Hi,
I have had a lot of problems with IT band syndrome whlst training for the london marathon which is in late april (about 5 weeks from now). I have only managed one 10 mile run as my longest run, but am still aiming to make it up to about 13 miles before race day. I was set to do an eight mile run today but had to stop at 4.5 due to pain in the IT bands.
I have just discovered the principles of chi running – front foot striking, tall posture, pilates breathing etc. I tried this technique in a run – it seemed to aleviate pain in the IT bands for a while but made my calf muscle fairly achey and stiff.
Is it dangerous to try and adopt this style of running with only 5 weeks of training left until the marathon?
J
Comments
By all means try to improve your form and posture, it will certainly help, and I have a friend whose running has been transformed by Chi, but in strictly Vlm terms, time is running out.
Thanks for the comments. I am desperate to do it this year as I may not be in the country next year but I do understand that it will be really hard with only 13 miles under my belt. Very frustrating...
As suggested better to defer and have a proper go at it next yr.
The reality of limping round London watching others run away from you probably isn't the best memory to have from London. I'd do it fit or not at all. It looks very lonely at the back.
if you are definitely going to do it thgis year then delay changing tio chi running till after the race.then you can run/ walk it.........if you try changing now and build up this quickly then the odds are definitely stacked for you to get injured and not take part...
If you are going to do the race(which it sounds as though you are still injured, so if you keep training you could make it worse and not make the start line anyway....) forget any end time. Forget running the whole thing. Start the race with a run/walk strategy.
Good luck.you might need it my friend!
If you are still determined to run I suggest you see a sports physio. the exact same thing happened to my IT band 5 weeks out from Brighton marathon last year, could only run a mile pain free. Saw a physio who did his thing and I was able to run, granted I had already done most of the training but if your going to run anyway its worth a try. Good luck
The phrase 'rearranging deckchairs on the titanic' springs to mind.
If you're going to run London, figure out how best you can manage it on your current level of training by setting a very conservative target or run/walking it. Introducing something new this close isn't a good idea, and it's certainly not going to make up for a lack of fitness.
James - in terms of timescales I agree with what everybody else has said - defer, or if you really can't bear the thought of doing that then work out a realistic run/walk plan that will get you round without breaking you.
However, I have, over the past few months, adopted some of the Chi running techniques and they have made a big difference. BUT it has taken months, not weeks to embed the changes and I'm still not there yet.
Get yourself a copy of Chi Marathon by Danny Dreyer - it's a bit tree huggy in style for my tastes but it very clearly teaches you how to get your posture right, which is the biggest thing. It takes lots of practice in front of the mirror and a LOT of correcting when you're running but for me it has been worth it.
It's worth a go, but realistically it's going to help your next marathon, not this one.
Good luck
Again, thanks for all the comments – very helpful indeed.
I am seeing a pyhsio this weekend and in the mean time I'm religously doing ice baths and core strength building, including quad strength building (every night). I'm also subsistuting the runs for walks for now and continuing with a super healthy diet. Will see how it goes in the next couple of weeks before making a definite decision.
Ooooh. Fighting talk. (Rubs hands in glee)