Happy Monday friends! I had an awesome weekend with Will and so many fun things happened that I’m having a hard time deciding which one I should share first! I think I’ll save that stuff for later this week though because I’m kinda curious to see if any of y’all have experienced the same running issues I am having. Ready?
Ok, so here is the deal: as I mentioned a few weeks ago, I signed up for a couple races this summer, including the GTIS half marathon in August. Because of all of my back problems and serious burnout over the past six months, I decided to start easing my way back into the running world at the beginning of April. That would give me well over four months to find my running legs and hopefully claim a redemption race in Georgetown.
Fortunately, I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how easy my “comeback” has been! I am loosely following the RLRF plan, but I was fully expecting these runs to be be far more painful and difficult than they are turning out to be. Honestly, I am crediting CrossFit with this sudden boost in my running performance. My legs are significantly stronger than they were in the past, and my aerobic running workouts always seems a bit more relaxed and comfortable than my anaerobic CrossFit workouts at Big Horn. In fact, I’ve been easily running 5 milers at a faster pace than usual and with plenty of gas left in the tank afterwards. Yes, I realize 5 miles is nothing in the grand scheme, but for someone who hasn’t put any miles on her feet since August, 2012, I was expecting my April miles to be a constant struggle.
Here’s the kicker: I think CrossFit has prepared me almost too well! For example, last week, I ran 15 miles between my three scheduled runs. This doesn’t include a few miles here and there that we tack on during CrossFit, so I’d guess my weekly miles were somewhere around 20. For hardcore runners, that is obviously nothing, but again, for me, it is a huge jump when compared to the prior months. All of these runs have felt great and I’ve chosen to cut the miles off before my body felt ready—in fact, I think I could honestly go out and crush a 10 miler right this very second! Who am I?!
However, just because my legs, brain and and endurance are ready to kill some miles doesn’t mean that my knee joints are feeling the same! After last Tuesday’s 5 miles of speedwork, I noticed a small twinge at the base of my kneecap on my left knee. It was nothing major so I ignored it and it went away. However, the same twinge came back on Thursday’s RR Sports Adventure Run, and it stuck with my through Saturday’s CrossFit workout and into yesterday afternoon. It’s gone now and I know it was nothing to worry about, but I’m familiar with this nagging ache: it’s that soul crusher called runner’s knee!
Luckily I’ve become excellent at reading my body throughout this back trauma stuff, so I noticed the aches immediately and realized the problem. I’ve iced a few times, but I think I really just need to be more mindful and cautious about ramping up my mileage. Just because my endurance is embracing the uptick in miles doesn’t mean my joints and all those tiny little stabilizer muscles are ready to follow suit! It’s a bizarre situation for me to be in because I have literally never been able to run more miles than my body could handle. In fact, it’s always the exact opposite with me, so in a way, this is a character builder 🙂 I mean, I’m already restricting what I eat for the month, so why not restrict how much I run as well?! Apparently I’m all about restriction lately! (And yes, that’s sarcasm).
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Have you ever experienced something similar where you could handle far more than was good for you?
Any runner’s knee peeps out there?
11 Comments
I once had some knee pain for a few runs. I read up on it a bit and saw a suggestion to get new running shoes. The ones I were wearing were aging… So I tried it. Pain was gone.
I should also mention that I’m a short distance runner. 5k is my sweet spot. I know I can go farther, but never really push myself. Right now I prefer to go fast and short over steady and long.
I’ve definitely experienced sore knees from old running shoes! I’m pretty good at tracking the miles on my shoes so I know that’s not the case here. Sounds like you and I are opposite– a short and fast run like a 5k is my nightmare!
Glad you are feeling so good and strong except for the kneee thing, so easy to keep running when it feels so good. I sometimes get a pain under my knee cap when I have had a hard down hill run. It goes away after about half an hour though.
I’m sure the CF has helped you along the way…strength counts for a lot in running. I think you are smart to be cautious right now, though. Your body is sending up the warning flares so don’t ignore them. Take it nice and easy and you’ll get there in plenty of time for your Aug. race.
I have runner’s knee, and I’m not even a runner! It’s something I definitely struggle with as a backpacker, and sometimes the pain is debilitating! I feel for you. The only thing that helps me is Ibprofuen. I’m on the lookout for some natural anti-inflammatories though because I know that stuff is terrible for your body.
yikes! runner’s knee sounds like no fun. i get a tight IT band that i like to call my runner’s knee. but definitely great to be aware of not upping your miles too fast. ice ice, baby!
I actually think that’s kinda common when you’re coming back to running and already a good athlete. One of the things I find myself doing more than anything when I coach someone in your shoes is tell them NOT to run. Be careful with the mileage you add, watching to be sure you take a more conservative approach, and not jump up your mileage (either long run or total weekly mileage) too quickly. Especially with the crossfit you’re already doing – all those things add up! 🙂
I’m struggling to reign in the runs as well. I was injured most of January and half of February and now I’m feeling good and want to up it too quick. I keep telling myself no…otherwise I’ll just be injured again.
loved what you said about being able to listen to your body to gauge your training! i admire your skill for that…this is something I am hoping to constantly improve upon:) hope your knee feels better soon!
Congrats on getting back out there! I always find it so liberating to get back out after I’ve been off running for a bit.
Hm that’s a unique problem, but on the other hand, that’s great that Crossfit has prepared you to increase your distance so well! I suffered from the dreaded runner’s knee…horrible. I credit wearing the right shoes A LOT in helping me get past it!