(Note--ugh, this is long. Sorry! )
IT band issues are my Achilles heel. (Except that's probably a really confusing metaphor in this case!) I started having ITBS when I'd been running shod a couple of months. Got rid of it with the foam roller. It started coming back when I got my mileage up. Got rid of it when I started running BF and drastically decreased my mileage. It started coming back when my barefoot/minimalist mileage got a little higher (not very high, just up to about 2 1/2 miles per run.) Since then it's been coming and going. I keep thinking I've conquered it, and realize I haven't.
I still use the foam roller, and as I wrote in a previous thread, the book on trigger points has been really helpful. I did my 9-miler last weekend (with KT tape on my IT band in 2 places just in case) without any major issues. Did a 3-miler Tuesday and was fine. Tried to run last night...and had to stop after a little over ONE MILE and walk home! Talk about FRUSTRATING!
So here's my plan of action.
I also have this emotional reaction--what's wrong with me that I can't just RUN? Why does my body seem to want to stop me from increasing my mileage at a rate that should be reasonable? I'm trying to do everything right; why isn't it working? For some reason I'm kind of ashamed that my body just isn't working right. Sigh.
IT band issues are my Achilles heel. (Except that's probably a really confusing metaphor in this case!) I started having ITBS when I'd been running shod a couple of months. Got rid of it with the foam roller. It started coming back when I got my mileage up. Got rid of it when I started running BF and drastically decreased my mileage. It started coming back when my barefoot/minimalist mileage got a little higher (not very high, just up to about 2 1/2 miles per run.) Since then it's been coming and going. I keep thinking I've conquered it, and realize I haven't.
I still use the foam roller, and as I wrote in a previous thread, the book on trigger points has been really helpful. I did my 9-miler last weekend (with KT tape on my IT band in 2 places just in case) without any major issues. Did a 3-miler Tuesday and was fine. Tried to run last night...and had to stop after a little over ONE MILE and walk home! Talk about FRUSTRATING!
So here's my plan of action.
- Continue to work those trigger points, 3-6 times a day, as the book suggests. (I'd started slacking a bit, thinking it was gone, but the book makes it clear when you've had an issue for awhile you have to stay on top of it so it doesn't come back.)
- Focus on running with a more level pelvis and with my feet facing forward. These articles from the Chi Running website are what I'm focusing on: ITBS article, level pelvis article, pelvis rotation article.
- Use KT Tape for longer runs (and for shorter ones if necessary) until this is really resolved.
- Run less when necessary. (I've already been doing less running recently. I'm protecting the long runs as much as possible but being more flexible with weekday runs.)
- Finally, and probaly most importantly, I'm finally going to get some help from a pro! It's about freaking time; why in the world have I let this come and go so long without going to someone? I guess I've been stuck in DIY mode! A friend of mine who is an Ironman triathlete goes to a rehab clinic that she really likes. The clinic does PT, chiropractic, ART, trigger point therapy (yeah!), and massage. So I think they'll be able to help me really get to the bottom of this. (My first appointment is Monday, and while I hope we can resolve it quickly, I'll go as many times as I need to.)
I also have this emotional reaction--what's wrong with me that I can't just RUN? Why does my body seem to want to stop me from increasing my mileage at a rate that should be reasonable? I'm trying to do everything right; why isn't it working? For some reason I'm kind of ashamed that my body just isn't working right. Sigh.