Outer Knee Pain

Question
I have been running consistently for the past year and am working towards a half marathon in November.  As my mileage increases I have been experiencing pain around the outside of my left knee.  It doesn't hurt too much during my runs but stays sore afterwards.  I can really feel the soreness if I lay on my back with my knees bent and feet flat on the bed and then lay my left leg down to the left.  For some reason that really tends to bring out the soreness.   Anyway, I occasionally a knee brace (All Star type with the hole around the knee cap) but I have not been consistent about it.  I have three questions: 1) what is the cause of my pain; 2) is there anything I can do to prevent the pain in terms of stretching or exercise, and 3) what is the best brace to help with this problem.

Thanks.

Answer
Hi Mike
Question 1..alignment, imbalance,tracking of knee.
Question 2..Start adding 3 stationary bike workouts to your program a week for 45 min to 1 hr.This will help take care of the problems in question 1.Start taking 500mg vit c with your 3 meals a day to enhance recovery of tissues,tendons,cells,connective tissue.Don't strectch it ,it has all ready been strectched.You can even do long bike workouts for 2 hours to suplement a long run.The bike is like gold.
Question 3..Do not use or get a brace.Creates false sence of security.You allways want to address a problem and cause and then fix it period even if it takes a long time.I have been there myself.

If you have further questions mike just get in touch.

All the best

John