I’m kind of at a loss and not sure what to do. My left knee is confusing me. About a month ago when it started hurting after a particularly jump-y, hard bootcamp class, any pain subsided within a few days of rest and I ran my half marathon a couple weekends ago pain-free. I honestly haven’t done much in the way of running since then (almost two weeks) except a couple shorter runs and one long run last weekend. It’s not that the pain is severe and causing me to limp, and it’s not always there. It occasionally hurts when I stand up if I’ve been sitting for a long time, or randomly throughout the day. I’d say 60% of the time there’s no pain. But it’s that 40% that has me pretty worried. I tried to think about things that have changed over the last month or two that could have caused this, and over Christmas there was a month-and-a-half-long period of time where I didn’t do any strength training. But after almost a year of strength training, I don’t think that too much muscle would be lost just in that time. I’ve given myself plenty of rest, I eat very healthy, I recover properly. I don’t eat meat (except seafood), but I make sure to get enough protein. I had blood tests last year and they came out stellar. This is why I’m confused. I’ve gained a little weight since I got married in June (about 6 pounds) and maybe that has something to do with it, but it’s not a huge amount. Maybe the muscles in my quads/glutes aren’t as strong as they should be and there was too much pressure on my knees. Maybe my form wasn’t perfect when I was doing all those jumping/burpee exercises over and over in bootcamp. Or maybe I’m just overthinking it.
I have the San Diego Half Marathon on March 9, that I really want to run. We have already gotten a hotel room downtown SD and my mom is going to drive down to watch me race. It’s still two and a half weeks away, and even after resting a week, I should still be able to do it. I’ll play it by ear, but I’m remaining hopeful.
I’m also supposed to be training for a damn marathon. These weeks are base-building weeks in my training plan and since I have a pretty good base built up, I hope it’ll be fine, but the more I don’t run, the more I know I shouldn’t push it and try to run my first full marathon (that my entire family has planned a trip to Ireland around… ugh).
Sometimes I honestly feel like crawling in a corner and crying; it’s just so frustrating to work hard and see yourself improving, only to have a setback. It’s okay though, I’m trying to stay positive and work on strengthening my leg muscles and glutes, ice, foam roll, stretch, etc.
My knee was feeling okay yesterday morning so I went out and tested out three slow miles. Sometimes I would feel the pain, sometimes I wouldn’t. Around mile two it pretty much went away completely. I did some stadium stairs at the local city college, with no pain going up, but with pain going down the stairs.
Not a bad place to do stadium stairs.
Other, Better News
I finally got a hair cut! I hadn’t cut it in a year, and it was definitely time. My hair stylist cut off a little more than I was expecting, but I’m so happy with it. All in all, there’s about 7-8 inches gone. It is thrilling to know that I can wear a tank top to run and not have the hair from my ponytail get caught in the FRONT of my armpits.
Before
After!
Short ponytail!
I also had a pretty exciting mail day the other day:
I ordered the Mizuno Wave Creation 15 and the Brooks Glycerin 11 to see which ones I liked better. Well, I tried on the Glycerin in size 10 at the local running store and they were too small so I ordered them in size 10.5, which is waaay too big. I had this problem with the Brooks Adrenalines in the past, which is unfortunate because I hear Brooks shoes are great. I wore the Mizunos yesterday and I really liked them. They fit perfectly, they are light, it’s a bonus they are cool-looking, and I am happy with them. I need to test them out more (whenever my knee feels better) to really get a feel for them, but I was happy after yesterday’s trial. Like I said in an earlier post, I’ve been told to get stability shoes for pronation the last few times I’ve gone to the running store, but I went on Friday and the lady working told me I tend to supinate and need neutral shoes. I’m hoping this is a breakthrough because I have never loved any pair of shoes I’ve worn in the past; each one has caused me problems.
Maybe, just maybe, a match made in heaven.
Has anyone had knee pain in the past and can offer up some advice? Thank you!
Lily Runs the World 
I had knee pain a few years ago that was cured by getting new shoes dedicated to helping my knee and a steadfast rehab routine of strengthening exercises. I had to wear shoes with more stability and a lot more cushion for a few months but after my knee had been pain-free for a couple months, I switched back without a problem.
It makes me feel much better to know that you overcame a knee injury! I’m hoping my strengthening exercises will do the trick too.
“I’m supposed to be training for a damn marathon” haha. I know it’s not really funny, I’m right there with you! It’s SOOO frustrating! I feel like everybody is injured! Your hair looks gorgeous! And I love the Wave Creations. I think switching to a less supportive shoe is what partially hurt me. But since they were a gift from my husband who was so proud of himself, I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Unfortunately now I have to be honest with him.
It’s seriously the most frustrating thing ever!! Oh no, which shoes were you wearing and which did you switch to? These Mizunos are pretty cushioned, I’m glad about that.
I switched from the Wave Creations to the Wave Riders, which I really, really loved, and they offer a lot of cushioning but not a lot of support. The Wave Creations are good support shoes. I usually go to a specialty running store to buy my shoes, but I had asked for the Wave Inspires for Christmas, and my husband accidentally bought me the wrong shoes. He bought the ones that he heard were “all the rage” lol. When I start running again, I can wear those for shorter distances, but I’m going to have to buy a more supportive shoe for my long distance runs.
It is so hard to know what shoes will work best and not cause any injury! I feel like you need to run in them for like 20 miles to actually find out, and then by that time, it may be too late. I’m glad to hear you like the Wave Creations though!
Those Mizunos look really cool!
I am liking them a lot so far!
First – Those shoes look totally awesome! And 2-toned laces as well. Plus-Plus there 🙂
And next – I do want to say that my expertise in the area of knee injuries and running is just about ZERO … but I had some knee pains when I first started running, so thought I’d chime in. (Although you’ve obviously been running a lot longer than I have … and already do the foam roller thingy … so likely what I may say here could be ignored.)
Anyway … what part of your knee has pain? (Middle, inside, outside?)
If it’s on the outside area, perhaps it is an IT-Band issue? (If it’s anywhere else then I haven’t a clue … as mine was towards the outside of my knee and that is what I focused on.)
When I had pains a trainer immediately asked if I had started running … based on where I was rubbing it she told me it appeared to be the IT-Band … and she showed me how to foam roll it … and it was like VOODOO magic … the pain went away almost instantly.
I was told a lot of times when someone starts a newer physical activity like running (or biking, or hiking, etc.) their body is not used to the lateral stability stresses that gets placed on the knees. I was to foam roll every day, do some icing … and she said after a few weeks of that then my body should also start becoming conditioned to the running and hopefully the pain would not return when running. She was correct.(I still foam roll though.)
So maybe when you did the Boot Camp workout a similar lateral stability thing came into play?
Again … my knowledge is pretty skimpy here … and I know there could be a zillion things that might cause your knee to have pain.
And … aiieeee … sorry for the long response!
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment!! I guess I should have specified which part of the knee hurts – it’s not on the side, it’s more underneath my kneecap. From the research I’ve done online, my symptoms sound like ‘runner’s knee,’ which I’ve also read can be helped with strengthening exercises and the like. I’ll definitely keep foam rolling, it seems like that helps almost all ailments! I think you’re right about the stability thing in bootcamp, it was a strenuous hour doing all sorts of crazy cardio moves, and I think my body just got tweaked. I’m so glad to hear that your pain went away, I can’t wait until mine does too!
After you mentioned runner’s knee I then recalled reading something about it too … so was poking around again today trying to figure out where I saw info on it…and it was here …on WordPress. At the Run Oregon blog post (a blog were several Oregon runners post about all kinds of things like races, and tips etc.)
There is a whole series on runner’s knee. You may already have read more than you want on it … but in case you want to read more and have not seen these articles …
http://runoregonblog.com/2014/02/18/what-is-runners-knee/
Oh wow, that is SO helpful, thank you so much!! Unfortunately it does sound like I have runner’s knee, so I’m really hoping the pain subsides soon. It’s comforting to know that it’s fairly easily treatable, though. Thanks again!!
I wear the exact same Mizuno Wave Creations, they are my dream shoe! I hope you love them like I do.
That’s great to hear! I hope I love them too!