That classic taper pain. Race is tomorrow.

[u/katsuki_the_purest]

Note: I'm seeing a Physio and she thinks I'm ok to race

I had a mild flare up of my left knee that got addressed by the physio a few weeks ago, and I was running 16km exactly one week ago, feeling absolutely AMAZING and no pain or soreness at all after consistent improvement weeks prior.

Then came the last week. Two easy runs but left knee suddenly got worse. The discomfort is hard to describe because the sensation/severity, location, and whether it gets triggered changes all the time.

I'm not kidding. It's like for one second there was a sting in the middle of the tendon below my knee cap when I kicked my leg, but then I kicked it 3 more times it got better or even completely felt fine. 10 minutes later, it didn't flare up at all when I made the same movement. Single leg squats randomly feels good or bad on the same day, in the same hour.

Sometimes it's right below my kneecap, in the middle. . Sometimes it's on the inside. Sometimes it's on the outside. Sometimes it's in the quad muscles above my knee.

Ironically, when picking up my kit yesterday I had to run a bit due to the rain, and my left knee that gave me a random sting for stepping down the bus immediately felt better.

Race is tomorrow, and this morning overall it's better, but I still get random sensitivity from random locations on my left knee at random times. At this point I take it as my body's withdrawal from the drug it makes when running.

[u/Equal-Philosophy200]

I did Chicago last weekend and had some flare ups that’s had me biking through my entire taper. I was nervous I would dnf just from injury pain. At the start line a guy behind me was calming his friends nerves and said look around this place, everyone is taped up and wearing braces WERE ALL INJURED. And it made me feel so much better, good luck to you!!

[u/katsuki_the_purest → u/Equal-Philosophy200]

How's your race? I was absolutely miserable and could barely move at all for two days after my last one …

[u/Medical_Birthday2893 → u/Equal-Philosophy200]

That isn’t a badge of honour. It’s a cautionary tail.

[u/Pale-Bit1915]

Well I just did my debut in September. And although I was prepared very well throughout the whole process, my legs (and my mind, I suppose) started to ache one week or two before the race, every day in different place. But now I know it was my body & mind playing games with me because of stress. Just ease up, meditate, stretch a bit and everything will be fine. Tomorrow you’ll be on fire