tender on side of knee

[Jo-n-NY]

Keeping in mind I am in the very beginning of my run/walk program, after Tuesday's workout I am a tendor at inner side of my left knee. It is not on the knee cap, just a bit left of it and towards the bottom.

The tenderness is more to the touch and today I barely feel it while walking.

Today I would have done another run/walk 1min/3min, but I think I should wait another day.

Is this normal and just an area that needs breaking in. I feel like I could not have started running any more conservatively, but I don't want to create an injury either.

Any thoughts on this.

Thanks ~ JoAnn

[KnottedYet]

Sounds kind of like one of your lower leg muscle attachment points. Those muscles help control the relationship of your shin bone to your foot when you run. Mine gets sore whenever I start back to running, and fades off after a week or so as I get stronger.

If it gets worse (like hurting all the time and not just when you touch it or just 24-28 hrs after a run) then I'd give your doc a call.

[Wahine]

I'm going to second what Knott said and add...

Are you stretching any tight muscles, especially around the hip or calf after you run? That's worth thinking about.

But yeah, it's probably a "getting used to it" thing.

[Jo-n-NY]

thanks ladies...I do stretch after the run even after a walk before I began this program.

Since it is super windy outside, I will go on the treadmill when I get home and ease into outdoor running. I also thought that I may have to get use to the higher impact of outdoor running which is on asphalt, although it is better than concrete.

It feels much better today also.

~ JoAnn

[KSH]

Both ladies had great advice for you.

For me, this is how this whole training thing works... some days I have pains in areas I didn't have before. In a day or two they go away. I do have some painful areas that always pop up, I won't have a serious injury running through those pains, so I just ignore them.

If you knee is tender to the touch, it certainly wouldn't hurt to ice your knee after each session to see if that helps some.

Yea, I remember last year when I was training for my Half Ironman... at one point when I ran my knees would feel like they were inflamed and they hurt like heck. It was an odd pain and stayed with me for about a week or two. Then all of a sudden it was gone. I never stopped running or anything, it just stopped.


In training, you have to find that delicate balance of knowing your body well enough to know when to push through or to stop. The longer you stick with all of this, the more intune you will become with you body.

Now, aren't you the one who asked about running form... and you commented how your form changes based on if you are running on a treadmill or outdoors? Your running form might affect how your knee feels and not having a constant form might affect it as well. But I'm just guessing on that one. Wahine can maybe weigh in more on that.

[Jo-n-NY]

Thanks KSH...yes I am the one asking about running form. This was the first outdoor run for me on the program I am following, plus I was going down on the middle of my foot which felt more natural and actually less stressful on my legs.

I will gather I need to get out the kinks as I am probably using muscles and other areas that I never used before. The most running that I did outdoors was running down the block to catch the light before it changed.

With cycling I never had or have any pain or discomfort, not even with a new seat so this is all new to me in more ways than one. I do enjoy picking up the pace from straight walking so I really want this to work out as an alternate to my cycling which is my primary sport.

~ JoAnn

[roadie gal]

How old are your running shoes? I find that when the midsole starts to break down in mine I get knee pain.

[Jo-n-NY]

How old are your running shoes? I find that when the midsole starts to break down in mine I get knee pain.

Thanks, brand new.

~JoAnn