I guess I'm not a noob, anymore.

[zoom-zoom]

I tell all my runner friends that get discomfort or even worse, injury from running, "many runners turn to cyclists"

It is very true! And, while I love running...I'm not particularly good at it. If I were to ever becoming injured to the point of never again being able to run I'd be OK with it. I'd still be bummed, but not as bummed as I'd be if the situation were reversed and I could never again bike. So my primary sport has definitely shifted.

[zoom-zoom]

That's probably true - but my fear is that I am so competitive that I'd do something to hurt myself and then ignore it in order to finish and end up very badly injured.

Ha...kinda like me with the grade 2 sprain in the trail relay. Though I would have dropped out had I not been part of a team...I took one for the team, literally.