I'd decided a few months back that I wanted to do an olympic tri, and even though I couldn't swim or run, I decided to train for Lavaman in Hawaii this April. I was already a strong-enough cyclist, so I concerned myself with the run and the swim, though emphasis was on running. I improved quickly and before I knew it I'd gone from wanting to kill myself after 1.5-2 miles, to being able to run 3-6 miles smoothly, 3 or 4 times a week.

The swim has been the complete opposite; I took a group Total Immersion class, which got me started on the right foot, but didn't take me far enough. I've now joined a masters swim team which I hope will help me push myself the rest of the way.

anyway, the point of this rant is, last week I suddenly started having IT band trouble, and I haven't been able to run or bike for 9 days now. I tried swimming, and it was fine during, but afterwards the pain was very troubling. So, here I am, less than 2 months away from my first triathlon, and I feel like my swim is impossibly screwed for this timeframe. With the injury on top of that, expecting to have to take at least another half a week off from training altogether, and I'm starting to think that I should postpone.

I could register for a more local (and therefore much cheaper) oly tri later in the year, and then do Lavaman next year. It seems like this is the sensible thing to do now, I just feel stubborn because I don't want to feel like I'm wussing out.

So, BF, any thoughts? Am I a wuss to back out of the tri i'd been planning for months (though thankfully haven't yet booked travel for), talking about it with all my friends and family, etc, etc? Or is it smarter to take it easy, heal, begin a longer base period, and work myself up for a local event?

I hate my knee right now. Sorry this was so long.

Well, I'm not really a triathlete but I have had experience with IT band problems. Two summers ago I developed IT band syndrome in my left leg. Before I knew what my injury was I kept trying to ride through the pain until it became unbearable and I went to see a doctor. She advised me to take NSAIDs for 1-2 weeks and recommended that I avoid running or cycling. After a few weeks I rode some more and developed IT band problems again. I eventually wound up having to take the entire season off (I probably made the injury really bad by not seeing a doctor right away). The point is, at least in my experience, that this is an injury that requires a lot of rest and will require you to slowly work your way back into activity. Last season was the first time that I forced myself to work up a good base before I really started going out on long, hard rides, and I managed to prevent the IT problems from coming back. Other things that are really good to do are lots of stretching - I've really never been very flexible but I've found that regularly doing IT-band stretches throughout the day has helped. Regular massage of the affected area was helpful (I bought a foam roller for this - it can get painful but it really helps). I also did some exercises to strengthen my hip abductors because I've read that these can help stabilize your IT band. This winter I've been doing more general leg strength exercises to keep my form up. Other things that could help (but I haven't used) are inserts for your shoes and/or an IT-band brace. This is probably more information than you really needed but for me it was a really frustrating injury, so my advice to you would be to take it easy, take it slow, and make sure you're not making your injury worse. There will always be more triathlons for you to do.

Thanks, I appreciate it - I hadn't been taking any meds, so I'm starting on NSAIDs and I'll give it a couple more days before deciding whether to goto a doctor or not..

Thanks, I appreciate it - I hadn't been taking any meds, so I'm starting on NSAIDs and I'll give it a couple more days before deciding whether to goto a doctor or not..

Here's a good vid demonstrating how to use the foam roller: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t32xJspx50o&NR=1 The foam roller is the best treatment I've used for ITBS.

Don't listen to anyone on the net, go to a doctor right now.

I went today in fact. I was convinced it was my IT band, had all the symptoms etc. Guess what? My IT band is fine, not tight at all. I developed bursitis in the sac under my IT band, caused by a mechanical issue with my stride.

I've wasted 5 weeks treating a tight IT band...and that wasn't even my problem.

Thanks all - I did goto the doc, who sent me to an orthopedist, who's sending me in for an MRI. Her best guess at the moment is a tear in my lateral meniscus, but hopefully the MRI will put me on the road to recovery.

+1 to going to a doc ASAP.

Interestingly, the ortho said that I could cycle if I wanted - even if there was pain, she didn't think it would actually do any damage. I think i'll stay off the bike a few more days anyway, then maybe try an easy trainer ride.

Just for the layman (like me) and information. The ITB, ITBS or IT band is referring to the Iliotibial Tract Band Syndrome.

Read more here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliotibial_band and here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliotibial_band_syndrome

Thanks all - I did goto the doc, who sent me to an orthopedist, who's sending me in for an MRI. Her best guess at the moment is a tear in my lateral meniscus, but hopefully the MRI will put me on the road to recovery.

+1 to going to a doc ASAP.

Interestingly, the ortho said that I could cycle if I wanted - even if there was pain, she didn't think it would actually do any damage. I think i'll stay off the bike a few more days anyway, then maybe try an easy trainer ride.

If you do have a torn meniscus it's not going to harm it by riding because it's not something you can rest and "heal". The meniscus is cartilage with little to no bloodflow so there's no healing involved. The only thing that will fix it is surgery to clean up the tear.

If you do have a torn meniscus it's not going to harm it by riding because it's not something you can rest and "heal". The meniscus is cartilage with little to no bloodflow so there's no healing involved. The only thing that will fix it is surgery to clean up the tear.

Yea, that's what the ortho was getting at I guess, but nevertheless I feel safer not riding until the MRI results come in (I go in for the MRI today).

Ugh, surgery.

Thanks again for the info everyone.

An update for anyone who experiences similar pain/circumstances...

The MRI showed that it is not a meniscus tear. There are partial tears in the lateral and back (rear) ligaments, as well as a contused (aka bruised) kneecap. More info on the ligaments here -
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/knee/ilateralligament.html
The ortho's recommendation was to just give them more time to heal, and optionally go for physical therapy. She encouraged me to try some 'light' cycling, or even start some weight lifting, to bring some general strength to the area. She discouraged me from running, for now.

So, I'll I'm going to start riding on the trainer a bit and see how it feels. It'll be tough keeping it 'light' riding outside here; too many hills. I think I may also check out these guys (http://www.whartonperformance.com/) for some stretching.

Good luck with it mate.