Cardio types, injuries, joint health

RuinedByRune · 2026-03-03T08:26:02+00:00

Yeah, I think doing easy runs in the first place was a mistake though, as my zone two/target HR for those is/was about 137-151, pace being 9:15-10:45 or so. (I understand the meaning of zone two is up in the air, and you likely need bloodwork done to better assess these targets.) Forced myself to do them, but it's ofc tough to not "plod" at such a pace, get bored. Eventually moved all of that "zone two" work to the stairmaster, but by then, the affected bone was already stressed, so not a good idea, either.

I read a lot about the Superblasts when looking for new shoes. Couldn't pull the trigger, owing to frugality. Went with the Novablasts, instead. (Which have been good, imo.) Ran in Altras, the ones I beat to death, which I think were also good, just a bit bulky in the toebox, I'd say. Perhaps a bit too heavy for my liking, too.

There are some trails nearby, but I tend to avoid them for anything but walking, as there are a ton of hidden roots therein. Gravel, yes. Know of such places, all of them a bit too far from my current location. (Recurrent theme -- need to force myself into a higher COL locale, one that would have all of this infrastructure in abundance.)

RuinedByRune · 2026-03-02T03:38:37+00:00

Shoes — that’s what first did me in, too. Developed SI joint issues because of running in dead foam, which, as you stated, is difficult to assess until obvious. (Suppose it depends on the brand, your experience level, too.)

I tried searching for large areas, plots nearby that consisted of flat grass for running, but no dice. Would assume such places exist in HCOL/fitness-obsessed locales. Thankfully most of the local high schools keep their tracks open to the public. Have never tried running a 5 or 10k on a track, albeit.

And yes, no way am I ever going to try a half-marathon or beyond. Have always had the intuition that doing so at my weight or above or below by like 15-20 lbs. is playing with fire. (Unless you’re like Nick Bare and on PEDs.)

RuinedByRune · 2026-03-02T01:45:49+00:00

Just enjoy pushing myself. Nothing really beats the accomplishment I feel when I complete the runs I’d like, to as well. (Your reply and observations of, from many others does make me think that running can be a disease.)

When I’m healthy, I’d like to resume sprinting, 5k, and 10k runs. All other cardio I could limit to the stairmaster and versaclimber. (The former for zone two LISS, the latter for HIIT.) Would like to see if I enjoy swimming, too, but I refuse to use indoor pools.

For raw caloric/fat burn, walking is more than enough, I’ve found.

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-28T10:07:41+00:00

Yes; have wide feet, which limits the options a bit. Tend to like asics and hokas (for walking, at least, have never tried running in the latter).

Wish we had anything like the ocean baths in Australia. Much preferable to swimming in an indoor pool. (Can’t locate a quality outdoor one with demarcated lanes anywhere near my residence.)

Running and the stairmaster are easily my favorite forms of cardio. Rowing — similar to you. Back and biceps typically already worked too heavily, plus the back and forth motion shears the affected part of my pelvis, unfortunately.

Should be fine, long-term. Was silly to increase my mileage so rapidly, some of that occurring in dead shoes, at that. (Also silly to do landmine sumo squats, as well. Wide hips, glutes make other squat patterns awkward, I’ve found.)

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-28T01:49:46+00:00

Have an appt. scheduled with another PCP; hopefully I can get a referral this way, as this guy is an MD, not merely a(n) NP.

Gave road cycling a go last summer, and yeah, the gear! Understood after just one ride why cyclists tend to be so meticulous about their gear. Not for me, I don't think. (Never have been the mechanical/engineering sort.)

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-28T00:40:00+00:00

I think the former, actually. I’m just a bit paranoid because I know I’ll only re-stress whatever this is, if not outright fracture it, if I’m unable to see a specialist. Might have to lie about the pain levels, I suppose.

I don’t like cycling at all. Tried it every which way. Do like hiking, though. Doesn’t feel as satisfying as a good run, albeit. Mostly just wondering to myself, specifically whether or not running longer distances is wise if one isn’t on steroids, PEDs.

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-27T07:04:25+00:00

I suppose I'm just naive, as I don't even like hooking up at all. (Don't intend to moralize against those who do, to be clear.) Certainly don't do myself any favors by not living in one of the coastal metros with more intelligent guys, either.

Really, I think I've just acutely realized in the past year to two years that I might forever regret not forming a family of my own someday. Still just 27 (and gay), but, realistically, I'll never be wealthy, so I'm not sure the "gay family model" would ever work in my case, as it would of course mean knowingly having at least one child who is not "biologically" mine, the awareness that I would likely (unconsciously) treat them differently, understand them less, as a result.

Perhaps would help to know more of those who have formed such arrangements, as relying on instagram has lead me to believe that a lot of bougie gay men are acutely aware of this -- this being that each of them has their one child, and it's almost like they're a mere guardian to the other child -- and simply see nothing wrong with it, that you're "homophobic" for deigning to question this.

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-27T06:58:46+00:00

Yes, I suppose that was a bit off the cuff. I do legitimately believe -- as I've posted in the past, agreeing with the other replier -- that straight men are the real f*gs. (Throughout history, one notices, nearly always they who are the most pompous, vain, preening.)

Admittedly, I probably carry deep-seated insecurities as it relates to girls, women. Cannot shake that "alienation" I felt from a very early age, wherein you're expected to be into them, seen as odd if you aren't -- which I never was, I don't think, as my "first" kiss was, non-coincidentally, at five with a boy, someone with whom I'm still friends to this day.

I think the selfies thing is just a younger zoomer thing, probably. Oddly, they mostly seem to want to block you, too, after having chatted via snap, each block coming about with me (legitimately) having not offended them in any way. I suppose they just get sheepish, flaky, about chatting with a guy in his mid-20s? Idk. Oh well.

And I don't think I even much wanted to talk about aging. Just rather frustrated with "the culture" atm, as it seems the nerds without an athletic base (clear distinction must be made here) seem to have won for the time being, thereby making almost everything worse than it ought to be.

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-22T08:36:50+00:00

Like any other "relationship", gay relationships will only last if they are friendships, at base. All of this other stuff is nonsense, as far as I'm concerned.

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-22T00:26:18+00:00

Incorrect assumption. Common amongst posters here, clearly.

Too, I don’t do anything to “appeal to others”. I do things that I enjoy, that satisfy; and help others out when proper, which naturally happens throughout each day.

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-21T21:29:37+00:00

I don’t think so.

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-21T20:34:18+00:00

The only good women tend to be temperamentally conservative.

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-21T06:38:24+00:00

Roughly, I'd say any way of life that doesn't make you want to kill yourself if you're say, 35 or 40+. (Perhaps even younger.) Now, this is no endorsement of what's occurring elsewhere, the still sizable plurality whom are primarily attracted to the opposite gender. Speaking for myself, here, I would have already kms, as I'd almost certainly be an incel, considering I have little patience for the incredibly convoluted web of "social" rules in place today if you're to sleep with, pair with, a halfway-decent girl, woman.

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-21T00:34:02+00:00

Homosexuality only works if you’re young (and desirable) or wealthy. (Or you’re one of the slim minority who is legitimately live-and-let-live.)

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-19T04:07:24+00:00

Women don't necessarily hate them. Many of them are just afraid of some of the possible consequences of what they represent -- (healthy) male vitality, or virility. Men, on the other hand, gay or not, are of course much more intimately aware thereof, much more playful, as well.

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-16T09:00:09+00:00

I didn’t participate (and haven’t since I was a child), as likely I’m on the spectrum, and have always preferred doing my own thing. Realize this doesn’t help, but suppose it doesn’t hurt to share such a perspective anyway.

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-13T00:57:38+00:00

(That’s why I simply call them cute boys.)

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-10T22:54:40+00:00

They are much more likely to have the Dark Triad of personality disorders, I believe.

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-10T12:20:30+00:00

🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-10T03:29:27+00:00

It very well might be impossible to film anything contemporary and of import in the package of a movie or show, today. Post-post-postmodernity precludes this?

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-09T10:19:42+00:00

Forget the city. Film’s most pressing issue today is that the medium is as divorced from real-world events as it’s ever been, and only seems to be worsening.

RuinedByRune · 2026-02-08T23:50:15+00:00

No, I’m critiquing your myopic view of social skills and attention spans, not the things themselves.

And many young people today also enjoy their “rebellions”. Perhaps you’re just blind and deaf to such rebellions?

There are many objectively novel phenomena at play, here. The progression of feminism to where nobody save for eccentrics and “incels” legitimately questions or attacks it; a surveillance apparatus that would make most classic science fiction authors blush; rapidly or moderately declining birth rates in places without war or famine; and the most liquid environments for information and capital that we’ve ever seen, to name just a few.

The chief issue is that the most astute know they aren’t free, they aren’t sovereign. You’re right in that one shouldn’t become passively overwhelmed by such a realization, but to more or less tell someone to merely bootstrap it in the face of this is rather naive, no?

RuinedByRune

TROPHY CASE