Mary!!!  my long lost friend!!!  Well I've been benched for a while myself this year....SF put me on the bench in September and I've struggled since.  Tried to come back once I got the all clear to fast and benched myself again last week.  for a runner, that's the kiss of death. As you know I was a steadfast 6 day a week gal....big mileage was my deal.  Well I can now tell you that I cross train like a fool.  Started as necessity and now I enjoy swimming and biking.  If I have to be honest, I was totally tired of being in pain all the time with my running so the SF most likely was the result of not only my over training but also the result of my overcompensating for other annoyances.  I know you used to weight train, not sure is you still are...try some biking or some swimming if you can.  It might help heal that injury and restore your love for the run.  I'm hoping to be back on the road fully recovered by janaury...i've got 3 halfs i'm registered for in the spring.

Cyndi

ps happy thanksgiving!

SF = Stress Fracture....the runners worst nightmare.  UGH!!!  Bought me a great bike and joined a pool and swimming right now is my thing (I loved to bike but almost froze my tootsies off so the Stud (aka my bike) has been put into mothballs until spring...boo!!!  If you hadn't figured it out, after my 3 halfs in the spring I'm gonna give triathalons a whirl...would be a shame to waste all this cross training...lol.  I took myself off FB for a while...message me here!!

Cyndi

Mary - So sorry to hear your still struggling with your knee injury   I recently had to take 4 weeks off running (and cross training) due to a pulled piriformis muscle.  It was during the middle of training for a marathon too, I had got up to my 13 mile long run before it happened.  (I was averaging about 25 miles/week).  When it finally healed, I came back slowly (3 slow runs a week of 1-2 miles). 

For the first week back, I got out of breath very easily, but the fitness came back surprisingly quick.  My first run back was September 29th (0.7 miles).  On October 17th I ran a 5k only 45 seconds off my PR, and on October 30th I set a 3 minute PR in the half-marathon.  If anything, my running has gotten stronger after taking time off.  All is not lost Good luck, I hope you get this injury put to rest!

After my cataract surgery I had to take a month off. I ran a 4 mile race with 2 days training and I hurt but I also had lost a lot of speed. It took almost 2 months to get my speed back, so I know what time off does. I also know about hurting knees. I started running (kinda late in life at 53) so hurting knees was sort of expected. With exercises given to me by my doc I strengthened the knees. They still hurt (as I am old) but with Advil I am comfortable running. This year I have done a lot (11 HM, 1 17K, 2 10K, 1 15K, 2 8K, 4 Sprint Tris & 3 Olympic Tris) and one more HM to go. I am now training for a marathon. To guide me I found this neat book referenced on Runners World. Run Less Run Faster. At first I thought it would be an easy training program which would give me great results. Nope it is more in intense. Now to the point. The authors recognize that running wears down your knees, so less running is good for your knees. Well I wondered how do get faster if you run less. Cross training. They recommend swimming and spinning or biking. Especially swimming. Their approach is not easy cross training but hard cross training. That way you don't lose your endurance. Since I just started the program I can't tell you the final result, but I have been getting better and better PRs with their approach. I do all swimming, biking and spinning. The good thing is my knees don't hurt very much when I run. Thus I suggest and the authors recommend, do cross training until your knees feel better. Hope that helps.