So after six days off from running my left knee is feeling A LOT better. I have been pretty good about icing it and taking ibuprofen on a fairly regular basis, and I am also wearing a compression knee brace (except when I am running). Wednesday I ran three miles easy on the treadmill, followed by five miles on Thursday and Friday (including my first untimed run in years). After doing the elliptical yesterday I ran eight miles this morning and aside from a little discomfort when I stepped up onto a curb my knee felt perfectly fine. It also appears that I really have not lost any fitness, which is nice. I do not have any races on the calendar right now but I am starting to at least think about it...