Hi! I can understand you would like to keep running, I think a good compromise would be to include water running. Or have you ever thought about doing triathlons? Basically the idea is to include some runs but at the same time to also focus on other workouts. Many "injured" runners start doing triathlons for exactly that reason and they love it! It's a great full body workout and the sport gets more popular every year!

Run happy *Dream big!

I'm a little older and probably have a bit more mileage on my legs.  In 1998 tore my right meniscus and had arthroscopic surgery.  While they were cleaning up they woke me up to say there was a whole in my cartilage should they deburr and drill?  Not knowing better I said yes.  When I went for my follow up with the ortho surgeon I asked when I could start running again. His reply was never.  If I ran he said my knee would last maybe 10 years, if no running maybe 20.

I did try running several times, but after a couple of days of running my knee would start to ache.  2.5 years ago read "born to run" and thought might be able to do this if I go back to a forefoot strike.  My knees feel fine and I've been able to put training time in and have PR in my second running career in the 5K of 23:31 - not that fast, but not that slow.  I completed a half marathon earlier this year in 2:14 - not great, but not bad.  I'm running again and that in itself is a good thing.  I typically run in Vibram 5 fingers (models KOS,Bikila and Komodo).  I frequently run on the treadmill in barefeet and socks.  I do run in "regular" shoes, a pair of Nike Frees and some Addidas racing flats, but prefer to run in the Vibrams.

The barefoot/minimalist style does take time.  You're moving load from knees and hips to arch, ankles/achilles and calves.  Best advice I could give is take your time.  Before the injury I could still do a sub 48:00 10k pushing a stroller, but it had been 11 years and I was out of shape.  I pulled calf muscles every other week, strained achilles tendons, morton's neuroma and oddly enough suffered a freak knee injury.  The achilles injury caused a 6 month hiatus.  I found some exercises that seem to be helping on that front.  My knees feel good these days and unaffected by the training.  When I can't run, I erg (rowing).  I don't enjoy it as much as running, but it helps suppliment things.  These days, I've been walking on my off days, but erging would be better for me.

I'm a lot smaller and lighter then you, but you're close to Chris McDougall (sp?) size (I think he's slightly taller) so you might want to check out "Born to Run".  I think his experience and problems are closer to yours.

Good Luck!

Ray

Have you tried any "joint juice"? I'm 42 and 130lb female and run 20-30mi/wk. I have had issue with my left knee and started taking the liquid glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM supplement. It has really helped me. New shoes too. I get fitted in my running shoes, currently Brooks Adrenalin (previously Asics Kayano), and see an othropedist for foot issues. No surgeries or shots. I have inserts which help my high arches and give me stability. It's my understanding that the shots will cause scar tissue which lead to more pain and issues. I'm with you on the barefoot thing. It hurts to walk barefoot on a hard surface. I can't imagine minimalist shoes in my situation. Core strength and hamstring/quad strength also makes a difference. Make sure your posture is correct so you're not putting strain on your hips and knees. Soaking in ice baths helps as well. I run (outside) every other day and do some other form of exercise in between like yoga and free weights. Elliptcals hurt my hips and knees so I stay off of them. Stretching after a run and recovery protein shakes help as well. Good luck to you!! My pace isn't as important to me as finishing the distance I've set as my goal

Skizoke,    

Look up Chi running.   It will take the stress off your knees.  It takes a little while to learn but well worth it. 

Dean

• Barefoot and minimalist running sounds unbearably painful because we can only think about it from the standpoint of taking off our shoes right now and going out for a run.  If you do it tha tway it WILL be unbearably painful.  If you take it very slow and in small steps it is ASTOUNDING what your body can do.  While I'm not a barefooter now I did it for a while.  As an example of slow - for the first 2-3 weeks I only walked outside - no running.  You have to introduce the feet (be it barefoot or minimalist) very slowly and wake up all those foot muscles).
• If you haven't had your hips checked out you might do that.  In fact, a visit to a really good PT might make sense for a host of reasons.  They can find possible muscle imbalances or other muscle problems that can impact knee pain.  Muscle issues way away from the pain can be the cause of the pain.
• Ironically, many foot docs push artificial support where - in reality (IMHO) - artificial foot support can actually make the foot WEAKER and consequently MORE susceptible to injury.  My foot doc says frequently "The foot was meant to move.".
• Born To Run is a fantastic read and very inspirational.  It's also a recipe for injury if it inspires you too much.  MacDougall covers probably the hardest part of the process in just flash:  (apologies for the rough summary).  "I worked with a coach to change my form and then I could run forever pain free."  That's kind of like Steve Martin's skit "How to be a millioinaire and not pay taxes.  First, get a million dollars."  Changing your form takes a LOT of work.  Chi Running is one that is popular.  So is Pose Method.  Born To Run, in my opinion, makes it sound like the only thing you need to do is take off your shoes.  That's one, but not the only, thing.  You must run in the right form.  If you don't you'll be in a world of hurt.

Jim

First, congratulations on your successes to date, you've made great improvements so far. Second and most obvious, is a reminder of the importance of warming up prior to your runs, that's what gets the bursis sacs stimulated and the synovial fluid moving. A 5 minute walk prior to my runs always helps me minimize my knee pain.