So, I have been talking about my right knee on here, mentioning that it has been bothering me, hampering me from properly training. Well, it has certainly reared its ugly head and got my complete attention. I woke up on Sunday and my knee felt really tight and sore. I know it is my IT band, I mean I can actually SEE that it is swollen. I tried it out by going for a very brief run, but the pain didn't go away.
I know, I know, how would it...Hey, you never know.
Shut up.
Anyway, it got pretty tight on the drive home. I stretched it out when I got back to my apartment, hoping that would help out some. It didn't feel too, too bad the following day, Monday, so I tested it out on a four mile run. I could "feel" the ligament throughout the entire run, especially when I chased after a few middle schoolers shouting out explatives to random people walking by, minding their own business. What? They were rude and deserved to get chased. Little buggers....Anyway, when I got home, I stretched a bit, but didn't feel any significant pain. I thought I had taken care of what ever was making it enflamed...of course I did. So, with that thought in mind, I tried to tackle 6 miles yesterday, a run that normally is easy and thoughtless. Well, it proved to be just that...for about 4 miles and a half miles. It was at this point that the pain in my IT band became so bad that I had to actually stop and stand still. I stretched it out, which is not a TON of fun, and proceeded to walk for a half mile.
I am not good a going slow, in any regard. So, the idea of walking back to my apartment was not one that sat well with me. It is also why I have FAR too many scars, surgical repairs, pins, etc. for a 30-year old. So what did I do? That's right, I tried to start running again with about a mile to go from home. I got about 100 meters down the road before a shooting pain ripped through my knee to stop in my tracks and throw some serious shadow box punches through the air. I don't know WHAT THE FREAKING DEAL IS, but my body is angry at me. I mean, I know what the deal is, I just don't know why it is happening now, with less than two months left before the race, after putting mile after mile in. I ended up walking the rest of the way, which was also extremely painful. Yes, I know, I have done a number to this IT band, and I am not exactly sure where it leaves me. I stretched my knee really well last night, I stretched all the areas connected to the IT band, even my booty. I then iced it, took some ibuprofen, and went to bed, hoping for the best.
I woke up this morning, took one step and almost fell over. My whole leg is so damn tight, my IT is throbbing as I write this, and seems to be getting worse with every step. There is absolutely no way that I will be running today, tomorrow, or in the near future. I mean, I will pray for something awesome to conspire, but I also am not holding my breath.
So what does this mean? Well, I am not exactly sure. I have registered for the race, I have set up plans to get down there, etc. I have put in countless hours to prepare, and I am not one to back off, even if it is the right thing to do. And then there is the Petit Family, who I am running this marathon for. Thinking about them, I have come to this early decision - it doesn't matter how I feel on race day, I will toe that line. I may have to walk the whole thing, but I don't care, I will finish it. I will be damned if this hiccup is going to stop me from accomplishing that. In all honestly, I have always believed this training is bigger than me, wholeheartedly. I made a promise, and I will keep it regardless.
Any thoughts, hints, stretching routines, methods of treatment for IT bands, etc. is welcomed...actually I begging any and all of you to help me out!
Really, really dejected and frustrated-
-B
This just solidifies the fact that I will be in Arizona in mid January to run the Rock n' Roll marathon.
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