W3R1 due tomorrow.

[Mollie29]

Hi all , advice please !

Tomorrow I'm due to do w3 R1 , I still have discomfort / pain on the inside of my knees.

Do I just grit my teeth and carry on or do I wait longer ? This is my 2 nd rest day. I am doing knee strengthening exercises too .

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Don't run in pain. Mild discomfort or aches is one thing, but pain is telling you to stop. If this is a recurring problem, then something needs addressing, either your shoes, your running style or some biomechanical issue, which may need medical intervention.

The guide to the plan healthunlocked.com/couchto5... may give you some pointers

Be patient, you will overcome this.

[Mollie29 in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you IannodaTruffe , I have read the guide and links.

It's difficult to know what is 'discomfort' or 'aches' as opposed to 'pain' !

I think my use of 'pain' was probably a bit strong !!! I think it's more of a niggling ache ,like muscles that haven't been used in a while 😀

Shouldn't I expect some as a new runner ?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Mollie29]

Anybody starting an exercise regime that they are not used to is going to get aches for a few weeks, until your body adapts. For me, most of my aches disappeared after about W5, but I still get them if I step up my regime. That is why slow and steady works, giving the body time to adapt.

[Mollie29 in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you , I asked for advice and I'm going to act on it !

[Millsie-J Graduate]

As IannodaTruffe says rest up. Knees need taking care of.

[Mollie29]

Thank you ! Not really what I wanted to hear 😢 I'll wait until they have recovered and then maybe take it more slowly.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Mollie29]

Slow and steady is the only way....

[Elfe5 Graduate]

I had aches on the inside of my knees( & slightly below) in the first few weeks. I went for gait analysis and got proper running shoes and it just gradually went away. I think it had cleared up by about W5. Like you I wasn't sure what was "pain" or the "aches" of being a beginner doing unaccustomed exercise. I tried the run very slowly and gently and discovered that it didn't make the aches any worse so I kept going.

If you have not had a gait analysis and bought running shoes that are right for you I would definitely do that. Shoes were the only piece of kit I "splashed out" on - so my new running shoes just had to put up with being worn along with ancient joggers and T-shirt! 😃

[Mollie29]

Thank you for your reply Elfe5 ...that is really reassuring 😀

Maybe I'll try the 'slow gentle' route tomorrow 😬

I plan on new shoes when we get home in a couple of weeks . We are in Portugal at present so I'll have to manage with my sketchers until then .

Thank you again xx

[Elfe5 Graduate in reply to Mollie29]

You are welcome. I think part of the reason that I tried running gently was, for me, I realised the pain was not the knee joint itself, but where the muscles attach just below the inner knee. Obviously I have no way of knowing whether your aches and pains are the same as mine or something else. I certainly would not run with pain in the knee joint because as others have said knees need to be looked after. ( e.g I had a sore knee joint for a few days after too much cycling uphill - I certainly didn't run on that!) Also I would not have continued if the pain got worse.

Good luck- and yes, get that gait analysis as soon as you can. 😄

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Mollie29]

Rest up... one extra day will not harm

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Rest up a tad more..if exercises are not relieving the pain..then a few more days will be useful

IannodaTruffe has given you great advice