Very sore knees!

[Bri2792]

I have just started C25k and I must have pushed myself to hard because now my knees are really achey, I have two little ones that need running around after so resting isn't much of an option until about 8.30pm anyone have any tips tips? I'm scared I'm going to lose motivation by taking a week or two off. TIA Brianna

[Steve_L Graduate]

For the first few weeks you will get aches and pains, but it will ease off. Give yourself that rest day (not sitting with feet up, just not running!) and see how you feel. Unless you're actually in pain, carry on!

Well done for starting this - it was a great decision, and I hope you enjoy it half as much as me!

[gary_bart]

Muscular aches are OK. You'll soon get over most of those. Joint aches, you need to watch a bit more closely. You can help out your joints by developing muscle (actually I'm beginning to think you Must do this) but if they stay sore or get worse, at some point sooner rather than later, you have to go and see a doctor about them.

Just from what you're saying in your post, it sounds a bit like your aches are muscular. If they go away before your next run, that's probably what they are. Maybe take it a bit easier next time, though? Those aching muscles are probably exactly the ones you need to be developing to keep those knee joints nice and safe. There's plenty of time to slowly develop them, and rather go slow by choice than being forced to by pushing when it's sensible to retreat.

The aches and pains we get, even, to begin with are maybe also part of that "rattling out the loose bolts" that running provides us with? So maybe you have knees that had a secret plot to wait for your 70th birthday to fail really catastrophically, and then hurt you enough to turn you into someone who can only talk about their pain for the next 30 years; and now you've caught the sneaky buggers out.

Some elderly people seem to be able to talk of nothing but their aches and pains, and everyone gets irritated with this eventually. But if you manage to get you a nice good proper ache or pain of your own, you realise that in spite of your efforts to think about other things, that ache or pain has a way of pushing itself into the forefront of your thoughts all the time. So maybe by afflicting us so, running can make us all more compassionate in the long run, and increase our willingness to suffer through listening to reports of pain. If pain gets bad enough, you ARE pain. That's all you are, just that pain. It must be terrible, and letting someone else know about it is about as close to getting relief as some sufferers can get. Next time Granny complains, just listen?

[Hidden]

Hi Bri, what are your trainers like? If they are old and worn they may be affecting your knees. Alternatively it could just be your body adjusting. Take a couple of rest days and if the pain eases, I'd say crack on. Good luck, let us know how you get on.

[fatbarry]

I was struggling with sore knees too. Two things seem to have made a difference.

1. really stretching quads after a run (in fact stretching them every day. The lower end of one/some? of quads attaches below the knee and if your quads are tight it just puts too much pressure on the kneecap and sets up an irritation.

2. Taking deliberately smaller strides. Seen several posts about why this is good but although it feels awkward at first it really does seem to help. Has the added bonus of slowing you down a bit too so that the runs are just that little bit less hard

Oh, and 3 - cod liver oil every day and protein shake & ibuprofen after every run! But that's more psychological I think!!

[Bri2792]

Thanks for your replies! My knees have finally got better after two weeks of barely being able to walk! Getting new trainers at the end of the month and knee strengthening exercises are a must I think! Gonna start again tonight and I'm really looking forward to it!