knee popping and numb hamstring

Question
I am 32 and have been running for about a year now. My weight has gone from 235 down to 215.  Eating correctly helps. Usually I run 3.5 miles four times a week and then do a long run of about 7-8 miles once a week.  At times my hamstring will go numb and I will just run through it.  It does not seem very normal to me.  After a while it will usually go away.  I have not had another person complain about the same type of problem. Is it something to worry about?  My other problem is my knees are popping a lot.  They pop when I run, but when I am just sitting and moving my legs they consistently pop.  I don't really feel any pain when they pop, but I am concerned. At times my knees feel a little sore, but I think that is just from the running.  I usually run on black top and sidewalks.  Occasionally I will run at the gym on a treadmill.  What is causing my knees to pop like Rice Crispys? Are these two situations normal?

Thank you,

Brent

Answer
Hi Brent
First neither of your situations are real serious,but when your body starts talking to you you must address them and fix it and don't think they will go away.Your hamstring  situation is a nerve situation.Start a light stretching of quads,hams,low back,after all your runs.Your knee situation,i recommend you start including some stationery bike riding to re track your knee.The rice crispy,s could be a slight case of chondromalicia.The biking will do a great job of correcting that situation.Take a look at my previously answered questions on the site,in which there are many addressing the knees for the different exercises and cause with prescriptions to take care of it.If you have further questions Brent just get in touch.

All the best

John