How to handle it when you’re forced to quit an important hobby in your life

The doctor looked at the X-ray of my knee and just said, “Holy smokes.”

Uh oh.

My intermittent knee pain had become more of an everyday thing and those two words spelled the end to my illustrious running career.

Forever.

And they sent me on a quest to find the perfect exercise to fill the running-shaped hole in the my life, which is a lot harder than I expected.

It’s been a big change for me. Take a look at these numbers:

– 162.6: The number of miles I ran in September 2015

– 0: The number of miles for this September

– 7: The number of pairs of running shoes I have

– 5: The number of races I was signed up for this summer and fall but will not run, including the Charlotte Marathon in November

– 5: The number of pounds I’ve gained since quitting running (Yikes)

I considered going the typical runner’s route and just running anyway, against the doctor’s recommendation.

I’ve gotten over this knee pain before. It stems from an old football injury. I damaged the cartilage while spectating at my high school football team’s playoff game at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Texas. (Hey, if you’re going to get injured, it might as well be on a big stage.) Occasionally, the injury crops up but eventually goes away.

And it takes a lot to curb a runner. We — oh wait — They run in rain, mud, hurricanes, snow, heat, humidity, you name it. And runners know pain is just part of the sport.

But that was just the bargaining stage of grief. The idea that I should just run anyway inevitably comes when I’m sitting down. Then I stand up, can’t extend my leg and have to limp to the other room.

(That arthritis limp makes me want to grow a long, white beard and park myself on a front porch somewhere to complain about the kids these days and predict the weather from the twinge in my joints.)

Pushing through the pain would lead to knee replacement surgery, sooner rather than later, the doctor warned. I decided the glory of coming in 900th at a race probably isn’t actually worth it.

Instead, I need to replace running. That meant traversing the rest of the stages of grief, in addition to bargaining, after the death of my hobby.

Denial: “The doctor is wrong.” Nope.

Anger: “Why is this happening now? It never bothered me before.” It’s fun lying to myself. This same knee ruined my only two marathons.

Depression: “What will I do without running?” Apparently eat. See the numbers above.

Acceptance: “OK, let’s find something to replace running.” Cue the exercise montage.

When replacing an important hobby in your life, it’s important to try a bunch of new things and keep an open mind.

The doctor suggested swimming, biking, the elliptical machine or yoga.

I’ve not tried swimming yet, but it doesn’t sound appealing.

A friend (who is a legit Ironman) offered to help me pick out a bike, but I prefer my guts on the inside. Ridin’ bikes in Charlotte is mad dangerous, y’all. (Editor’s note from Corey: I don’t think it’s mad dangerous, as long as you’re smart about it. Trust me — I rode my bike 12 miles to and from work for a week.)

The elliptical machine is knee-friendly and we even have one INSIDE THE HOUSE. But did you know elliptical is Latin for “bo-RING?” I’ve also heard it translated as “the worst way to spend a half hour ever.”

My husband suggested I make up the next big exercise craze. Shut up, husband.

Didja hear that? It’s the sound of my open mind slamming shut.

That leaves yoga, which I’ve used as a supplement to my running for years. Now that I’m not running, I’ve been tackling more complicated arm balances and other poses I’ve never gotten before. I’ve even had some success.

But most devotees will tell you, yoga is more than just poses and exercises. There’s a whole lifestyle component that comes with it that makes this Baptist roll her eyes. I’m just here to sweat, thank you.

Clearly, I’ve not yet found the right thing to replace the important hobby in my life.

Instead, I’m using a mix of exercises and still searching for the perfect thing. (Suggestions welcome.) Right now I’m living on the outskirts of the running community. I’ve gotten to a place where I can ask my friends how they did in those races I signed up for but can’t run.

As for the upcoming Charlotte Marathon, for which I was named an ambassador this spring and was planning to run, I’ll be out there leading a cheering station.

I’m sure that’ll be just as good.

Thinking about running any races of the Charlotte Marathon? Enter her ambassador code, LIZFOS, when you sign up. The ambassador who gets the most people to sign up with their code gets $1,000 to donate to charity.

This story was originally published August 31, 2016 at 12:02 AM with the headline "How to handle it when you’re forced to quit an important hobby in your life."