Comment by bane | Hacker News Reader

Comment by bane | Hacker News Reader

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I hate hate hate running. I used to work out quite a bit but could never get into running and sought other cardio exercises - literally anything that wasn't running.

Over time school, then work, then life simply got in the way and my exercise lapsed. Now in middle age I worked up a minor health issue and my doctor strongly encouraged me to start up on cardio again -- this coincided with both the start of COVID lockdowns and wasn't long after a move to an area with lots of trails nearby.

So I started walking about an hour 3 times a week as weather permitted. Health condition went away, blood pressure dropped, mood improved, sleep improved. I also started enjoying the changing of the seasons more, enjoying nature, being outdoors and all that. I started feeling like eating crap wasn't "right" and started eating better. It's like an entire cascade of wellness.

Not once have I gone for a walk and thought "I'd rather not be doing this" like with running. In fact I usually look forward to my walk and look for excuses to go on one.

Turns out I should have just gone walking all the time instead.

> I started feeling like eating crap wasn't "right" and started eating better. It's like an entire cascade of wellness.

I've noticed this effect strongly with all forms of exercise. The better shape I'm in, the more I naturally gravitate to healthier habits in my diet and elsewhere. Working out more has an awesome compounding positive effect.

Running isn’t the only way to get cardio in. Tabata/HIIT, while making you feel like you’re on the verge of dying, are wonderful and most important safe for your knee joints. Long distance running will wear your meniscus out.

So for everyone here who says they don’t like to run - that’s fine, get on the stairmaster or pick up a kettlebell or medicine ball and do some swings and tosses and side movements. Running will seem like a walk in the park by comparison.

> Long distance running will wear your meniscus out.

Is there any research to back that? Everything I’ve ready says that it is not a fatality and that it is possible to run, for many years (life?) without destroying your joints.

It’s my understanding that your statement is as accurate as saying “driving a car will result in you getting in a car accident”. It’s extremely possible and it has happened to many people but it doesn’t mean it _has_ to happen

A physical therapist once told me that the number of runners (that is, people who have done it regularly for years) who have non-trivial knee problems is in the neighborhood of 75%. Don’t know the source behind that, but it’s stuck with me. And the reason I was there was because of the knee problems I had from running.

The research is mixed. Partly since the advent of modern running sneakers may actually be causing more injuries as a sibling comment pointed out. For a while I was doing PhD research in materials science and created a technique to do materials fatigue testing of the meniscus. Unfortunately that was the first ever such research for meniscus and the data wasn't able to conclude much, alas. The research can't say for sure what injuries are from form and conditions or underlying mechanical limits, or the effect of self-repair mechanisms. After that work though, my opinion is to run on the front of your foot and remain well hydrated as both reduce peak impact forces. Also pay attention to how you twist the knee while running (eg don't twist during land). Also 1/3 of meniscus injuries still appear to be unrelated to any specific injury or activities like running.

> that it is possible to run, for many years (life?) without destroying your joints.

I knew a few people who've done well over 200 marathons (a couple are well over 500, one is over 1500 IIRC, one did >250 in a calendar year) without destroying their joints. Now it might be that their running style (invariably "slow and easy") that lets them do that many marathons also contributes to them avoiding this issue.

I've seen a video where they recorded a runner running barefoot and in shoes. When running barefoot, you tend to step on a front of your foot and much less vibration go to your whole body this way.

I've bought barefoot shoes myself and it is true that I tend to step more on a front part of the foot as well.

"Driving a car will result in you getting in a car accident" is pretty accurate given that the average person will be in an accident.

I've never enjoyed running and never practised it on a regular basis. I have chondromalacia which started (or rather had been diagnosed) in my early twenties. It doesn't prove anything of course, but probably some people are inclined to get joint problems anyway (although running might make it happen quicker probably).

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