I would recommend caution about remedies which are things you ingest.
There is likely a reason medical doctors don't often suggest them and it's
probably not some kind of conspiracy.
At my current age 66 I walk a whole lot more than I run and run at a fraction of the pace
I used to be able to. I'm now 15 months post total hip replacement.
In 2014 I had an opening wedge high tibial osteotomy about 18 months
after having arthroscopy for a partially torn meniscus (same knee, my left).
6 months later I raced for the first post-surgery time and completed a 50 miler
in a reasonably decent time not significantly different than other 50s.
Between 1999 and 2013 (year of bombing), I ran Boston every year but one (2009)
which I missed because I procrastinated sending in my race entry. That's 14x in
a 15 year window. I was never able to qualify for Boston again although came close
a couple times. They did make the standards more difficult since after 2013, doing
Boston became even more attractive for many marathoners.
In 2009 I did my first hundred finished the same race in 4 consecutive years.
Since there was a special recognition for 5 finishes, I really wanted that 5th
finish but DNF'd 4 times before finally getting it in 2019, a year in which the
finishing rate dipped to 48% from the usual 70% because of daytime temps
in the mid to high 90s. I finished DFL (dead freakin last) with less than 6
minutes to spare under the 30 hour time limit, one of my most satisfying races.
Also during those years between my 4th and 5th finish at VT100, I had
a heart issued diagnosed (brachycardia) and had a pacemaker installed.
It made a huge difference in my running. I had a great electrophysiologist
who understood me as a runner and chose a pacemaker that best
suited my needs.
I was supposed to 'run' the VT100 (km option) a few weeks ago. The flooding
in Vermont caused the race to be cancelled. I was offered the option of
transferring my entry to the VT50 which has a 50 km option with a 10.5
hour time limit. I'm going to try that. It's in the mountains and includes
an eff-ton of vertical (just like the hundred miler).
I'd have to admit that I no longer have nearly the same passion for running
I once did. I think part of that is simply how much pride I took in my running
when I was somewhat decent at it. Earlier this year I did my first race since
hip replacement, a half marathon with a 3 hour time limit. I finished in
3:16 so an UNofficial finish. I later thought to myself, wow, in my heyday
between 1999-2003, I ran a FULL marathon in 3:16 or less 3 times. That's
now ancient history.
But as I said, I often walk, typically after dinner, a distance of 4.5 - 5 miles
at a 17-19 min pace (mostly level ground) and sometimes throw in a little
running 1-1.5 miles at the end. I'm generally healthy and very grateful for
that.
I currently have 2 running friends battling cancer, one a little older than me
and one a little younger than me. There is little rhyme or reason why they
should be stricken and I'm not. I fear for them. They are both guys I have
great admiration for. It reminds me every day is a gift. One of the friends
recently announced that following a surgery and accompanied by wife
and adult children had a 'challenging' visit with his doctor/surgeon. He
was vague about what that means. Like I said, I fear for them.
Here is a song with lyrics I try to live by, written by Jesse Winchester
while he was dying of cancer entitled All That We Have is Now
