Doctor said no more running!

I think you need more specific advice about what cardio to avoid - I've loved boxing, park bootcamp (perhaps easier on the joints generally as on grass) etc - but you need to know it is safe specifically for this hip issue. What are the results you are waiting for and when will they be back? I agree about then working with a good physio.

In the meantime, could you try something completely different? I train calisthenics for strength which is much more upper body focussed - push ups, pull ups, dips, levers etc. It is quite niche though and you need a class or instructor who knows about it.

I understand how you feel and hope the results are reassuring.

I used to do half’s and ran for years and years now have a bad knee. I had a lot of physio but everytime I went past 5k it flared up again.

I stuck at it for 18m hoping to have a breakthrough but once flared I couldn’t do anything not biking, not walking. So in the end I thought it was better to be able to do something rather than nothing and stopped trying to run any distance. So I now manage some HIIT classes (I can mange the running intervals), do loads of resistance training. Cardio is walking or intervals, cross training or spin. Treadmills are better for my knee. I miss leaving the house and those runs where you just add another loop!

Mountain biking - obviously depends where you like but even without mountains cycling off road is awesome!

This. Although not quite the same calorie burn for me (probably about 80%). But I still get the endorphins of working very hard and classes make it fun

It is obviously very different to marathon running though

Throw everything at physio - GP’s aren’t the right person for this sort of injury. Then reassess.

I get my 'high' from swimming - there's no better start to the day for me. I'm also much more likely to do other exercise in the day if I've had my swim.

Go to a physio, they have more specialised knowledge than a GP and are much more pragmatic about rehabilitation. GPs are much more knee-jerk about saying not to do something.

I'm not saying to ignore the GP, just get a second opinion. There can be a lot of strategies to build back up to safe running with specialised advice.

Are you seeing a physio ?

Spin. Get the same endorphin rush. Same cardio boost. Same calorie burn. Just no impact and if you get a good instructor some bangin tunes too. Honestly I love spin get yourself in to a class

Second those advocating swim coaching - absolute game changer. After a horrible bout of sciatica I could only swim for exercise, but not well. Did a course of 'Adult Improver' lessons at our local pool, and now swim much faster and further than I could before, so definitely worth a go!

I’ve been there! It’s tough.

You need to grieve your identity as a runner and accept no other exercise is quite the same. Nothing will be as good. You will always miss it. You will have dreams when you’re still running and wake up thinking you still run. Accept that.

As others have suggested: cycling, cold water/open water swimming for the community aspect and sense of endurance, hiking, yoga and Pilates, gym classes, gym. Enter events like long distance open water swimming events, cycling events etc. Find a runner friend and train for a triathlon as a relay with them doing the run.

It takes time! I would run again in a heartbeat but I’ve found other ways to be healthy.

Oh, and for your swimming confidence: have some 1-1 tuition. Swimming isn’t like running: you don’t just get better doing it on your own as your fitness improves. You need to improve your technique.

Rowing could be good - and if you join a club you’ll get some of the social side. Fixed seat is even less impact on the hips than sliding seat/rowing machine

Or kayaking - change to a completely different part of the body as the powerhouse. Obviously not a terribly useful suggestion unless you have a river (lake,sea) handy

Cycling. I took it up for a while when I had a bad shoulder injury. Didn't love it as much but you're outdoors and get a great cardio blast.

A good spin class. I was unable to run because of a snapped ACL. . It’s the only thing I found that enables the same heart pumping: sweat which I loved with running

I can’t run either but moved onto cycling and I love it. Maybe you could give that a try?

Get a bike
Visit a physio who specialises in sports injury, and a PT who specialises in rehabilitation.

What is it the Dr thinks you might have done that would need surgery, and what results are you waiting for?

If you can afford it, I'd go to a private osteopath or physio to see what's going on and how you can improve it.

I'd also recommend trying a mobility/flexibility program - I use Tom Morrison but others are available... even if you have damaged something, strengthening the muscles supporting the joint and your core etc will help you work around the (potential) damage.

I agree that swimming and cross training are good options.

Please follow your doctor’s advice until you have your results, OP, or you could end up doing some serious damage. I’m currently recovering from surgery and it’s been such a pain, so restricting. You don’t want to do further damage. Good luck!

Get yourself some swim coaching. Having the right technique will make a difference not only to your confidence, but also your stamina & speed. You can really get in the zone and block out everything else.

Cyclefit/Spinning. It's the biz.
I had to give up running but this is great and provides a similar high. It's a circular so low impact motion and won't jolt your hip.

Pilates.

Nobody in the pool cares what you're doing (how you swimf) as long as it doesn't interfere with what they want to be doing.

You could use the pool to do aqua jogging till the results come back. You can get a special float that you strap round your waist, and you aim for more of an upright marching movement than normal running, but it is great cross training. People possibly might stare, but they won't know if you're crap at it or not!