Eeek - sore knees

[Miss_slinky]

So I did week 3, run 1 today and I’m not going to lie from the minute my first foot thudded down on pavement on the first jog - my knees hurt - in a really weird place - the inside of the side of both knees. I also got chest pain in left hand side of chest which I deemed not bad enough to be considered to be a heart attack and carried on...

Now I did put on a decent amount of weight (aka too much!) when pregnant- so it could just be that my body is creaking?! Did anyone else have similar after starting and any tips??

Bar that I was just annoyed that I ran for longer periods and was marginally slower than last time and seemed to cover slightly less ground but I put it down to knee problem?!

At the end of the day I’ll get there - I will and I’m damn gonna do this...! 😂

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Not sure about the knees but certainly forget about comparing speeds, just get through each run on its own merit.

Of course you'll do it, I'm in no doubt! 💪👍🌟

[Miss_slinky Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thank you 😊

[Seasidepanda Graduate]

I got new trainers (proper running ones) and my knees hurt loads less. Do you have decent ones?

[Miss_slinky Graduate in reply to Seasidepanda]

Yeah I have the comfiest Saucony trainers which are brand new - my bf bought them for me recently - so I doubt it is them?!

[CatMo13 Graduate]

Hormones after having a baby played havoc with my hip and knee joints, maybe it’s something similar? How do the knees feel now ? Looks like you are a really experienced runner from your bio, so I’m sure you had warmed up etc?

[Miss_slinky Graduate in reply to CatMo13]

Warm up wise I’ve only ever done the five minute walk and sometimes if it’s freezing cold a bit more joint mobility stuff. Knees feel ok now - I did lots of stretching after. It’s just hard to know!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

I shudder at your description of your foot thudding onto the pavement.........try to land as lightly as possible, with your footfall under your body, not out in front and avoid heelstriking.

Have you read the guide to the plan ?healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

You may be wise to slow down to avoid impact, or run on grass.

Proper running shoes fitted after a gait analysis done at a specialist running shop may help avoid this problem.

Well done for finishing.

[Miss_slinky Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I’m going to be honest that description was more for dramatic effect, although I do feel a bit like a little elephant running at the moment due to the weight I’ve put on.

I have a pair of Saucony trainers which are new and my feet are super comfortable. I think it’s just my weight that is causing knees to be sore - my body needs to adjust to running again with more pressure and strain on joints due to this?

Avoid heel striking - what part of your foot is meant to land first?

I’ve never been a technical or fast runner but my nimble suits me - as long as it isn’t sore!

[Miss_slinky Graduate in reply to Miss_slinky]

My *bimble* even

[JoP61 Graduate]

I had similar knee pain - on the inside of the knees - during Week 3, and decided to take a week off as the pain didn't go away after 1-2 days. That seemed like a good decision for me anyway, as I've been running pain free since.

I'm not worrying about speed and distances at the moment - just trying to complete each run!

Good luck with the running - I'm sure you can do it!

[Miss_slinky Graduate in reply to JoP61]

That’s interesting - I don’t think I had this the first time around - I may need to delay a run, we’ll see - as otherwise there will be no rest day between first and second run this week. I kind of have to take the times I can get with an exceptionally busy partner and 4 month old baby!

Did the pain go away after that week off entirely?

[JoP61 Graduate in reply to Miss_slinky]

I had some pain after W3R1 but still persisted with W3R2 - this was probably my mistake, because the pain worsened after that and I also had stiff shins. After a week off, during which I did some knee strengthening exercises, the pain had completely gone. So far (touch wood) it hasn't returned.

[Lulu64]

Be careful my partner started the c25k and had the same on the inside of his knees - he carried on and long story short ended up being signed off work for 5 weeks...barely able to walk the first 3 weeks of it....doctor days *if* he tries again in the future to run on soft surface. He has decided to stick with cycling

[Miss_slinky Graduate in reply to Lulu64]

Oh bloody hell - the couch sounds a better option reading that. Do you know what it was? Hope your partner is ok?

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

The word, thud, gives it away.... try to land lightly.. even with a little excess luggage this can be done Kissing the ground with your feet I call it

Slow down, relax and just go gently As fir how to run... just run..however feels right for you

You are doing just fine

[Miss_slinky Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Being a bit dramatic with my wording - I’m not that bad lol - I need to remember people don’t know my sense of humour 😂 but I’ll try and keep it light!

[Boreal18 Graduate]

I have had different niggling pains. First was the right hip, then shins, then calves getting really tight. They have disappeared as weeks have gone by so it was probably my body saying, "are you trying to kill me or what". They weren't really painful or constant so I carried through, but as the experts in here told me. Listen to your body and you'll get the answer you need.

Hope everything goes well.

[Miss_slinky Graduate in reply to Boreal18]

Thanks - I shall listen to my body! I think it’s just having a moan at me to be fair - it’s not used to this level of exercise anymore as I was firmly on couch at end of pregnancy and last few months! I’ll get there if I listen to body!

[davelinks Graduate]

Did you have a gait analysis for the new trainers? if not, they may be totally unsuitable for you.

Forget about how much ground your covering just go by the time to cover on c25k, nothing else! and maybe slow down, if your very over weight there's a heck of a lot of force going through the legs and knee's! remember slow and steady gets you there, it's not a race!

if you try and carry on the way you are there's a good chance you'll end up on the injury couch, you're already part way there! never try and run through bad pain, restup, and hopefully the pain in the knees will subside in the days ahead..😊