So gutted: So gutted that after completing week... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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So gutted

Nanasueby profile image
29 Replies

So gutted that after completing week 7 run 2 my knee has now become so painful I can't continue. I'm due to run tomorrow but there's no way I'll manage it. I'm using a compression support and icing it but it seems to be getting worse! Should I just take a week's rest then continue if I can with wk 7 run 3 if I can or should I rest it and go back a bit in the programme? I've just ordered new running trainers and another knee brace. I love this new hobby and would be devastated to have to give it up. How long will it take to recover from this flipping knee injury? Xx

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Nanasueby profile image
Nanasueby
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29 Replies

Omg I’ve just literally written the same thing! I had completed week 7 run3 and am suffering with a painful knee. I’m totally gutted too! I haven’t run for almost a week now and have a horrible feeling it’s going to take a lot longer to recover. I’ve decided to wait until my knee is recovered, how ever long it takes and then start week 6 again to see how I go! Could be a while though ☹️

Nanasueby profile image
Nanasueby in reply to

I feel for you. Let's hope we can recover as quickly as possible and get back out there. Let's keep in touch on here and commiserate with each other xx

Granspeed profile image
GranspeedGraduate

Can’t help with advice, but so sad for you. 😢. Lots of sympathy, if no real help. Do get professional advice, though, if it doesn’t clear up. Treasure your knees is my new mantra.

Nanasueby profile image
Nanasueby in reply to Granspeed

Yes, I'll see my doctor next week for advice if no better. Thanks for your kind words xx

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

You need to rest and the duration of that will be dependent on how long it takes the pain to subside. Then you can see what you can manage and work out whether you need to go back or not.

I hope that you are not just buying shoes on a potluck basis. You have issues, so you need to get running shoes suited to your gait and the only sure way to do that is to have a gait analysis done at a specialist running shop, otherwise your new shoes may actually aggravate the situation. It is explained in this guide healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Take care and follow the advice in the guide to the plan on injury.

Nanasueby profile image
Nanasueby in reply to IannodaTruffe

Thank you. I ordered the shoes after gait analysis before the knee problem but they haven't come yet! Hope I can get over this and be back out there soon because I love it x

Zaza0309 profile image
Zaza0309Graduate in reply to Nanasueby

I have been where you are now. I picked up an injury at the start of Jan and have had several failed come back attempts. Have finally learnt that resting is essential and takes as long as it takes. Still keeping active and am now managing short runs - we will get back on track I’m sure.

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate

Just rest until you have no pain then you can start where you left off , maybe a trip to the doctor for you if it's not getting better 😊

SlowLoris profile image
SlowLoris

You can't run through pain. You need to rest. A knee brace is not always the answer and in some cases can aggravate things so I would see a doctor before you start to self treat.

ButtercupKid profile image
ButtercupKidGraduate

Definitely see a medic. Once you have a clear verdict of what’s wrong it’ll be much easier to make sensible plans. Get well soon x

Nanasueby profile image
Nanasueby in reply to ButtercupKid

Thank you x

Looray profile image
Looray

Exact same spot of the c25k with sore knees myself. No injury or swelling, just doms so I'll treat it with sitting in ice-cold water for 10 minutes when I get back.

If you've not tried submerging your knee in ice-cold water I would, because the relief afterwards is heaven sent. If you have an injury which makes walking or running painful; see a doctor.

Good luck!

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate

I'm so sorry to hear of your injury. I'm on the IC too having started with Achilles pain after W7R3. I'm lucky enough to have access to a sports injury clinic and would absolutely advocate some professional advice. Not only were they able to tell me what was wrong, they've given me specific exercises to do to strengthen the area so this doesn't happen again. I've had a week's rest, which has really helped, and their advice was to cut back to the point where the length of run is short enough not to aggravate the muscle and then slowly build up from there.

But your injury is different so I dosn't know whether you will do more damage if you carry on. The advice is always not to run through pain.

Keep in touch and let us know how you get on.

Runningroni profile image
RunningroniGraduate in reply to Pianism

I hope you are recovered for Baddie' s run. I read his post about being under par. Then found your post.

Wishing you both speedy recoveries, for entirely selfish reasons. Don't want to be trotting around Cheshire on my todd

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Runningroni

Think I'll be OK by then... substantially better already, though not quite 100%. I can always tail-walk! :)

Runningroni profile image
RunningroniGraduate in reply to Pianism

Looking forward to meeting and shuffling along with you. Glad you are on the mend.

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Runningroni

Have just done 20 calf lifts and 20 eccentric drops without pain (though I can feel the sore spots). Definitely on the mend so will begin to very gently reintroduce some running this week. Just realised I'm on a team night put the night before the 23rd so I may be quite fragile in any case! :)

SianyK profile image
SianyKGraduate

I was in a similar place just before Xmas when I was due to complete wk 10 run 3. The only advice I can give is to rest. I ended up not running for nearly 6 weeks but now I’m back it’s been fine. Time and rest sometimes is the only way so you don’t cause more damage. Hope you’re running pain free again soon 😉

Jell6 profile image
Jell6Graduate

Definitely rest until the pain has gone.

If you have not yet run in the correct shoes for you, I will say that my sports physio suggested short runs in the new trainers, to allow adaptation to the new, corrected running position.

Slowly build up to it.

But I am with SlowLoris, why do you wear a knee brace?

Good luck, I'm sure you will get back to it soon, it just takes time 😊

Moon26 profile image
Moon26Graduate

The exact same thing happened to me too just before Christmas ! My knee was so painful I could barely walk never mind run! I felt I was probably just too old for this running lark! I did rest it for 4 weeks and then ( and this was the hard bit!) I went back to week 3! I also started doing warm up and cool down exercises that I found on youTube every time I ran. I think the consolidation has probably strengthened my unaccostumed-to-exercise limbs and i have remained injury free. I 'graduated' on Thursday. The good advice on this forum, although not always easy to follow, got me through and does work! Do not give up! You've done brilliantly to get this far and you can do it! 💪🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Nanasueby profile image
Nanasueby in reply to Moon26

Thank you for your encouraging words and congratulations on graduating. I'll take the advice given in here and rest. I will hopefully get there eventually! 😀

in reply to Moon26

You are lucky to have got so far before mishap. My knee went after W1 three times! Have spent more time resting than running. However, same as you, have discovered pre and post run plus knee strengthening exercises. This Nanny is determined not to be beaten. And ditto, comments and advice on this forum very helpful and encouraging.

Me too! Couldn't start week 8 and have been "off the road" for a couple of weeks - really hard to walk or even sit still without the knee "locking" and then being really painful to get going again. The doc thinks my running may have to stop as it might be a cartilage problem. I'm resting and taking ibuprofen and will see how things stand at the end of the month - I do want to try running again, but maybe with a better warm up routine.

RacingGreenBoy profile image
RacingGreenBoyGraduate

When you do get your new gait analysed trainers I was advised to wear them around the house for a while before I went running in them.

MediaMum profile image
MediaMum

Take time off to rest! I got to the magical end of week 9 then pulled a muscle while out running. Had to call my husband to come pick me up! I was upset and thought I would undo all the hard work I’d put in. I didn’t run for 5 weeks then went out and ran 2 miles straight off and a week later did 3 miles - and I’m a 57 year old female office worker who sits down all day. It’s surprising how much fitness you retain so try to suck it up and rest properly for a few weeks. It’ll be worth it in the end!

Nanasueby profile image
Nanasueby in reply to MediaMum

Thanks that's so encouraging 😀

gcoulter profile image
gcoulter

You might find this article interesting, it's not about your injury but how rest and recovery can actually help your fitness.

realbuzz.com/articles-inter...

Granspeed profile image
GranspeedGraduate in reply to gcoulter

This is a neat encapsulation of the reasons behind the rest days, as well as pointing to injury recovery. Thanks for the pointer. 😄

matty312 profile image
matty312

I have knee pain sometimes, I find 72hr break in between runs rather than an 48hr helped. Also not running on tarmac as that can be tough on your knees and ankles. But deffinatly take as much time off as you need. You can always start again but if you damage yourself you will be off alot longer. Good luck.

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