How many of you are ex-runners?

loinnsigh

I'm a newbie to cycling this year, I took it up because I have bad knees due to running injuries. I loved running. Following about a year of Physio and trying all sorts of things to 'fix' my knees, I've resigned myself to the fact that running is out for me now. So time to find a new sport to keep me fit... hence the cycling.
So far so good, I'm really enjoying cycling and am only occasionally jealous when I watch my OH heading out for a run with her fully functioning, smug little knees... Anyway I've had no knee pain whatsoever in the 4 months that I've been cycling. Touch wood and all that...

Just curious, how many of you took up cycling due to running injuries? Having spoken to many people in bike shops, at work, and reading a few posts on here, it seems to be a common enough reason for getting into the sport.

a148pro

I'm about a year behind you, off running at mo while physio tries to fix knee. But I'll be back I think as I can actually run without too much pain and in fact it can hurt more when cycling, which I'm told is odd.

mal1

I'm sitting here with my knees elevated. It's hateful sitting up on a good morning.

Just got myself one of these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/garmin-forerunner-small-bike-mount-kit/

smacl

I also started cycling because I kept picking up annoying injuries running. I still like running but always seem to pay for it if I run more than a couple of times a week, whereas I can cycle as much as I want with no problems. Getting a bit older now, I think mixing up different types of exercises is a good option if you're exercising every day. I cycle, do some martial arts, and throw in the odd bit of weights, running, swimming and hiking. I find cycling and swimming are the most forgiving on the body, but while cycling in the great outdoors is good fun, endless lengths of a pool are tedious so cycling wins.

Slydice

I'd always been cycling and then took up running a few years ago.

About 6/8 months in... my knee started hurting. I kinda stopped running after that but recently have been giving it a go. The knee pain still returns though so I tried new shoes. Didn't work so now I've had one visit with a physio and hope that future visits will help sort it out.

If not... doctor... if still no luck... then... *sigh*... give up running.

Still though, my cycling hasn't been affected and feels great for getting me some exercise.

loinnsigh

mal1 wrote: »

I'm sitting here with my knees elevated. It's hateful sitting up on a good morning.

I know how you feel, though not today - just back in from a spin on the bike.

mal1 wrote: »

Just got myself one of these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/garmin-forerunner-small-bike-mount-kit/

Haha I think I may get one of them for my forerunner. Buying one seems like an admission of defeat though

alexanderomahon

me

Block (8

I started picking up minor injuries and well a small bit bored too so started to cycle to break the routine up a bit.

Really enjoyed it and it gave my knees a break.

Started to take breaks from the routine and you know life and all now I'm an ex-runner and ex-cycler and my belly is beginning to form

g0g

I took up running in '08 to do the marathon. Needed something new in 2010 so set my mind on Gaelforce, then decided afterwards that running is too slow and you don't get very far. Cycling covers more distance, is easier on the joints (I think!), my friends are into it, and overall I enjoy it much more so have stuck with it since.

Badminton is my other sport, but fortunately that season is enearly finished so I can go back to more regular cycling!

colm_gti

Not coming from running, but coming from another sport....was quickly running out of body parts to injure playing rugby, so gave up in favour of cycling

VanhireBoys

I am a cyclist through and through..

Ive cycled most of my youth and early 20's and never had any sort of joint/back/knee problems ..

The only way you will get an injury from a properly set up bike is if you come off... I have had the odd tip and a bit of road rash but that happens..

Now then OT but ....
A word of warning to all you runners turned cyclist.. Keep your heads up - Runners and Triatheletes are all guilty of dropping their heads looking at the cranks and not looking where they are going... Ask the owner of a parked Celica I saw with the back window smashed .. Tri boy was on the Tri bars with his head down concentrating on his Garmin !

vistafinder

Me aswell.I was running about a year and a half got injured just as my times were improveing. After about a year of going from physio to physio and everyone else you can think of + about 4000 euro I started cycling. Still cycling nearly 7 years later its still not right when im going a 100% but Im not giveing up cycling too. Still realy miss the running. I have tried a few times since to sort it but no good. Just happy to be able to exercise it saved my life.

jameverywhere

I'm like the opposite of an ex-runner. I hate, and have always hated running, but can't get enough cycling.

doesn't stop me from having crap knees anyway :mad:

Mycroft H

I've crap knees.

I used to run, mostly cross country but even with the soft ground, my knee pain caught up with me.

On bikes I notice that if I'm mashing away in a high gear, knee pain will not be far behind. So I sit and spin. All good for the moment

Dermot Illogical

I used to run, but haven't in a few years. Not due to injury or anything like that though. My ailment is pure laziness. I'm not ruling out a return to running at some stage.

Hmmzis

Used to do lots of cros country running, competed for about two seasons. With all the wet roots, rocks and whatnot on the trails my ankles just couldn't keep up. Kept getting sprain after sprain, not much fun I have to say.

Now I'm cycling and couldn't be happier with the results. No competing yet (just with myself on strava sometimes) but my form has never been better and apart from a spill in 3rock (bruised knee and some scratches, got Kyle Straits after that) haven't had any injuries so far.

Chartsengrafs

VanhireBoys wrote: »

Now then OT but ....
A word of warning to all you runners turned cyclist.. Keep your heads up - Runners and Triatheletes are all guilty of dropping their heads looking at the cranks and not looking where they are going...

Very true. I see dozens of crashes caused by this per day! Because none of them watch where they're going - right?

kennyb3

me - football to running but constantly picking up injuries - lot of achilles tendonitis.

Eamonnator

I took up cycling 26 years ago, when I started having knee trouble, brought on by marathon running. I rarely have pain, while cycling, but walking up stairs
is very, very painful.

jrar

Took up brisk walking in 2005 to counter an increasingly sedentary lifestyle and ended up walking the Dublin marathon in both 2006 and 07 - then decided I'd have a go at doing a little running and ended up running 5 marathons (Dublin/Berlin) between 2008 and 2010. Started cycling in late 2010 at 48 more for a change more than anything else.

Still try to get out for a couple of 5/6 milers each week but my focus now is really on my weekend club spins and the various sportifs during the coming months ! I do all my running on my own - so the sociable club spins are a very welcome contrast !

billyhead

Former runner here aswell. Competed on the national club circuit i.e races for a couple of years and ran 3 marathons aswell. Got bored of it because I was mostly training on my own. Also kept getting niggly injuries all the time so basically got pissed off with the whole running mullarkey and decided to cycle instead. I have a dodgy back after i got a hernoated disk but cyling does not seem to effect it so i will stick with the bike for the moment. I think the impact of running would have negative effect on it.

triggermortis

I'm with jameverywhere on this - I have NEVER enjoyed running, and was never any good at it in the slightest. I wouldn't say I'm brilliant on a bike now, but I enjoy it and it doesn't ruin my back like running 100 yds would

squeaky crank

me too - I had several operations on my knees - after the last one 5 years ago my knee doctor told me - I had got osteonecrosis in 1 knee (dead bone) He said if I didnt stop running I would need a complete knee replacement in 7/8 years. I started cycling and doing specific knee building physio and discovered that I loved cycling more than running, So my dodgy knees did me a favour.

Zen0

Had to give up running years ago due to bad knees. Had also given up on the medical profession and even regular cycling was out. Felt like a 70 year old, even squatting while giving the kids their bath was painful. Made one last trip to the doc, who sent me for an MRI. Found I had chondromalacia (tight patella caused by tight IT band). Now do regular foam rollering (mad painful when I started, OK now) and stretching and I'm givin it loads on the bike.

DirkVoodoo

Running to cycling is ok, it's a nice evolutionary step forward.

Cycling to running is not, it makes you 2/3 of a triathlete.

leopard trek

as of last week im an ex runner. i was running 7/8 years and all was going well till September when i found out i had a stretched ligament in my knee, waited 2 months that being no running at all or cycling. then found out after months of pain its actually a torn ligament! Most of my family are runners so its kinda hard to give up but seen as im only a teen i have too. I preper cycling racig any day tho! I thinuk since i started racing my mind wasnt really set on running any more just a wee bit boring for some !
LTP

Rita1

Me cycling now due to football.....knees fooked.....35 now and loving the cycling game.

Andy-Pandy

I run like Phoebe from friends, thats enough of a reason for me to never do it again, and my ankles are weak.

Daithi BC

I'm not an ex-runner yet, but I am on a long break from it. I did 15 or 16 (I lost count in the end) marathons in 9 years, along with loads of shorter races, and kind of ran out of things to do without having to put in serious training. My shins were starting to get sore every time I ran on the road as well, so I went from an occasional spin on the bike to full time on the bike this time last year. I went back running over the winter for the club cross-country season, but I've been back on the bike sine February again.

I was a much better runner than I am a cyclist, but I'm really enjoying the cycling at the minute, so I'm going to stick with it for now.

merc230ce

kennyb3 wrote: »

me - football to running but constantly picking up injuries - lot of achilles tendonitis.

This is me - I ruptured both Achilles tendons playing indoor soccer (not at the same time though) so changed down to running but the tendinitis has still been killing me so now getting into cycling. Would love to get a couple of shorter distance Triathlons done before the tendons give out completely...

Jcarroll07

I started cycling in August last year. And then in September i tore my right ACL. At the time i did a lot of rugby and running but haven't been able to do any since. But i can do cycling so i've got in to that. But luckily i'm young so hopefully i will be back to full fitness soon.

pantani

i started cycling in september 2010, after years in the wilderness from running,wasn't bad at running but knees gave way so still cycling.have to say the non impact is really working for me.love cycling!!!

Enduro

I'm the oddball it would seem. I'm a much better runner than I am a cyclist. However I prefer cycling to running (and the off-road variety of each sport kicks the on-road varieties' arses ). Even more oddly (judging by this thread) the injuries I'm getting from cycling (currently letting a fractured collar bone heal... again!) are impacting on my running training. But there is no way that I'd stop cycling.