re: Older Runners (50+) - when did you pack it in

I haven't stopped yet but I only do Half Marathons.

I am 49 and have 13 marathons in the books. I'm trying to get to 15 but have been fighting injuries since I ran in London last October. Lower back and IT band issues are giving me big problems. PT is helping some but I think it's probably time to retire from long distance running.

52, have run since I was 13. I had to quit running in the heat last year. It was just too unbearable. I ran many a years thru it, admit it was tough but fought thru. The last few years I just got too hot during the run and would have to stop quite a few times to cool off. When I was younger it didn't bother me that much, but looking back it was crazy. Ran 12-15 mile runs in the middle of summer here in South Louisiana every weekend. After the runs I felt terrible and didn't want to do anything the rest of the day. I was in great looking shape but felt like crap. At my age now I realize I can't do what I did back then and just do cardio in the gym on elliptical machines and run here and there to keep in running shape. I hate running on treadmills but will start at end of August in prep for the fall/winter running season.

4 marathons / too many halves to count

Four miles per day, five to six days a week, for 40 years. Quit five years ago when one of my hips were replaced. Had arthroscopic knee surgery 30 years ago. I should have stopped running at that time. Anyway, I was told after hip replacement to never run again unless someone is chasing me.

I pretty much gave it up right at 50, then as your first answer said, I got a bike.
Put 36+K on it/them, then gave it up.
No surgeries, that was my goal. I miss both.

This is where David Goggins calls you a bitch.

Best of luck finding a replacement!

Used to run marathons in my 20's and 30's. No longer. T2 Endoscopic Sympathectomy ended all that.

I'm 50. My husband is 63. We started cutting mileage the past couple of years. Went from full and half marathons, to just halfs, now to 10ks. This time of year, if we knock out 4, we're happy.

Running sucks. Lift weights.

I’ve got another year and 4.5 months. Not that I’m counting. I’ve switched almost exclusively to trails with climb. Given my general time constraints with work, little kids and the homestead, too much volume isn’t an issue. I just run super slow and enjoy the scenery. I probably won’t do another marathon or longer distance. I do a random half a few times a year untrained. That distance is ok but if it’s an event I always overdo it with little training. Gonna cut that crap out and stick to trails.