I’ve been training for my first 10 k for ages, running three times a week for the last 8 weeks.
This week I planned to take it easy and rest before. I did the local parkrun on Saturday, not my fastest or slowest but felt good. Did my usual stretches… all fine.
Had an uneventful day out with the family on Sunday, pub lunch, chores etc. Nothing to report.
This morning I wake up with the loose plan of my 15 min run. But my knee is weirdly stiff. Not just waking-up-on-a-Monday stiff, but significant and making me hobble.
I obviously passed on the run and took it easy, thought a short walk to the shops may help, nope. It’s been stiff and painful all day. I can’t think what’s brought it on. I was fine after my run on Saturday and didn’t do anything since.
I’ve not had anything like this before and as much as I am desperate to not say it, it feels not minor. I can’t believe after all my work i may not be able to run on Sunday.
Im so gutted 😞
Written by
ReyC
Graduate10
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Ouch. Sorry for your disappointment. I'm not a doctor, but it sounds like it could be your meniscus, especially the part about not noticing anything, until the stiffness and pain comes later. In that case you can still walk, but not run. Do take care not to make it worse, and please see a doctor.
Oh no! What rubbish news. If your position, I’d try and find a local physio appointment (ideally with someone who works with runners). I managed to get one the following day after I had an injury. That was paying privately though and cost me £75. It was worth it to find out what the problem was and get a plan. They can take a really good look at your knee and tell you whether it’s sensible or not to run on Sunday. You don’t want to be out for ages by pushing through and making it worse. Your GP would be another option but might take longer to get an appointment.
I had to pull out of the Great North Run with lwss than two weeks to go so I know how utterly rotten it is to be faced with not being able to run. Try and get some expert advice and go from there. There’ll be another event and none of that training is wasted-you’re still fitter and stronger because of it. It just might not be your time this time round. Sending masses of sympathy your way ❤️❤️❤️
🍏Oh ReyC how awful to happen at this point and bitterly disappointing after all your hard work! However your gut instinct not to run with pain, is absolutely right! Good advice already given here, but I do feel for you and hope it gets sorted quickly! Let us know!
Ouch... take the advice from MissUnderstanding , if you are able... a diagnosis as a starting point is going to be so useful!
It does need an expert to say what is happening! Hopefully it will be resolved and even if that race has to be put on hold, you won't be causing any more damage by running!
Can sympathise with you. Knee pain can disrupt your life for months - I'm near recovery from a meniscus tear after 3 months. Best thing is to get it looked at asap and let the doc/physio tell you the next step. Don't do any more until then. It's unfortunate but you will get over it and run again another day.
General advice to everybody, based on personal experience:
1, If for some reason you like to run down a rugged path, by all means have fun. As long you are in good shape and it's all just for fun, and you don't get your foot stuck between a root and a rock.
2. If you forgot your contacts at home, y all means don't play badminton or squash with glasses. Especially not if your sight is worse than -2.5.
3. Don't play recklessly in the schoolyard after adding four inches to your height too fast.
And don't hope for it to be over. If it feels weirdly stiff after rezting it's not in your head. I promise.
Like everyone else has said, get proper medical advice.
When I've had any sort of running injury the advice seems to be Rest -Ice-Compression-Elevation and painkillers.
So make sure you take it easy. Use an ice pack, Get a support/compression bandage for your knee. When you're sitting raise your affected leg. Paracetamol will help with the pain, especially before bedtime as if you aren't in pain you'll sleep better (proviso, I'm not a doctor and obviously not everyone can take painkillers).
Good luck and I hope you feel better very soon. Oh, and as has already been said, a good physio can work miracles. You will run that 10k, and if it isn't this week there will be another time.
My C25K graduation run in August 2020 ended with me giving myself an ankle sprain.
I made the mistake towards the end of December 2020 of trying to re-do the graduation run route, and to try to beat that time (I'd originally done a few seconds over 30 minutes).
No ankle problems then, but it was too much for my right knee. No problem on the day, but two days later I tried to do a normal pace 8km, and my knee really didn't like it. No running at all during the following week as the knee joint had swollen.
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