On the bench - again! No running and looking for a sane alternative

[MrsMuddlePluck]

Just as I feel I'm getting going again - oh dear my damned knee gives up. Is there anything low-impact I can do that will keep me fit? [I can't swim by the way].

I need something flexible [no opening times to work around] and that doesn't take up too much time [I have only been running for 30-40mins when I do run, with the occasional longer run at weekends, so I can juggle other commitments].

This time it's apparently patellar tendon damage caused by a too-tight ITB / quads. Cue exercise - squats and stretches. No high-impact for a few weeks. BORING!

I'm so fed up with the cycle of running for a few months; knee packing up, seemingly for different reasons each time; stop running; do something else. Build up running; fine for a few weeks; knee does something else...

Doesn't help that all my fb posts seem to involve running; I work overlooking the local park where everyone is out running; ...

I am stupidly crying all the time now. I know things could be worse [my DA has terminal C / I've scratched the car on a wall / the dog is sick...] but I have been running all my adult life and have barely been running at all recently - 10-12 MPW, so not much. I have had a brush with the big C myself and survived partly I think due to my being so fit at the time. I am paranoid about becoming unfit and overweight as it just won't be 'me' any more.

I may feel (a small part of) your pain... Attack of PlFasciitis so have had to ease off running.

Can you get a turbotrainer & spin at home? Sign up for swim lessons. Some folk swear by kettle bells videos (zzzzzzz)

I do have a gym membership so probably end up just going there and not using the weight machines, as I seem to have been doing more damage trying to strengthen the knee. I can just sit on a bike and watch the TV! Boring but I can also fit that in around work as the gym opening hours are quite flexible.

Go there & people watch & come back & tell us the funny things the people did.

Iljkk - I also need to get myself out of the house as it's too distracting and other members of my family will insist on asking me to do stuff for them if I'm around. Some don't take 'yes, in half an hour' as any reason for them to have to wait! Grrr

'Go there & people watch' - yeah! Great idea!

I have a rebounder for the high impact stuff and love it.

Cycling is a good way to exercise if unable to run (or swim). It's not weight bearing so should be okay.

I know you mention your knee problems keep coming back - keep doing the physio exercises (squats and stretches) even when the knee feels fine (although 5 times a week should suffice rather than a few times a day as I'm sure the physio has you doing). That should help stop the reoccurrence.

I do feel your pain - I used to run (sprinting) but injured myself differently each year so missed the competition season about 6 years in a row as I heal ridiculously slowly.

I can't run anymore either. Outdoor swimming (in a pool) has sort of replaced it for me, but otherwise I do low impact gym, which doesn't inspire me but at least I keep fit, or I do kettlebells at home with an app - I really like kettlebells as it gets your heart rate up at the same time as building strength and the exercises are varied, I find traditional weights stuff boring.

Can you swim? With a dodgy knee you should avoid breast stroke, but front crawl is a great work out and low impact for your joints. I have a bad knee so swim and cycle now.

What about something like boxercise, as it builds up your core strength and so may prevent injuries in the future, while you are recovering you could do a weekly class plus a couple of long walks and then turn the walks into runs when you are better

Having run for >35 years I can honestly say I've tried most other sports and nothing suits me or my lifestyle. I like that I can go if I want to, whenever I want, without having to fit it around gym / pool times / family meals / commitments.

I live in a town where you can't cycle continuously for more than 5 mins without having to get off and cross the road to get to the next bit of cycle path. I do have a habit of falling off and I can't handle those stupid cycle gates. I cycle to work sometimes but I only live a mile away so tend to walk.

I swim but breaststroke only so that's a non-starter. Can't stand the sheer tedium of bashing out lengths and forgetting how many you've done.

Anything involving jumping up n down is a no-go.

yada yada yada... believe me if I haven't found anything else in the last 35 years, I won't find anything soon. I have tried.

Running is unrivalled for flexibility isn't it! And it's so efficient that travel time isn't necessary, and so easily measurable on goals and results.

Power walking? There's a few regulars around my neighbourhood and they are faster than some of the slower runners.

I learned to swim at adult lessons. Getting to particular lane sessions is a PITA and I really miss our pool that was public swimming all morning. A lunchtime swim seems to consume half the day! But, you can get swimming MP3s/ earphones (currently in Aldi) and pools often have swimfit workout cards like interval training for more variety.

I do a range of classes too

I really feel for you. I did my first half marathon just over a week ago finally feeling fit for the first time in my life. I love running it keeps me sane then on Tuesday I went for my first proper run since the race and my knee popped, looks like a torn meniscus. I'm currently lying on the couch feeling sorry for myself. I'm trawling gum tree for an exercise bike because apparently that should help speed up recovery. I can only swim breaststroke too.

You could do aqua-fit type classes. Lots of pools do them. The one near me does a couple of different kinds of sessions.

Or Pilates? Yoga? Tai chi? I did a really good fun arial Pilates class earlier this week (it was a good workout and I can still feel it in my inner thighs today). The teacher was very attentive to injuries and issues and offered modifications where appropriate (I generally find this to be true of Pilates and yoga teachers).

And just keep up the cycling while watching tv.

Or you could do some adult swimming lessons to sort out your backstroke and front crawl, and then join a more structured swimming session. Having sets to complete with other people might make it less tedious for you.

I taught myself front crawl as an adult, it wasn't hard and I built up stamina slowly. I'm lucky that I have decent pools to swim in though - it's better if you can get into the zone, which you can't if you're constantly avoiding people. I also tried cycling when I had to give up running but couldn't get into it.

I still think kettlebells is part of your answer, more dynamic than usual strength workouts and quite fast paced.

I’m a runner, and I’m faster/fitter than average (marginally). I went to a spin class the other day and holy fuck it was hard. I’ve never sweat so much in my life. After 10 mins I thought I was going to die. It’s brilliant though-definitely going back and apparently it’s really good for runners. I’d say it’s certainly a good one for running replacement purposes.

...and body pump is good for doing squats in company, with weights.

Spinning
Kettles

Cycling - nope!

Jog/walked a 5K this weekend [I do it every year, no matter what, as I had cancer 13 years ago and want to find a cure any way I can and my aunt has recently been diagnosed as terminal after a recurrence] trying modified 'style' recommended by a well-renowned physio who also does gait analysis. She got me running at pain level 3/10 after 10 minutes on a treadmill starting at 7 or 8/10. Also given me strengthening exercises to do on the days I don't run.

Knee felt a bit sore yesterday so decided to cycle to work [I have an e-bike] to rest it. It had felt fine overnight with some strapping and this morning - until the moment I put my left foot down on the pedal and felt a sharp pain. And...here we go again! Painful cycling home too as the battery died so I was cycling 'normally'.

So p**d off at runners going past me which wouldn't normally bother me whilst walking the dog this evening.

She's only expecting me to be able to do a couple of laps of the track 2/3 times pw at the moment so it's not like I'm trying to do anything like any sort of mileage at all. Just learning to run again. Knee gets stressed at the slightest thing so trying to focus on just being able to say I have logged a run a couple of times week until I get the new style right.

Feeling really and