To start with i'd like to say hello as im new to this forum.
Okay just a little information about my injury and why im so worried, im start my Royal Marines Recruit Training in 9 weeks and i've been off training now for around 3/4 weeks due to a knee injury.
I was running (at a comfortable pace) for 5 miles and at around the 3.5 mile mark i started feeling a dull ache in my left knee, but carried on and finished the run anyway. After finishing the run and stretching etc.. the pain was still there, the next day i found it hard to walk because of the shooting pains in my knee, i went to the doctor a couple of days later (my knee felt abit better to be honest) and i was told it was most likely a pulled tendon but was sent for an x-ray, a week later i got the results back and was told i had DAMAGED the cartilage (but thats all the doctor said, he didnt mention a tear), he told me to not run for 6-12 weeks, its been 4 weeks now and i've only got slight pain every now and then, should i be thinking about starting running anytime soon?
Also the doctor gave me Gluecosamine to take and im also taking Cod Liver Oil aswel.

As i said above i start Royal Marine training soon so its important for me to start running again, is there anything i can do to strenghten the knee and should i think about starting to run half way through January, that would of been 6 weeks since being told by the doctor.

Thanks for any replies, and i apologize for the essay.
Regards