knee letting me down.

[Lifegoals83]

Hi hope your all well and enjoying your running experience. I've been stuck on week 8 but my knee has been causing me issues, have took the advice given on here ice, rest, gentle stretches anti inflammatorys. But yet when I start he run my left leg just feels tired after few. mins. I was on week 8 and loving the achievement but now only managing 5 minutes and getting breathless which I wasn't before. its so disheartening because not going for my daily run makes me feel like I'm slacking and glob to end up becoming lazy and not get back in to it. And I really don't want that to happen. I have been using knee support to but still knee gives away. Bending it is sore I know it needs rest but I'm afraid I'm rest or for 2 weeks start running and I'll be back to week 3 or 4 again. I'm a nurse so I know it's not needing urgent medical attention and just going to see a doctor to be told take painkillers etc is waste of their time. Any advice would be appreciated and words of encouragement.

Thank you for reading.

[linda9389 Graduate]

Very frustrating. In the end it is better to take a break now and let it heal properly. You will get further quicker if you invest some patience now. Take a look on the Strength & Flex forum for knee strengthening ideas and do those exercises. Strengthening your quads etc. will improve your running as well as protect your knee. I took 6 weeks off to let a knee problem heal and to strengthen weak quads and glutes. I haven't had an issue with my knee since. Yes I started C25K again, but that's over three years ago now so the 6 weeks I took off have repaid themselves many times over. it may not take you that long, but be honest with yourself. It really isn't the end of the world, even though I know it always feels like it!