Is there a general running thread?

How's your training going for Cambridge boundaries OhOneOhTwoOhThree?

Youbet there are a few things you can try - ice will help to bring down the swelling, you can buy ice packs shaped for your knee, ibroprofen will help with the inflammation.
Knee supports might give you some stability. Knee straps - choose one that fits around your knee -they are often made for men and are quite big. Some have a pad that can be frozen.
Changing your running style so you avoid heel strikes and land more mid foot/front foot give better shock absorption and take the pressure off your knee - do it very gradually for short distances as it will put strain on your calf muscles/Achilles.
Knee stretches help too, there are other exercise I did to build my thigh muscles, like leg lifts, because it was suggested that underdeveloped thigh muscles put strain on knees.
Giving up wheat has helped my joints too.
Pool running can keep the rot from settling in but you will look vaguely ridiculous.
Do not run until the pain has gone and then give it another few days before building up the distance gradually.
When I had this I wore a knee strap for months, I also started cross training so I wouldn't put so much strain on my joints by running too much.

So according to the nice running shop lady who made a fortune off me in custom made insoles and some lovely new running shoes I have runners knee and I should rest it for a week perhaps longer.

Any tips for getting over runners knee because I am really aware of the fact my 10k is in not that many weeks and I was only on week 4 of my couch to 10k programme so cant really afford much time off.

Even though I have only been running for 4 weeks I really really miss it and I was jealous of all the runners I drove past on the drive home with their working knees and all!

Giving blood definitely affects your running, there are some articles about it if you google. You make up plasma pretty quickly but your red cell count takes longer to catch up, and so you're not as efficient getting oxygen around the body. Or something.

I just dragged myself around the village for almost 12k and then gave up. I am so sick of this bloody wind

I'm sure giving blood must effect everything. I can't give any now but when I needed it I could barely move.
I just had a cold today and that effected my run for sure.
Cinnamon, let us know how your new shoes go, I like living vicariously through you all re naice running clothes. I'm a TK Maxxer myself

I think giving blood makes a difference EATmum, I did my first donation since I started running in December and despite drinking plenty it took a week or so to recover my pace. I think you just have less ability to carry the oxygen around your body. Hope tomorrow is better.

So as my road shoes have been giving me a very sore toe I decided to get a new pair and I apparently no longer pronate, or very slightly on my foot and not at all on my left. Anyone else had that? I've got some brooks adrenaline GTS as my trails are ATS and I love them, hope that these are as good.

Yikes Thursday, that's always alarming! Hope you're now home and feeling smug. Got my long run planned for tomorrow, which is not filling me with excitement right now ... Worst storm in recent history I think they're saying ...

Oh and I was racked with the kind of sneezes that make you worry about your pelvic floor !

Gah, just managed 7.5 miles but it took a looooong time. It's v windy out there today, I extended my route in a direction I now know has lots of steep hills, I had to check my gps a few times to check where I was
I just couldn't find my stride. Hey ho, still did it though and now in tend on sitting on my ass all day

Frustrating run for me today. Only wanted to run 3 miles, but had to walk about 3 times in that period! Given that I ran 11 miles without a break on Sunday, I just find it baffling. Thought I'd conquered the inconsistency but clearly not.
In mitigation, I gave blood yesterday - so wasn't planning a long run today. But I think that 'being careful' mode meant that I just didn't engage with it all. Ah well - onwards. Long run planned for Sunday ... after Saturday night drinking cocktails with 3 of my best friends, what could possible go wrong

Well done everyone! I agree with ThursdayLast, you can only compare to your own times not everyone else's. No point in my trying to keep up with my club mates, the fastest female is 5 years older than me and her best 5k time is 21mins! All I will do is feel defeated and probably injure myself if I try to do that but I know that I am slowly steadily improving and that's good enough for me. So well done on your 35min 5k Fishandjam, 2mins off a pb is 2 mins off a pb no matter who you are!!!!

59.34, just squeaked in under an hour! I had this horrible vision that I would get 1.00.01 and sink to my knees, shaking my fists and shouting 'KHAAAAAN!'. But I'm already the village weirdo so it's probably a good thing that didn't happen.

Ooh, well done eau! How fast?

My legs are beginning to send me a few "WTF?" messages so I think a hot bath and ibuprofen might be added to the schedule for tonight.

35 mins, that's brilliant!

I managed to get out today and got a new 10k PB so pretty pleased.

Aaaaaah, don't compare yourself, a good time is only a good time for the individual!
(But thanks for the ego boost )
I love that 'new kit' feeling, especially trainers, I'm sure it helps you fly!
I also hate those days where everyone is just too busy to get an hour to yourself too twelve.

bummer twelve. Can you go out later?

Pah, I was going to come on here and boast about shaving 2 minutes off my 5k time, in my first run with the new trainers (35m 25 secs) but thursday's 7.2k (4.5 miles) in 46 minutes rather puts me in my place!

Still.... 35.5 minutes! I am astonished. Takeaway for tea tonight, methinks. (Probably because I'll be knackered by then - it felt like a hard run, new trainers notwithstanding.)

Glorious sunshine here. No childcare. Argh!

Finally managed to get out this week
A fairly sedate 4.5miles in 46 minutes, with walking intervals. But the sun was shining, and I managed not to suffocate in spite of my sinuses feeling rotten and sneezing ferociously at least 10 times!
Lovely