I injured my knee last sunday.... .

About 8 miles into a 12 mile run, my left knee started hurting real badly. I asked the guy I was running with if we could walk for a bit (I've never done that before), so we walked for about a quarter mile. I was able to start running again and we finished off the 12 miles (had to as we had to get back to our cars), but I was having some serious pain in my knee.

Once I got home, I took some advil, iced the knee, elevated it, and parked my butt on the sofa for a few hours. I knew I'd skip running the next day. Well when I tried getting up, I could barely walk and the pain was so bad I almost cried (lol, but I think I was going to cry cause I effed up my knee and was worried about missing the half marathon I was going to race in two weeks).

Over the next couple of a days, my knee got better and I was able to walk with less discomfort, but running was definitely out of the question. I was able to bike with little pain and still use the exercise bikes at the gym, but anytime I tested out running, my knee said 'no'.

After skipping 4 days, I was luckily able to run again on Friday. I was running gingerly at the start, but after about a mile, my knee started loosening up and I was able to keep up with the guys and finish a nice 4 mile run. Mina and I did a nice casual 6 mile jog on Saturday, and having learned my lesson, I skipped running on Sunday to rest.

This morning was really good. I ran with the group for 5.4 miles and we maintained an 8min/mile pace with no pain in my knee at all. I think with the last couple of runs, I'm back to about 75-80% back to where I was before the pain.

So I had a nice scare. I think the lesson I learned is that I can't run more than 8 miles without pain in my knee. I'm skipping the 1/2 marathon on the 14th, but I think I'll be okay for a 10k this saturday. Before the injury, I was hoping to maintain a 7min/mile pace, but now I think I'll just be happy to finish.

I can't lose running, so I really have to be careful not to push things in the future. Biking is too hard to do when it gets cold and wet out, and with daylight savings time and the shortening days, I won't be able to bike when I get off of work soon.