How can my knee get better for the half-marathon this sunday?

Question

I am a 22 yr old male hoping to be able to run a half-marathon this Sunday, but I have knee pain.

After running 5 miles last Friday, I got distracted and forgot to stretch. I didn't stretch before or during the run, either. I also have not run since then.

Later in the day my knee started to hurt, which I sort of expected. Today, and every day since, my knee has hurt me when extending it or walking it. Sometimes more than others, and sometimes not at all.

Should I loosen it up with a run? Do stretches? Or what?

Answer 1

Ok, clearly you've done some minor damage. Clearly this is not going to heal up that quickly.  I'm sorry but I really think you should sit this one out, the half marathon is not worth making the injury worse for.  I'm guessing that you might have tendon damage and that takes quite a while to fully heal up.  Now as to healing up the injury and preventing further injury in the future you may need a better analysis.

Answer 2

This probably isn't the answer that you want, but I would suggest REALLY thinking about not doing the half...

Some people would suggest to run through the pain, but the thing is, your body has to recover. If it doesn't there could be long term damage, and this might be the last (and very painful) half-marathon you run...

I hope I'm wrong. I hope there is something to fix it up, but I would suggest healing it, for the sake of the long term consequences