If you can't tell by the post title, I'm frustrated. I went to the BWR session today and didn't get very far before my knee started hurting. Well, to be fair, it never actually stopped hurting - it just tapered a little bit and then redoubled once the running movement started. I think it's an issue with the shoes. One of the coaches said the place I got my shoes from wasn't good, and she heartily recommended another one that's out in Elkridge or somewhere out in the boonies. Since I've got a meeting in Glen Burnie on Thursday, which is in the same part of the boonies, I'll check out the store then and bring my shoes. Also, supposedly Fleet Feet (Feet Fleet?) will take back my shoes even though they've been outside, so I'm not totally out $100. I'll also ask them about the insoles Pat recommended.
Anyway, I stopped running after a couple laps because I didn't want to completely fuck up my knee, especially since my health insurance doesn't start until April 1. And even though it's not a competitive group, I'm still super frustrated that I can't keep up with the slowest people because of this damn knee issue. One of my coaches suggested MCRRC's upcoming stride clinic, so I signed up for that. I'll figure this damn thing out.
First, I have been fitted at Fleet Feet Adams Morgan before and loved them. My dad has been training out of and buying shoes from Shawn Fenty (and Phil before him) for over 15 years. Whoever doesn't like them is entitled to their opinion, but it is one that I--and countless others who I know frequent the store--would strongly disagree with.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of my dad, I have a story that may be apropos here. Shortly after I began my great running experiment, I was still getting knee pain and shin splints, so I asked him what was wrong. He said: "Son, you're been doing this for three weeks. It's gonna hurt until your body gets used to it." He told me to ice (which I did) and take ibuprofen (which I didn't do all that often) and stick with it. The pain subsided with RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) combined with more practice. I would recommend that before blaming the shoes. Knees are delicate joints, and they don't like suddenly being asked to do a lot more than they're used to. When they are being pushed out of their comfort zone, they need some TLC, which ice can provide.
Whatever the case, knee pain is something us regular folks have to deal with. I almost DNF'ed a half marathon this weekend because of knee pain that didn't manifest itself at all in training, but came on quickly and terribly from miles 5 to 8. I was able to suck it up and finish with a PR (on a shitty course, at that) in large part because I understood what my knees were telling me: fuck you, you owe us. When I finished, I made sure they got ice and ibuprofen. The next night I was able to play floor hockey with little to no pain, and today I feel pretty good. The point in this comment is to make sure your knees get care. They're always gonna hurt, but you can take steps to make sure they hurt less. (And take it easy until your insurance kicks in.)
I ended up going to the other place today and they fitted me for something completely opposite of what FF suggested. I'm going to try these and see if they give me different results; if not, both places let me return them within a certain period of time. My coach was vehemently against the FF in Germantown but said she hadn't been to the Adams Morgan one. Perhaps it depends on which salesperson you get? However, I'd heard really good things about the Adams Morgan FF as well. And yeah, I totally get that there will be aches and pains, particularly since I haven't subjected my body to this kind of physical activity since probably 8th grade. I'll do the rest, ice and elevation definitely - what do you do with compression? Just wrap it/wear a knee brace? And do you do that before or after? Thanks again for your input! I'll take all the suggestions anyone's willing to give me!
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