Here's the issue and I'd love some feedback. I'm 22, graduated from college last spring and ran about 60mpw this fall racing for a local team. Took some time off around the holidays, as soon as I started running again, the inside of my left knee has been tight and painful. Specifically, the pain is on the edge of the kneecap, directly below and directly on the side. The pain gets worse as I go along. Feels badly inflamed.
I've had no previous IT issues or any other knee trouble, and the fact that the pain is on the inside of the knee is throwing me for a loop.
I've tried time off, icing, stretching, strengthening exercises. The pain will subside, I'll go out for a few miles and it's right back where I started.
Possible explanations: In college, I ran in the Nike Pegasus with a custom-orthotic. After I graduated, too poor for the orthotics, ran in the Asics 2120 (I used this series in high school). Should I just toss these Asics and go back to the Nikes or another neutral cushion shoe?
Please help. I want to get back to training, I'm getting fat.