how to alleviate a stiff knee?

[Penguinrun]

so I'm pleased and proud with the progress I've made - I'm actually running for 30 mins and it feels good. I've completed the C25K and I will keep running. I feel good and am enjoying the running, I do the warm up walk/cool down walk, and stretch after. However, after the last few runs my left knee is really stiff, not painful, but stiff at the back of the knee. So when I get up from sitting it's really stiff and takes a few "bends" to get going. As I said, it's not painful, just really stiff and I wondered if anyone has any tips for what to do? It doesn't hurt/ache when I run, just feels stiff until warmed up.

Much appreciated

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

What happens if you do ten squats a couple of times each day?

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

Do you do any warm up stretches (dynamic stretches, not the held stretches that you do for cooldown - like leg swings, forward and back, and side to side). They get you warmed up much better than just the walk.

[nowster Graduate]

Part of my warm up routine is to do ten slow squats with feet well apart, taking time to go down and as much time going up, but not holding at the bottom. I then do half a dozen leg swings on each leg.

I do it to loosen up the hamstrings and glutes from sitting at a desk all day. It may also help the joints.