Did I just got runners knee during a run?

Oh no. It happened again. I didn’t think I would, but I got a runners knee again.

A few years ago I got a runners knee. This after the usual scenario, my distances and speed had relatively quickly increased and I ran more and more. For months I tried to recover and re-hab. I frequently visited a naprapath for treatments. Both massages, exercise and different kind of treatments. But it took a long time to recover, finally, when the summer of 2015(?) was over I could finally run again. That winter and spring I could run normal again and I slowly increased milage and speed.

The sumer after, it came back.

This second time it was the other knee, and I quickly went back for treatments. It always felt better after a treatment but just after another few K, the pain came back.

During a race in early August (2016?), a friend recommended for me to switch to barefoot shoes. I changed to Vivobarefoot, and just after a few run my runners knee had gone away. I strongly believe that the thin soles helped me to get a better, more natural running stride. Unfortunately, the barefoot shoes, together with too little strength training instead caused me a stress fracture. Since this time, I haven’t used the barefoot shoes, but after the 8+ months I was away from running and most of the training I started to use Altra. I believe that Altra with its zero drop and natural foot shape has helped me to retain a better stride and I haven’t had a runners knee since. Until now?

When I was recovering from my foot injury ( just running… I know I’m supposed to have done other things to train the foot and my muscles as well…) I continued to have a constant pain in my foot. I actually went back to the doctor twice after I was declared healed just to double check. The good thing.. the scans continued to show no broken bones. The bad thing… I continued to have a pain in my foot. Daily. As the months became years I had gotten used to the pain and I could again run further and further. And since some months ago… the pain seem to have gone away. Until now…

During February, something went wrong with my calf and I had to take it slow for some time until I could run again. During the last weeks though I feel I have been running completely pain free, until last Saturday. During the test run of Ecotrail Stockholm with Team Nordic Trail last Saturday I could feel how something went wrong. In the middle of a step, I could feel how my knee started to hurt. I did hope and thought it would go away though, but I had to continue to run the final 5-6K of the day with pain. 

When I woke up on Sunday morning, it all felt good again, but after a few 100m and the first downhill I could feel how my knee got angry with me again and I quickly stopped running.

Tuesday morning was unfortunately not much better, and I decided to visit the naprapath again. Marcus gave me a few excellent strength exercises with the advice to continue to run (AND do the strength training) until it started to hurt. He wasn’t too worried and thought it will be better after a few weeks with strength training. I do hope he’s right. 

On Thursday, I could run 3k pain free but decided to stop before it started to hurt.

During the Saturday long run I could run 9k pain free. But the last 7k after that I was unfortunately in pain again.

I will now take it easy for some time, doing more cycling instead (indoors and outdoors) as I also continue with the strength exercises. Hopefully, it will all be better soon.

If we skip all the boring talks about runners knee, I could mention something fun. I just won an entry fee to Stockholm Marathon. Normally Stockholm Marathon is in early June, but due to everything that is happening it has moved to autumn. I have run Stockholm Marathon twice before, but it was during the times when I was pushing for more speed and was running more on asphalt. We’ll see how it goes. I guess I have plenty of time to recover and train for it. Thanks Trainingmood for the win at your Instagram completion and big congratulation to your achievement. Andreas ran three loops around the Stockholm Marathon loop (120K) and raised money for https://www.unhcr.org and their good cause.

The Saturday long run with Team Nordic Trail was otherwise fantastic. Once again we can run in small groups together.  Running together is extremely rewarding and social. It’s great for both the body and mind. 2.5 hours of pleasure. Join us on a run. We make it work for everyone.