Chest Pain

Posted By GregS on August 29, 1998 at 21:26:16:







I am a 41 year old male and a long distance runner.  I am currently training for a marathon this fall and am averging about 42 miles/week.  During my long run last Sunday, I experienced a sharp pain in my chest at about 14 miles.  Believing it was just mucular, I finished the last 2 miles of the run.
In the week that has followed, I have only been able to run twice (4 & 8 miles) on days that the pain was not too severe.  Yesterday, the pain was almost gone.  Last night (6 days from the injury), I awoke during the night with the most intense pain yet and have been unable to function normally all day today.  The pain is localized on the upper left side of my chest.  
My resting heart rate is about 52 and my blood pressure is always normal.  I am 6' tall and am slightly overweight at 180 for the mileage I put in.  Is my chest pain just a pulled chest muscle or is it heart?  How do I treat it?  Is running okay if the pain is not too severe?  Any suggestions?