Runners face and knees

[CarmenSanfrancisco]

I took up C25K in lockdown 1. I’m a pretty poor runner but I really enjoyed it, not a huge amount of exercise as such but it clears my head.

However, I’m also 35 and starting to age. I mentioned I was running to a (very beautiful, well maintained) acquaintance and she said she’d never run to avoid the risk of a droopy runners face. My gym instructor is also extremely anti running for the impact on knees.

I guess I just wanted to ask about other peoples experience of running. Do you regret it? On the one hand, I really enjoy it but obviously don’t want to bugger my face and knees for the future. I’m not sure if these concerns only apply to serious runners or the occasional 5k as well? I’m desk based so I really struggle to fit in enough steps in the time I have each day without a run. I’ve tried researching it but most research seems pretty inconclusive.

I ran for a bit and enjoyed it until I developed a foot problem. I switched to cycling instead.

I used to run quite a bit (not long distance), it definitely knackered up my knees. However, it turns out that's because I have flat feet and over-rotated hips so it was exacerbating a problem that was already there, I just wasn't aware of it. The pain didn't get better even after I stopped running but after a year or so I had acupuncture on the NHS which cleared it up immediately.

Running exclusively on pavements can be hard on your joints, try to run on grass where you can and get fitted for proper running shoes.

As PPs have said, other than running shoes the other essential piece of kit is a good running bra. Never heard of a saggy running face but saggy boobs are a thing!

I’ve been running for 15 years, there are people in my running club who have been runners for over 40 years. I do 5k every other day, if its a rugby training day I do a 10k instead. I have also done some half marathons.

Weight bearing exercises are good for both bone health and bone density, choosing not to carry out weight bearing exercise is bad for bone health.

Not only is running, well, its jogging, good for bone health its great for your bum and back if you have correct form.

I only know one long distance runner and to be honest she does have a sallow manic look to her but she is incredibly fit which trumps looks in my opinion

I work with a runner. She is twenty years younger than me and she has runners face without a doubt. It's definitely a thing.

My dad had light face lift (not sure of technical term) in his 60's due to running, his face looked like it was melting (his words).

These people who definitely have runner's face; what would they have looked like at this point if they weren't runners, and how do you know?

Another vote here for shock absorber bras (I am an F cup, but they stay solid as a rock).

@UrAWizHarry

Running being harmful to knees is a myth.

Tosh. Some running is harmful to some knees. There are no blanket rules.

@emmathedilemma

Droopy face?!? WTAF?? Most runners I know look younger than their age not older and I don’t know a single one with knee issues.

Most runners I know look younger than their age not older and I don’t know a single one with knee issues

Is that not because people with knee issues tend not to run in the first place?

Running has definitely affected my knees, and I can't run now. (Since mid to late 40s).

Never heard of runners face, surely wearing SPF moisturiser would prevent over exposure to the elements.

Face - use high SPF even when it's cloudy or early in the morning. All the "runners faces" seem terribly sun damaged to me, that's all.

Knees - alternate running with other types of exercise. Running exclusively could indeed damage knees because 1) any exercise you repeat every day for years will damage something, variety is important and 2) you need to build strength in other areas to spare your knees.

I got "runners face" back when I was running regularly. By which I mean I GLOWED. I tend to go beetroot red when actually exercising but the increased circulation is amazing for your complexion. And I think people focus too much on wrinkles (and secondly jowls) as signs of aging. Yes, they can be a sign of aging but when you are actually assesing someones age/health (particularly in person rather than by photos) there are so many other factors that matter more. Having a healthy complexion and glowing skin looks for more youthful I think than having a very smooth, tight face. Plus the endorphins feel great and it makes you smile more and walk lighter (unless you are sore after a particularly hard run) and move more freely. Yes if you ramped up to endurance running straight away and combined that with a diet of lettuce leaves you would look and feel terrible, but I doubt you are planning to do that anywaty.

What I think might make a difference is I have noticed some people really clench their face as they run. I can see how if you run for hours a week and tightly furrow your brow the whole time it would have an effect. And as others have said sun damage. To be honest though, even if I knew running might age me slightly I would still choose to do it because we are all going to age and I would rather enjoy life than worry about signalling I am of fertile age to strangers.

I really hate to mention this, but my physio suggested that running isn’t great for your pelvic floor if you’ve had children. I do HIIT (not the mega high impact) instead.

For knees, I would advocate listening to your body and not powering through the wrong sort of pain. And yoga is a very good acompaniement as it improves core strength as well as flexibility.

Thinking of runners over 40 who spring to mind, Liz McColgan, Sonia O'Sullivan, Jo Pavey Ali Dixon. All of them still putting the mileage in and their faces are fine.

@Eckhart Maybe elite marathon runners. I mean Kipchoge looks older than he is in this photo. But he had just crushed a world record i.ytimg.com/vi/DFtWVPBu-3w/maxresdefault.jpg I think most people would be dead if they had run as fast/as far as he had. Also, I doubt he cares particularly about looking young for his age.

My face is ‘melting’ but I’ve only been a runner for about 4 months do I think is due to saggy skin and weight loss.

Paula Radcliffe looks quite young for her age. So does Jo Pavey, who I always think has a very dewy complexion. Trying for her fifth Olympics at age 48, having done her previous Olympics at age 43, running well in the final. Kelly Holmes looks great for 50. I always think that athletes look better than the average person and age more slowly, quite the opposite of this thread!

MandalaYogaTapestry I'm sure I've read an article (probably here) on having a certain type of body shape is not recommended for running....something to do with the position of hips, knees etc. My friend keeps suggesting I give running a go but with my pear shape ( and slight prolapse) I know it would be a bad idea.

I still can't work out what runner's face is supposed to be. Is it supposed to make you more wrinkled because of exposure to the elements?

@Labobo

It's supposed to be a sort of facial sagging due to repeated downwards impact. It's an excuse that people who wish they were runners use for not learning how to run

My 48 year old friend runs regularly and looks fabulous.

I look like a whale.

@ursuslemonade

MandalaYogaTapestry I'm sure I've read an article (probably here) on having a certain type of body shape is not recommended for running....something to do with the position of hips, knees etc. My friend keeps suggesting I give running a go but with my pear shape ( and slight prolapse) I know it would be a bad idea.

I have no scientific basis for this but I am absolute not built for running.

I’ve never been super fit but back in the day when I was in decent shape I could use a cross trainer at a high intensity, use a rower for ages, dance/aerobics for two back to back classes etc but could never run more than 5 mins. It just hurt me everywhere.