Losing my mind.
I mentioned on Sunday I’m having a bit of knee pain. This knee pain is both in the knee and along my IT band. Pretty sure on my run with Holly on Sunday I actually muttered the words, “Yeah, I’ve been so lucky never to have IT issues.”
But foam rolling and icing all day Sunday and Monday and even this morning I wasn’t sure if I was actually injured or just losing my mind. I think perhaps it’s a little of both. I’m not even officially tapering yet and I already am having perhaps some phantom pains and experiencing the taper crazies?! Oy vey.
Well finally at lunch today I decided I needed to find out what the verdict was… injured or crazy?
I decided I’d start jogging and as soon as it hurt I’d walk home and if by some miracle it didn’t hurt I’d run 4 miles.
A few twinges here and there but certainly no stabbing pain like I expected. So I just kept running. I think the twinges were maybe because I was thinking about only my knee the whole time. Maybe? Shit, I don’t know.
I immediately iced it up and also rolled and stretched off and on the rest of the day. It’s sore, but not unmanageable. Walking down stairs is by far the worst, and not as bad as it was the past few days.
So basically I have no effing idea what is going on. I know I’m going to cross train the rest of the week before my 3.5 mile leg of the Akron Marathon on Saturday and then ice it all day before my 20 miler on Sunday!!! After that it’s official marathon taper time. Holy shit!
If you believe in the power of positive juju send me some, I need it!
Alright, time to watch some Biggest Loser… holla!
September 20th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
Postive juju flowing your way. So I feel like a crazy person any time I have even the slightest weird feeling or twingy-ness and I think, “OMG. I HAVE A STRESS FRACTURE!!!!”, and then it goes away. Nope, not overracting at all. You are going to kill that 20 miler!
September 20th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
Oh yeah…I was the first person to comment on your blog…Whoops. I need to rein in the stalker a little.
September 20th, 2011 at 8:30 pm
OMG! Nooo!!
Take some time off. For sure. And when you think you are ready to run again — don’t! That’s what I’ve learned. It’s all about taking time off. Maybe you can push your 20-miler back by a day or two to allow more healing time.
Pain behind the kneecap could be runner’s knee which is what I think I had this summer, it definitely hurt walking down stairs. The side knee pain does sound like IT band.
September 20th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
Let’s chat about your hip strength. That’s a tough question for the ‘net, but a lot of female runners have knee pain due to hip muscle weakness. Biomechanically, our hips and pelvises don’t have the best alignment for running. The muscles need to be strong at your hips to help out your knees. Your hip strength might be fine, but try out these clam shells and sidelying hip exercises, just to see what they feel like. It might help… that’s the best I can do without looking at your legs.
September 20th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZtEOu-QNtE decent video of the clam shells
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgv2AwjT_yE sidelying leg lifts
(Personal experience, my leg muscles are strong from running, but these hip muscles on me are super weak. If I do a set of 10, my hips are screaming. Obvs need to do more of these myself.) Good luck, hope it helps -
September 20th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Positive JUJU heading your way!
September 21st, 2011 at 6:41 am
Oh no. I have a knee injury at the moment, so I feel your pain. I hope noting is seriously wrong!
September 21st, 2011 at 8:45 am
Still praying to the running gods for you. There are some really good stretches on youtube to check out (I would explain them but it would probably sound like I was twisting you into a pretzel). Also, when I had IT band issues I didn’t foam roll everyday but I did Ice, rest and stretch it. The foam roller beat up my leg a little too much a a day off from it really helped.
See you Saturday!
September 21st, 2011 at 9:17 am
sending good vibes your way! i had what i thought was IT issues training for the CLE half. I refrained from long runs and bought a knee strap (which definitely helped while cross-training!).
September 21st, 2011 at 10:51 am
OMG, taper time already!!!
September 21st, 2011 at 10:57 am
Take it easy buddy! I always have IT knee problems when I do lots of long runs, so I can relate. It sounds like yours is just a little flare up and will go away. Sending positive thoughts and hugs your way! I can’t believe it is almost taper time- wow. So proud of your dedication and hard work!!!
September 21st, 2011 at 7:23 pm
I agree with Holly: if you think you’re ready to run, DON’T. Give it more rest days than you think it needs. Sending good vibes your way and keeping my fingers crossed!
Your training has been going so good that something had to happen sooner or later just to prove that you’re human like the rest of us.