ITB bites back

My right iliotibial band has been playing up this week. :(

I did my speed session on Tuesday, results below (targets: 1:40 and 3:12)
400m| 01:36
400m| 01:36
400m| 01:33
400m| 01:35
400m| 01:33
400m| 01:35
400m| 01:33
400m| 01:36
800m| 03:10
800m| 03:05
800m| 03:11
800m| 02:57

Towards the end and on the 1.5 mile warm-down run home the right ITB was really hurting, side of my leg just above the knee. As soon as I slow to a walk it goes away. Now, I read somewhere that adding a lot of speed work could cause this, but I am more inclined to believe I just need straightening out again! I'm going to see my Uncle chiropractor on Tuesday evening, and I hope that will cure it.

On Wednesday it didn't feel right, so I wisely rested. Instead of doing another speed session on Thursday I ran 8 miles tempo run. Half road, half trail 900ft of ascent and average 7:55 minute miles. I very very cautious for the first 2 miles, running about 9.5 minute miles to warm up the ITB. The niggling pain got less after that and enabled me to speed up, but never really went away, coming back on hills especially.

Come Friday, I decided 4 miles into a scheduled 12 mile run that I should play safe and cut it short, so I basically repeated the previous days effort and did the same 8 mile course. This time the pain wasn't as bad at all, and was barely noticeable. I was tempted to add more miles on the end, but again played safe. I was very tempted to can my planned 15 mile run on Saturday and do 2 hours on the exercise bike. However, just the thought of riding on the spot for 2 hours seemed worse than any ITB niggle. I spent some extra time on my inversion rack over the next couple of days. I also did some extra stretching and used my foam roller too. Basically throwing everything at the problem!

On Saturday I dug out my MDS racing pack and loaded it up for the first time since the MDS (I’ve used a light camelback for the last few weeks). I put only 5kg of weight inside. You remember, I have gambled with my training for the KAEM (in 3 weeks), and not trained with any weight so far. Well, I completed the 15 miles run with few issues. Again slight ITB niggles, but no showstopper. The route had 1250ft of ascent, and 70% of it was on the road. I only averaged 6.1mph, but that isn't too bad with the 5kg pack.

So, I'll get treatment in the next few days, and hopefully that'll be the end of ITB worries. I may only do one speed session this week too.

I am doing the Open to Offas LDWA event on Saturday. It is a 30 mile course taking in over 7000ft of ascent, so I am expecting it to be tough. The paths looks much better than the Rhayader Mountain trail thankfully, but a hill is a hill, so my legs should know about it come Saturday evening. It will also wrap up my one and only 50 mile week, and then it is two weeks of taper before the KAEM. It seems to be coming around so quickly and I feel ill prepared if truth be told. I have not yet got all the kit and food I need, so I had really better start my preparations in earnest. I need to be approaching this event with even more respect that I gave the MDS, since it is going to be tougher, but so far I have not done that. I'm not sure why, but I definitely need to give myself a good talking to! Mind you, people tend to get locked up for doing that sort of thing. That said, I think most of us who tackle these events are certifiable!

Enjoy you week.