Alternatives to running?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I am so depressed. I’ve just been told I can’t run anymore until after I go to physical therapy. It seems I’ve knocked my kneecaps off-center from all the running I’ve done, I’ve got some cartilege problems, and I may have developed rheumatoid arthritis at the ripe old age of 28. Yep, I’m 28 and I might have arthritis already. Jeez.

Anyway, I don’t think anything will ever be able to replace running. I’ve never found a sport that can transport me like running can, and push me both physically and mentally, but I have got to find something I can do to maintain my fitness. If I don’t exercise, everything from the waist down, bones and muscles included, hurts A LOT. So, I’m looking for some challenging alternatives to running that will be relatively low-impact.

So far, I’m considering joining the local masters swimming division (they let amateurs join), and I’m also thinking of taking up spinning, but I could really use some suggestions here. I don’t think I can take up weight lifting until my physical therapist gives me the go-ahead (unless it’s on just my arms), so I’m looking for something aerobic.

Anybody? Anybody?

2

Have you tried an ellilptical machine? They give a great workout with very little stress to the joints. There’s no bouncing, just gliding. If you use one that has the arm component, boy oh boy can you work the cardio. (The ones without the arm thingies are great too; it’s shocking how much harder it is on the arm ones, that’s all.)

I sympathize. I really like running on a treadmill but my knees and shins can’t take much of it. The elliptical is the only machine I’ve found that compares in the least. I feel like anything else isn’t really a workout.

3

Well, I’m always pimping rowing to anyone who will listen. It’s amazingly aerobic and low impact. You can use a rower at the gym (very boring but efficient) or join a local rowing club. In your neck o’the woods, there’s the St. Louis Rowing Club. A lot of rowers don’t start until adulthood so you don’t need to worry being a novice. Once you take a Learn-to-Row class, you can usually find a crew to join so you have a team to row with and there are always regattas to train for to keep you motivated.

4

I was going to suggest spinning also. Aqua jogging? That might not be too exciting though.

Honestly, if it turned out I had to stop running, I’d flip my lid. I don’t know what I’d do. Hell, I just ran my 5th marathon 2 days ago and I’m sore as can be and I can say I’d be lost without it.

Good luck on finding something. It really is a quality workout in terms of calorie burn, so it’s hard to find things to replace it that don’t take a longer time investment. :frowning:

5

Watch out! This is the classic scenario to becoming a triathlete. Though it sounds like your injury is not temporary.

Most triathletes are runners who became injured. While they were injured they started swimming or biking, and when they could run again they realized they could try a tri.

6

Spinning? As in wool? :confused:

7

Hee!

No, as in stationary biking really, really fast!

But I suppose spinning wool is an alternative. Not a big calorie burner, I’d expect, though. :wink:

8

An elliptical trainer is a great alternative to running and really protects your knees, but it is an inside stationary ‘sport’ and I am thinking you sound like you want something more.

Maybe a combo of elliptical training and swimming. Clear both with your PT first.

Good luck. Bad knees are a bummer but listen to the advice of your therapist. You can protect them and still exercise, but if you misuse them they just get worse.

:frowning:

9

I’m sorry to hear about your injury. :frowning:

There’s third alternative: the Thys Rowingbike. I have an older model and I love it! It’s a more reclined position than a conventional rowing machine, and it seems to work the abs more. I use it all the time for my short commute (7 miles round trip). Build quality is first rate. I have a colleague who owns the same model and he uses it for century rides all the time. (I usually use a conventional recumbent bike for longer rides.)

Unfortunately their current model costs more but they may have used ones for sale - I bought mine used from the manufacturer. Also Olson makes a cheaper rowing bike. Vogabike also came out with a new model recently but I don’t know anything about their availability or price.

10

Just so you know Masters Swimming are all amateurs. While you may get some really fast college swimmers and ex-olympians most are just normal people looking for exercise. If you like swimming you should try them, I think you’ll fund you’ll get a much better workout then you think.

11

I used to be a runner, maybe not quite as serious as you, but I ran a marathon, and that’s what I did for fitness. And I loved it.

Anyway, about 3 years ago, I blew out my knee playing soccer (torn acl and meniscus).

After surgery, I kept trying to get back into running, but every time I started picking up the mileage, the knee would start aching again.

So, this summer I took up biking, and I friggin’ LOVE IT.

I did my first century last weekend. My legs haven’t felt so good since before the surgery. They’re bulked up right now. I get a great soreness from biking. There’s tons of different workouts you can do (sprints, hills, distance). You can get totally anaerobic if you want, or sustain high levels of aerobic activity for LONG periods of time.

I’ve moved up 2+ notches on my belt.

I have spent some time on the spinner at the gym, but it’s not quite the same. I’ve done a spinning class before and they are fun and a great workout. But I don’t think it will float your boat forever.

Also, I feel like my aerobic capacity (if that’s even a real term) is better than it ever was running. My heart/lungs/legs feel great. I can’t recommend it enough.

Drawback: cost. Bike costs a lot more than running shoes. But, I found a good used road bike for $100 when I started and I’ve now upgraded, but you can do it cheaply if you look around.

It sounds like you like the same things about running that I did, and biking has completely given me back those feelings. If you can’t run, what else is going to get you out on the open road, miles from home in your own world?

12

Thank you so much for all the suggestions! I’ll probably try to get on my bike a few times before the weather turns really nasty, and when it gets cold, I’ll do a combo of elliptical trainer, swimming, and spinning, as so many of you have been kind enough to suggest. I might try rowing, too, though I’ll have to join a club to do that - they no longer have rowing machines in my gym, though I suppose I could purchase one of those or a bike, or even an elliptical trainer if I want.

I’m not as depressed as I was earlier - it’s just…well, starting to run is hard. I had hoped I wouldn’t have to go through those initial difficult phases again. And while I’ll already be in pretty good shape, so my lung capacity shouldn’t be diminished, I can’t help but miss that feeling. Sigh I really hope I don’t have arthritis. I really, really hope I don’t, particularly rheumatoid arthritis. I hear that’s especially bad and it gets worse far faster than regular arthritis.

13

I can completely empathize with what you’re going through right now. I used to be obsessed with running and thought nothing else could give me the solitude and “high” associated with running. When I was in college, I suffered a stress fracture in my hip from all the running and had two reconstructive surgeries. At the time, I was told by my doctor that I’d never be able to run more than 2 miles so there went my dream of running a marathon. I was very depressed in a way that only runners can understand.

Well, over the years I took up swimming again and recently got into triathlons. Even though swimming doesn’t make me feel as good as running, I’m slowly starting to enjoy it more and more. I highly recommend joining a master’s swim team, you’ll find swimmers of all levels and perhaps meet other runners or fellow athletes who can relate to your situation. Swimming does wonders for your joints and should help your knees feel better. Because of swimming, I’m able to run in moderation again.

14

Iris, thanks for the advice. A stress fracture in your hip?!? Ow!

Yeah, I’m seriously thinking of joining the Masters instead of going on my own for the swimming. While I do love swimming (I was on a swim team of some sort from elementary school through beginning of college), I don’t think I’d be as hard-core about it as I need to be to maintain my current level of fitness unless I join some group that will really push me.

I was the same way with running. I loved - LOVED - running by myself. The solitude, the quiet, the completely blissed-out zen feeling, but running with others who were better than me really pushed me to my limits and beyond, and I suspect that I’ll be the same way about swimming.

And, Edward The Head, thanks for the clarification. I just found my local chapter web site. I’m glad to know that everyone there will be an amateur, too. I want someone to push me, but I don’t want to feel completely outclassed! :wink:

15

If you were on a team for that long you’ll have no problems coming back to Masters at all. I only swam for two years in High School, and have no problems keeping up for the most part. I would say, from the 3-4 teams I have swam with, 1/2 or so were age group swimmers with maybe 1/4 also swimming in college. The rest of the team are people who never really swam before.

All of the teams I have swam with usually have 4-8 lanes in the pool and there are that many different speeds, you’ll find a lane pretty quick. They will push you too, and for the most part everyone has been great too.

16

Yeah, it was a pretty painful stress fracture. As I’m sure you know, stress fractures can be fairly common in runners, especially female runners. I just happened to have one in a fragile place so it took much longer to heal.

You’ll get much more out of your swim workouts if you swim with a team. The structure and camaraderie provided by coached workouts make a huge difference.

Like you, I absolutely LOVE to run. I can’t quite get in my zone while swimming, I suspect it’s because I’m not outside experiencing the solitude of my own little world. Hopefully you’ll find swimming to be the right replacement to running for you, and who knows, maybe someday you’ll be able to run in moderation again.