Help with Knee Pain when running

[MyFamilyAndOtherAnimals1]

I signed up for a 'race' ages ago, and somehow the time has come - the run is happening this weekend - arg!!

Anyway, on my feeble attempts at training runs, I've recently been getting a sore knee (or sometimes both of them get sore), and I'm really nervous I might not finish.

I know I should go to a physio to get it checked out, but I presume that that's quite expensive and it's a bit too late for this weekend... (oops!)

Has anyone got any last minute tips?

Long term runner here

Don’t race. Simple as that. You need rest and possibly treatment.

You can’t run on a bad knee.

If you want to improve it long term (once it’s completely healed) you need to build up slowly with your runs, something like couch to 5k even so that your muscles around your knee have a chance to strengthen.

From experience running on a bad knee will absolutely cripple you pain wise for weeks afterwards and cause damage.

Oh

It only starts to get sore after quite a few miles - would it do damage if I only run up until the point at which it starts to hurt?

I have arthritis in both knees, bone on bone plus tendon pain. I run regardless, even though it burns like bloody murder. I'm currently training for a HM in July so can't afford to rest. When it's really bad I have a week on anti inflammatories but I figure that it's not going to kill me so crack on. I appreciate that's not very good advice however.

mmm, I agree that that's pretty dreadful advice @Kedgeree - but it's how I feel too (however, saying that, do look after yourself! )

I reallly want to run this race - it's not cheap to enter, I'm lucky to get a place as they sell out so quickly, and it's been something that I've been looking forward to for agesss (it's a massive stress reliever for me)

Do anti-inflammatories work?

Sorry for providing crap advice OP just sharing what I do! Look, I'm not medically qualified although I am a Level 4 qualified sports massage therapist. Being pragmatic, everyone I know who is serious about their sport and exercise is carrying a cross. A lot of the time, all we're doing is managing things so we can keep going.

Re anti-inflammatories, and again I am NOT medically qualified, but the way they work best is cumulative, so if you take them consistently over a period of time, the inflammation will subside. For me that means 600mg per day (3 x 2 tablets) for at least a week.

You must make your own decision. Longer term, do some cross training- I do most of my running training in the gym - heavy squats, deadlifts etc as well as HIIT. Strengthening your leg and glute muscles will relieve the pressure on your knees and may well improve things. I have found that for me I have better endurance and my knee problems aren't getting any worse, which at my age (56) is a good thing.

Good luck.

Ah, @Kedgeree that's really interesting re the anti-inflammatories. Tbh, I'd never thought about them in relation to my dodgy knee/s, so I'll have a look into it (...ermm... I'll do a bit of googling!) (Blimey, I hope no GPs/professionals are looking at this thread!)

I know it needs to be addressed for the long term so I did start doing body weight squats (for about a week - will get back on that bandwagon). HIIT is something that I haven't considered - I guess that makes sense - can't hurt to try that too!