Pain in the A$$

Batensmack

Beware, batbear...

posted: 3/8/2010 at 8:43 PM

On Tuesday of last week I went for a run and as I was going down a hill (pretty fast) I felt a twinge in my hamstring that caused me to perk up my ears and slow down a bit. I didn't have any pain for the other runs last week, but I did feel a tightness in the left hammy on the downhills.

Then, on Friday, I went and ran a preview run of the 10k course I'm supposed to run on Saturday and that was good, but it has a severe downhill and I felt the twinge again. Next day, I'm sore as hell can't run my long run all weekend. In particular I've got a painful butt muscle.

Today, I schedule a 70 minute run to possibly make up for the long run, but going out my butt was still kind of sore so I put it in my mind that I might take it easy. I ran sort of fast going out and when I started going downhill I started to really feel it and slowed down. I ended up cutting the run short and doing drills for the last 5 minutes of the run and stretched after the run.

I can't say that terribly painful, but it's definitely noticeable and tender to the touch. What should I do between now and Saturday to heal as much as possible? Will I even be ready for Saturday? Should I sit it out or run it easy?

2012 Goals:

1. 1500+ miles.

2. Streak starting in March or April if I'm healed.

3. 100 Push up challenge to get some upper body strength back.

4. Get weight under 180 by the end of the summer.

5. 1 or fewer alcoholic drinks 4+ nights per week every week.

6. Concentrate on 5K distance and September HM.

7. Have fun!

protoplasm72

posted: 3/8/2010 at 11:13 PM

I'd rest it till saturday (RICE) and play it by ear for the race. You won't lose any significant fitness in a few days. If it feels better I'd try an easy mile or 2 on friday to loosen up and test it out. If you race, remember you should be doing short quick strides downhill, not long strides (bad hamstring or not).

Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose; it's how drunk you get. -- Homer Simpson

RunsForCake

posted: 3/9/2010 at 10:15 AM

I'm no expert but it sounds like maybe your IT band is tight. I had similar pain in the past and that was my problem. Iced and incorporated some stretches pre and post run that helped.

Maybe book a massage for tomorrow and see if the therapist can work out the tightness.

Good luck!

L Train

posted: 3/9/2010 at 10:22 AM

Quote from protoplasm72 on 3/8/2010 at 11:13 PM:

If you race, remember you should be doing short quick strides downhill, not long strides (bad hamstring or not).

Agreed. Learned the hard way about 1 1/2 months ago. I had been working on running downhill faster and was doing it wrong by overstriding. I wonder if that's what led to your soreness.

mr train you are a pain, your words - they make me go insane

they strike my ever-thinking brain like little drops of acid rain

oh, to my life you are a bane; crazy, mixed up, mr train - r2e

Batensmack

Beware, batbear...

posted: 3/9/2010 at 12:53 PM

Thanks for the responses! I did a load of drills and stretches at the end of yesterday's run and today it feels better than yesterday, still a little bit tender. I think I'll run another easy run today with drills and stretches at the end and see how I feel tomorrow.

2012 Goals:

1. 1500+ miles.

2. Streak starting in March or April if I'm healed.

3. 100 Push up challenge to get some upper body strength back.

4. Get weight under 180 by the end of the summer.

5. 1 or fewer alcoholic drinks 4+ nights per week every week.

6. Concentrate on 5K distance and September HM.

7. Have fun!

runningwild

Lia's Daddy

posted: 3/9/2010 at 3:54 PM

Something that it takes a while for a lot of my XC kids to understand is that when running downhill it is better to lengthen our stride behind us, not in front of us. I see my kids over-reaching with their strides which lends itself to awkward landings and heel strikes. Lifting our feet up a little higher behind us lengthens our strides in a way that is less stressful on our legs.

"Stadiums are for spectators. We runners have nature and that is much better."
Juha "the Cruel" Väätäinen

Pain in the A$$ (Read 575 times)