May

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

I've had a testy knee-grumble for about a week. It's an undefinable something just below the right kneecap that occasionally lets me know it's there. Not painful, just annoying and mildly worrying.

Do I head carefully for the hills and test the knee or do I carry on resting and see what happens on the starting grid in Brussels?
My personal preference is for the lightest of leg-looseners but I'm wary of undoing a weeks' rest.

Sounds familiar!

I'd suggest by all means do a leg loosener prior to the 20k, but make it flat and slow. The worst thing for runner's knee in my experience is downhill running. The second worst thing is fast running - in other words, keep the jarring to a minimum.

Supplement that with ibuprofen and glucosamine (though it's a bit late for Brussels if you're not already using it) and you'll get through the 20k.

And if you're not already doing so, get your physio to show you how to properly tape the kneecap, which will help.

Sacrificing a feral adult male Moravian Screaming goat on a Sussex tor under a waning moon would also be beneficial*.


Dr. Crisis Man.


*It won't help the knee, but it'll keep me amused and give the tabloids something to write about.