I wrote the other day about my sore knees that started bothering me after my speed run on Thursday, well its not getting that much better although its not getting any worse. I rested yesterday, kept the ice on them and kept up with the ibuprofen and it didn’t feel too bad when I headed out for another 20+ miler this morning … it didn’t start to get sore until around mile 9 when actually both my knees started to ache, and it seemed to only be when going uphill or downhill (which is pretty much most of my courses). I got back to the house after my run and put two packs of frozen peas on each knee, seemed to calm them down. The weird thing is that they don’t hurt, they’re just sore .. kind of like how I felt prior to Steamtown a few years back, it eventually will go away or turn worse and be runners knee by the end of the running season (if I can make it that long).

So i’m trying to schedule in when i’ll do a stepback week, my hope is to make it one more week with the sore knees and then step back the week i’m on vacation … it’d be nice to not have the stress and pressure of having to do longer runs the week we’re at the beach. The runs along the boardwalk are the best, but I hate to tire myself out with long runs.

Getting back to my long run today, i did run it about 2 minutes slower than last week, but overall it was still a good run. I was able to throttle down my pace and I really think the increased speed during the week helps the long run, which is why I keep it up. I followed all the other advice I wrote last week, with drinking fluids, fueling, etc that set me up for success last week (because it obviously works). I don’t plan on adding more miles at this point until probably August. I think 65 miles a week right now consistently will do the trick, its just about training to run the 65 miles better.

Tomorrow I hope to get 11 miles in again, maybe the same course as last week, as it wasn’t a bad one. Hopefully my knees will hold up .. I don’t recommend anyone who has knee pain to run through it necessarily, it just depends on how it feels. In my case, i’ve felt this soreness before, it should pass in a few weeks I hope .. I think the fact that I cut back running so much last fall kind of got them out of running shape… I’ll still keep an eye on it for a few weeks to make sure its not something more serious.

Well off to rest …