, no dime, no cell, no gun. That motivated me for sure. One time I dropped my ignition key in the woods and didn't notice it for a few miles. I had to run to a pay phone to call my gf to rescue me.

Cold weather is another motivator. It's very difficult to get started. But I'd always wear shorts and not too much up top in very cold weather. That way you have to keep running to stay warm. There were times when I was so far out in the woods, running on frozen-over slush and rocks, that if I'd gotten hurt, I would have died from exposure before anyone found me. Another motivator!

I can't find the study. but years ago an orthopedics journal issued a report that showed microfractures of the articular surfaces in the knees of all runners over 70kG (about 155 pounds).

Low-impact is far superior for joint health. Like Rick said, "Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when they're gone."

Probably true, but on the other hand I'd rather be alive with bad knees, then not run and be dead from a heart attack due to being overweight and out of shape.

Like you, I hated running in high school. I still hate running. I try again and again to enjoy it, but there is simply no joy in it.

The only time I EVER enjoyed running is when I lived in Hawaii. I would go to the gym and then down to Ala Moana beach for a run 4 to 5 days a week. The scenery was great and the ocean right there to run in when I started to overheat. Did that for about 2 years. I never enjoyed running anywhere else.

Now I just have a stationary bike (gym quality) near the big screne TV. It make it much more difficult not to ride the bike instead of just sitting down and watching tv. The bike is much more gently on the aging knees too.

Moral is, you have to make an excersie program fun. if you don't you simply won't stick with it. So my suggestion is (1) either move to Hawaii and run on Ala Moana beach, or (2) get a bike and sit in front of the TV while you exercise. go with No. 1 if you can. ;)

If you have a motivation problem, it's best to run with a partner or running group. It's also a cool way to meet new people. That how I met GeorgeW here and he got an '86 Carrera after a few sessions of running with me. If I plan to run alone, it's always easy to blow it off. If someone is expecting you, you will show up.

Rick - I think you're right. Lots of good trails around here. I once broke my nose on a trail in Annandale. It wasn't a hobbling injury, but it was my first adult experience with shock, and I could have been in serious trouble if it were colder and I didn't have a group with me.

Moses, while I agree that low impact is better, there is no reason why you can't mix it up. Trail running or treadmills are a good way to exercise different muscle groups involved in running while minimizing impact. Good shoes and staying asphalt helps where there are no good trails. Also, not running everyday and listening to your body when it trying to tell you its hurt is important too.

Anything worth doing will eventually kill you.

Doing nothing will eventually kill you.

Does that make doing nothing worth doing?

YEah, here's another vote for serious shoes. Whatever they cost, they're worth it. Cheapest place in the country hands down in RnJ Sports in Rockville, MD. It's best to bring an old pair of shoes to show the sales guy. If he knows what he's doing, he'll be able to tell from your soles if you pronate and how much. I used Asics Kayanos for so long, thinking they were the best because they cost the most. Then some guy at RnJ commanded me to walk a straight line for him and told me I totally had the wrong shoes. Now it's Asics Gel something or other and they're about $20 cheaper than Kayanos. That's what I call a real shoe store.

True to a point... but a good training plan and a heart rate monitor will do wonders. I'll put in 100+ miles on some days, but I've got done 45 minute interval workouts that were absolutely brutal.

With lots of running and a couple marathons under my belt, I've pretty much given it up completely for cycling. I feel much less beat up and still stay in good shape. YMMV

-Bernie

The data associating exercise with longevity is not terribly convincing. It may be that runner only increase their life expectancy by about the actual number of hours they spent running. ;)

Didn't someone make a movie about that?


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1131999099.jpg

It's about quality, not quantity. Most ultrarunners run into their sixties and even seventies. It appears that the majority of Americans in that age group have difficulty negotiating a curb. . .

It's a self selecting group. Very few disabled people run marathons. You need to compare healthy runners and healthy non-runners. It's not as simple as it looks.

Everything is as simple as it looks . . .

Maybe you're right. If you compare healthy runners (normal weight, non-smoking, cancer-free) with a group of similarly healthy non-runners there will be little, if any difference in life expectancy. If running is it's own reward, then keep running. Simple.

I'm not concerned about extending life expectancy but I am interested in extending an active life-style. Two people die at age 70. The first is 100 lbs overweight and dies while watching re-runs of NYPD Blue. The second dies at mile 30 of a 50 mile race. I'd rather be the latter than the former . . .

I ran thru High School and College. Long distance....was in great shape and did very well. Low 4s in the mile and a 1:50 in the 1/2.

Later blew my knee out twice (ACL) and an achilles tendon. Biking is about all I can handle....

I hate to run, but I found it to be very rewarding, especially if I run before sunrise...That said, I have fallen off the wagon when the Fall semester began.

Soemthing on Pelican I'm actually qualified to comment on. I logged over 60k miles as a runner and another 10k as a jogger. 30 years ago I never thought I'd be the big old boy I am today and made fun of all those guys. But at 51 my career is over. No major injuries, bad knees hips, ankles whatever. After pracitally accomplishing everything I set out to do in running I can make some basic blanket assumptions. I also coached some state champs in one of the larger classes in Texas.

It is all about efficiency. If you aren't biomechanically efficient you are going to have problems with more than your knees. Especially if you are even slightly overweight or training big miles. I could go on and on but to make it simple. Go out and run on a hard surface on a calm day. Somehing you can hear your footfall very easily on. Run at a comfortable pace where you would do the majority of your training. If you hear your feet clomping like a Clydsdale you have problems. If you are whishper quiet you are in luck. After coaching many many runners, knowing many many elite runners it all boils down to that.

As some of the posters above have stated it has a mucho to do about shoes. I won't go into the types of shoes but there is a shoe for all types of folks. And having 2 pairs of shoes and alternating them every other day is smart. Also not using the same brands but the same type will keep you from sinking into an overuse injury. But thes are only my simple opinions.

Those are awsome stats, especially the 880 time of 1:50.
Did you win the State meet? I ran a 1:57 back in the early
1970's in HS and I thought I was good...