Originally Posted by
MarkN
I've done both for a few years, but In the last few months I've pretty much given up regular long runs (ie. ~10K). The fitness from doing both is great, but running on pavements does take a serious toll on hips, knees, shins, anckles, feet etc... after a conversation with an overweight athritis-ridden 50year old ex-runner I decided to give it a rest.
I've taken up squash instead - just as good if not better for fitness, and amazingly fun. I can't begin to explain just how engaging this sport is, even for a beginer.
YMMV. Back when I was a serious runner I belonged to a couple of different running clubs. One of them had many seniors in it. By senior I mean people in their 60's and 70's. A lot of them did multiple marathons a year in different cities across the country. Some of them had only been running for 10 or 20 years. Other's 30, 40, or even longer.
edit: I do know people who quit running due to knee trouble. I also know of at least one person that quit cycling for the same reasons. I've witnessed 3 people crumple to the ground for no apparent reason while playing soccer. I just had a conversation regarding how tough soccer is on the knees with a coworker who gave it up in his 20's after facing his 3rd knee surgery. Yet I have another coworker in his 50's who has been playing it competitively since he was a kid. He plays in a "senior" league with other older guys, many of whom have been playing it for decades.
I've been running since I was in my early 20's. I'm 46 now, not fat, and the only problem with my joints that I've had of note have come from cycling, not running. I'm sure I'll still be running when I hit 50, still won't be fat, and still won't have arthritis.