Knees buckle?

[The Moose]

Last night at mile 3.5 of a 9 mile run I suddenly felt as though my knees were buckling.  I had an uncomfortable tightness in my lower shin/calf and actually thought I was going to hit the dirt.  Obviously, I stopped running for about 2 minutes and then continued cautiously without any real pain (some discomfort, but nothing I didn't expect after Sunday's 20 miler).  I'd like to add that I never felt any shooting pains, no sudden aches, just a sudden weakness that I thought was bringing me to a skidding halt (can anyone say "road rash"?).

Have any of you experienced this?

Oh, I've been wearing a knee strap the last two runs to keep my left knee from swelling (seems to work), but it was my right knee that I feel was the main source.

Any ideas?  I don't hurt at all, but .... should I be worried?  Might I just have been overtired from Sunday's long run???

Mike

[Jane]

The closest I have come to that is losing all sensation in my legs at about Mile 25 at Disney after we stopped to stretch.  When I went to start running, I couldn't feel my legs at all!  Scared the cr@p out of me!  Sandy told me to walk, and the feeling came back.  But I don't think this is what you experienced Mike, since yours started so much sooner than mine.

[Sandy]

My guess Mike is muscle fatigue probably from your 20 miler.  Make sure you eat something in that first 30 minutes post long or hard run, stretch and if it happens again maybe Bryan Dunham (Athletic Therapist) might have something to add.

[The Moose]

I guess it was just overworked muscles.  I didn't run Wed. and got back to the track Thurs..  The first few laps of warm up didn't bode well, but once I got going I ended up serving a healthy dose of buttuck to the big D (for a change).  Looks like a little extra rest goes a long way at this stage of the game...

Thanks for all the help

Mike