Did I injure myself running?

Question

I'm afraid I did something stupid. A few days ago, I was running and decided to double my distance (in a hilly area no less), because I felt I could. My endurance was fine, and I felt good while running the extra distance. But when I got home, I started to feel a dull pain in my knee caps, one of them more than the other. The next day, I could feel the dull pain when I walked, especially walking down stairs. The following day (today), I don't feel the pain when walking, but it feels a little tight when I bend at the knee. It's not debilitating, I wouldn't even bother taking an advil, but I don't want it to get worse.

Is this just my body trying to adjust to the increased mileage. Or do I have runner's knee? Does this mean I need to stop running for a while, or can I just revert back to my old mileage and everything will be ok?

Thanks for any help figuring this out.

Answer 1

No I wouldn't say it's an injury that would keep you from running. But you did over due it though. Going from 1.5 to 3 miles is too much of a stretch. The pain you feel is probably runner's knee. Just slight inflammation of your knee cap and tendons. I run 3-4 miles 5 days a week and I still get that feeling now and again. In your case I'd lay off a few days, take Motrin and just relax. You should only increase your mileage by .5 to a mile every or every other week.  

Answer 2

its not an injury from running. they are called shin splints. they hurt, but they go away in a few days. i am a cross country/track runner, and when the captains meet, we add more distance, and usually most runners on the team if the arent conditioned to that distance (like you) get shin splints or soreness in your knees. you will be fine.  

Answer 3

For me, when i exercise, I null any pains I have in my joints.  I don't know why, but maybe when you went twice as far, you were hurt, but didn't know it, and then got yourself even more badly hurt.

Answer 4

its just where you body was not used to running that much yet, its like if you lift weights to much, your muscles become sore, it should not affect you in the long run, and if your were running up hill that could affect to, riding a bike would help, the tightness but rest is fine, your not hurt or anything there should be no rippage or anything but, if your going to increase your distance do it in short amounts