After ten years I suddenly stopped running. Here’s what happened next

Why would you suddenly stop doing something you devour and can’t leave without?

I used to ask the same question.

I’ve been a runner for over 12 years, consistently. I’ve managed to turn it into a way of life, running 1-3 times a week, varying distances, and half a marathon at least once a year during the Tel Aviv Marathon. 

It took me a few years to reach a point where I knew I’d never look back. It just became second nature, just like eating or sleeping. I knew that’s the lifestyle I wanted to lead, and even if I missed a week or even a month for whatever reason, I was OK with it; I knew I’d be back on track soon.

Injuries are the runner’s enemy

There’s one thing almost any consistent runner or athlete has experienced: Injuries. And when running, the risk of straining your ankle or injuring your leg or foot is significantly higher. 

It first happened to me around 2016. I was running towards the Tel Aviv promenade, through the dark streets of Neve Tzedek, the old hidden gem of a neighbourhood, and I believe there had been renovation or roadworks underway. The sidewalk had been blocked, so I had to run on the broken road when suddenly, my left foot slid into a pit, and I fell to the ground.

Ouch, that hurt.

Here’s a word of warning. When running at night or dusk, always think of safety first. Use translucent gear (Even yellow stripes with flickering lights), turn down the music and resort to walking if you can’t see what’s right ahead of you.

Not worth it, trust me.

That ankle strain got me off the running track for about a month. Mind you, running wasn’t a stellar habit as it is now, so the danger of losing it did exist.

My ankle blew up to the size of a ping pong ball, and in the first few days following the injury, I could hardly move around and needed ankle support. Not fun, especially when you see others running….

Anyway, I got back to running, and have had a few exciting years of living and running as a single.

After I got married and became a father, sticking to running became more challenging. It could be a separate article. You can’t just run when you want, with babies and toddlers around. 

For example, running early in the morning is almost impossible. And you’re often too tired in the evening, especially if you wake up early the next day. Or you’ve fallen asleep while putting the little ones to bed and wake up at 1 am… And your day begins around 8 pm, and you’re already knackered.

So it’s too easy to put off running.

My remedy was to work it into my routine. So that if I took the kids to the kindergarten, I’d run back. Not too far, but 15 minutes * 4 is like two 30-minute runs per day. Not too bad! 

Then, last summer, I started a new job, and I gave myself about a month to get into the swing of things, knowing it would take a toll on my running routine. But I accepted it.

Then, I started gradually getting back to running. And one evening, I still remember it very clearly, I was in a bad mood and the puppy we had just bought suddenly came and started licking my toes.

And boy, did that hurt!

By instinct, I backed off and sharply twisted my left foot. I could hear the knock.

As a result, my left ankle and foot hurt, for more than a month, and in the first few days I could hardly move. Running was, sadly, out of the question.

So, what does a runner go through in such a situation?

Embarrassment, guilt, shame

You’re calling yourself a runner, but… You’re not running! All you do is talk about running while your friends and family know you as a regular runner. So they ask you questions like “So how many times are you running per week now?” and you answer, “Mum… starting soon…” and deep inside, you know it’s most likely a lie. 

Fear of losing the habit

It takes about a month of consistent action to form a habit. And about the same time to ruin one. Since I started running regularly, I took a break for at least two weeks. I can now see why it’s been a good idea. If you take a month or more extended break, no matter the reason, getting back to it is much more difficult. I used to run at 11 pm sometimes, and now I keep finding excuses not to run and procrastinating… So that fear sets in: I’d never get back to it, I’d have a beer gut, I’d 7just be average… 

Muscle sore and leg pain

This is a big one. In the first two weeks after I was forced to stop running, my legs started hurting. It felt as if my muscles were sprained,  a very unpleasant feeling.

It also felt helpless because nothing seemed to ease the pain. 

To test my assumption of muscle soreness, I took a few brisk walks, and the pain had all but gone.

So it was my body signalling it craved the activity it was used to before the ‘accident”.

Jealousy of other runners

I love watching runners in action. It’s a beautiful spectacle, especially when correctly done, with the correct movements and posture. 

But when watching other runners reminds you of what you should be doing but can’t or choose not to do, jealousy and anger come into play.

Starting again is much more difficult after you’re used to being lazy…

Weight gain

Even though it’s already proven [lnk] that running, and other types of cardiovascular workouts don’t contribute much to weightless, my experience is different. 

My weight when I’m exercising regularly is about 80 kilos. When I take a long break, about 4-5 kilos are added, and that fat takes shape on my belly. It became visible; I started getting comments, in which form I started developing love handles.

Now I’m OK with it because I know it’s temporary, and I respect the circumstances. I’m currently pretty much OK with it because I know it’s temporary and I can say fuck that, I don’t care what others say. But the thing is, I can’t accept myself as a lazy guy with a beer gut. That’s just not me.

But the overall feeling could be better. could be betterheart. I miss feeling energetic throughout at a better rate, my body in motion, that running high when endorphins are at play…