Running

Am doing my first half marathon in two and a bit weeks and have been doing some 9 - 11 mile runs.

For the last few times, whenever I get to within the last mile or so, I start getting really sharp pains on the outside of my knee, and it's sometimes up in my hip too (both on my left leg). I feel totally fine all the way round and then it's like my body knows I'm near the end and gives up.

Don't have a clue what's causing it, am running with shoes reccommended for my stride from Runners Need that are only 3 months old.... any ideas / tips?

ITB?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliotibial_band_syndrome

I just discovered this.

World's Best IT Band Stretch by Dr. Geoffrey Alan Gray - YouTube

I will hunt them both down and kill them.
Try this.

(Of course, it may not be your ITB, but the only way you're going to find out that is if something falls off or snaps.)

^ and even if it's not your ITB now, if you run at some point you will get tight ITB's so kill them ... ahem ... stretch them now :)

Did you try turning it off an on again?

...

Despite feeling aweful on sunday, I seem to be running ok this week, I cut the distance per run and have just increased frequency so I don't knacker myself too much in one go, and going to do my long run on friday and take the whole weekend off.

Hopefully next week I'll be fresh as a daisy again and able to close in the final few weeks before the marathon!

Been doing a lot of running up hills. Its shit, I'm fecking heavy, and my thighs burn.

Doing the school/nursery run on the cargo bike this morning had my eyes watering.

Much HTFU juice required.

Yeah definitely* IT band problems, aka the it's fucking tight band.

If you look around for IT band stretches and glute strengthening/stability exercises, that may help. This site suggests very similar stuff to what a good physio prescribed me a few years ago: http://www.fix-knee-pain.com/knee-exercises/stretches/itb-stretches/.

*Where definitely means as far as I, who am not a physio or similar, can diagnose over the internet on almost zero information.

Ah, should have read the next page.

In happier news, I no longer feel ill and am back running again after 10 days off. Lydd half a week and bit, so just enough time for a good long run and good session. I've just looked at the course profile: it goes between 1 and 4 metres above sea level, so no excuses not to cane it.

Anyone else doing it?

So I taped up the shoulder and banged out 6k at lunchtime. 27 minutes, or 7mins 18 seconds per mile. Nothing to boast about but I´ll settle for it in my current condition. Shoulder fine, rib not tearing hole in lung.

I usually run every other day, but a colleague wanted to try the route, so went out again yesterday. We shaved a minute of the time. According to the smartphone strapped to my arm, I was doing 115 strides per minute, with very little variation, on both days. Think I would be a bit faster if I dropped that down by 5 or 10.

Thanks all who suggested stuff with regards to my spastic leg. Will look into it!

Definitely want to try to address the problem asap, don't want to get to the 12th mile of this half and be crippled

A colleague of mine here has ITB issues; he's seeing a specialist. Can ask what he's been recommended.

Foam rollers ftw.

Google foam roller itb and watch the videos that come up, then obtain access to a foam roller.

We have one at home, it's called "the beast". It hurts in a good way.

A colleague of mine here has ITB issues; he's seeing a specialist. Can ask what he's been recommended.

That would be great, ta.

There's loads of those foam rollers at my gym. Will get some youtube on later.

What shoes are people running in? Have a pair of shitty freebees thinking about something better

What shoes are people running in? Have a pair of shitty freebees thinking about something better

The ones that look the best. Therefore a pair of Nike Flyknits obvs.

Nah, but seriously not much good can come from requesting suggestions from a forum. Best you go try some on, get some advice from a specialist in a running shop who can advise you and go from there. Try not to be put off by price either.

None, when it's not too cold and wet.

Anything will look better than what I have now
Thanks though

Every time I go running at the moment my body seems to seize up. I ran to and from work yesterday and I feel totally broken today despite running extremely slowly and stretching for ages. Part of it is definitely cos I weigh loads more than I did before Christmas but is the rest likely to be weather related? I would like it to stop happening soon if possible.

I swear I was in better shape before I gave up smoking.

^ I feel a bit like that at the moment, and I think it's a mix of over-training, dehydration and the weather.

What were you smoking?! ;)

All the stuff above about ITB sounds like exdactly what the issue is - thanks very much all. Will start trying to do those stretches. Had a very quick go doing the thing on the roller this morning at the gym but wasn't sure if I was doing it right.

What shoes are people running in? Have a pair of shitty freebees thinking about something better

How heavy are you?
Are your arches low medium, or high?
Do you pronate?
Do you want shoes for fast short efforts, or longer endurance efforts?

I'm heavy, flat footed, and pronate a bit.
Short fast road runs = Asics DS trainer
Long slower runs = Asics Kayano
Off-road/ trail = Innov8 Roclite
Off road/ snow = Innov8 Oroc

Thing is even if you match my stats. You may not like the flex pattern of Asics They're pretty rigid untill you get to the ball of the foot. When these die I will go back to the equivalent Mizunos. They flex a smidge more in the mid foot.

Point is. Theres a lot to consider. A fitting will shorten the trial and error time. Thus earning its cost back (often free if you buy shoes).

Every time I go running at the moment my body seems to seize up. I ran to and from work yesterday and I feel totally broken today despite running extremely slowly and stretching for ages. Part of it is definitely cos I weigh loads more than I did before Christmas but is the rest likely to be weather related? I would like it to stop happening soon if possible.

I swear I was in better shape before I gave up smoking.

I'm getting this a bit. I'm also heavier than the last time I was running so much.

I have put some of it down to lack of sleep.

Boom!

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theyre mental in a good way those^^
fuck running in hi viz vests, hate that whole roadies winter running thing.
love running in the night forest though-
we got our shit organised results from earlier tonight- 3/13 pretty happy

http://www.wimborne-orienteers.org.uk/wim/13%20MV%203-in-1/MVNight/index.html

I've got the vest version, purely because I thought it was cool- the fabric is crazily reflective.

Mad, it looks like a dull grey jacket until light is shone on it, not exactly breathable though!