I have been having IT Band Pain when Running, what do you suggest?
Michelle) Ray, for my training for the Boston Marathon (my very first marathon) I have to admit this is the hardest week I have had so far… weather didn’t help it much as all of my runs were on a treadmill (barf!) It could stop snowing now I think we are good (we may never see the grass or roads again). My knee bothered me all week, tired, unmotivated but pulled through and just got it done. Hoping to relax tomorrow and start again strong on Monday. Michelle
HSR) Hello Michelle, nice to see that you slugged it out when your motivation level was down. As much as it sucks, it will make you stronger and build your confidence for the runs that really count.
It worries me that your knee has hurt all week. Have you thought about getting a gait analysis done? For someone like yourself who is ramping up the mileage, proper running form is really important. I run anywhere between 50 to 70 miles each week with no pain or injuries.
Now would be the time to have your gait looked at because it takes a good month or longer to be able to properly change your current running style. It had paid off for me and I have been running pain free every since.
Looking forward to following your continued progress! Ray
Michelle) Ray, yep bad week my friend had a bad week as well so we cried together. My knee is an IT Band thing well at least that is what they say. I have stretches and strength things for it. The week before was not bad I don’t think I did a very good job stretching and rolling it out and have done a very crappy job of cross training so trying to work on that this week too. Who do I go to… to look at my gate? My knee literally only hurts when I am running and doesn’t start hurting until I get to mile 6 or 7??
Can you move here and train me? Beautiful snow and ice… LOVE IT. Michelle
HSR) Michelle, if me and Simon can live in your basement for free I might consider coming out.
The IT band is a typical injury for runners. The problem with the IT band is that it is connected to so many other muscle groups that usually it is not the IT band itself that needs work, but the other groups. It usually starts with tight lower back muscles, glut and/or quad muscles being tight. As a former gymnast I’m sure you can figure out how to stretch them out. I still would not stop rolling your IT band, but you must also work the other areas. It can also be caused by excessive pronation of the foot. If you do any track workouts and always run the same direction on the track, this could also cause IT Band issues.
My friend does do gait analysis over the web. She would ask you to video tape yourself running (preferably not on a treadmill). Her name is Janet Runyan. She had won the Leadville Trail 100 and is amazing on what she knows about running technique. If online is something that you would not want to do, see if there is and sports medicine clinics around. Don’t go to your local shoe store and have them do it. I did start out going to Boulder Sports Medicine for a gait analysis. They helped my running style, but it wasn’t until I went to a running coach that I improved dramatically and started running pain free ever since. You might want to check out some of the running clubs in the Boston area and see if they can recommend a running coach. I’m guessing that you would need about 4 to 5 sessions to get you moving down the right path.
My theory on running is “That running is not bad for you, but running wrong is bad for you.”
I hope this helps, Ray
Michelle) Ray, we have a running coach for the Dana Farber team I will get with him… he was the one who pointed me to the doctor to say it was the IT band thing. I don’t do a lot of track workouts but it is just my right knee.
It is funny though I forgot all the fun training aspects of really training to do something. 5K and 10K seem so small now and before I wouldn’t have even thought of running that far.
I may contact your friend since we will be visiting Colorado in February.
I would let you and Simon live in the basement but I don’t know where the floor of my basement is. We moved from a decent sized house to a small one so don’t fit in nicely yet. Michelle
