Hello, first running problem. Didn’t take too long for us to meet!

I’ve been warned and forewarned so many times that I actually anticipated this happening – my knees giving way. They hurt every time I start running in the morning, less after a few minutes of it, but more the next day. I HAVE started stretching, yes. I’m actually enjoying this problem a bit, making it seem like I’m much more of a serious runner than I really am.

(According to Haruki Murakami, who runs marathons every year, you are a serious runner if you cover 36 miles per week and a rigorous one if you go over 180 in a month. Crazy man.)

‘knees hurt running’ Google search reveals that ‘when the patella moves out of alignment during running, the cartilage beneath it becomes irritated’. Well, thanks, I figured something like that was happening. RunnersWorld offers to:

• Reduce mileage – don’t want to, I’m getting too much thrill from the progress!
• Cross-train with activities that don’t aggravate your knee – potentially acceptable, but I still want my everyday runs
• Apply ice for 15 minutes five times a day – could do that!
• Take an anti-inflammatory – really?
• Foam roll your quads – could do that too!
• If the pain continues, see a doctor – I know how that conversation is gonna go, so no thank you.

Also, I now understand that my zero-waste inspired approach of not buying proper running shoes until I wear my Nikes out is stupid. Just one of the many stupid things I do out of ecological guilt. I’m not even sure these trainers are good for running. So I did some market research and ordered a pair of Kayano 26 (which are thankfully on sale as the new 27 model came in).

I am going to cycle instead of running tomorrow, because even though I am a self-assured idiot, I do understand there are limits to stupidity and stubbornness.

But I am crossing my fingers that shoes and foam rolling will fix the problem. Pretty please.