Tale of an angry hip
I cut my 20-miler way short yesterday due to hip pain. My left hip was complaining mildly after just a couple of miles. Not wanting to make matters worse and push through something I shouldn’t, I aborted the mission after 3 miles and rode 30 miles on Blanche the trusty road bike instead. 30 miles is great but it isn’t the same as running 20. Boo.
How did this happen? My running has been going really well the last month or more. I reinstituted speedwork and I felt great after my last 18 miler. I have a history of ITBS but it hasn’t been an issue since I began foam rolling/strengthening 3+ years ago.
After consulting the all-knowing WebMD, here’s what I came up with. I tweaked my left knee recently doing lunges, maybe a week and half ago? Not even sure exactly when… it’s been a tad tender if I step the wrong way but painless when I run. No big deal right?
I first noticed the achy hip during my track ladder last Thursday. I did 1600m, 3200m 2x800m. By the last 800m I had to pull up and wog it in. My left hip, toward the outside was not happy. It was not sudden pain, but a gradually increasing ache.
I rested Friday and Saturday hoping all would be back to normal by Sunday. No such luck.
My theory: Could this be referred pain from the knee tweak? Maybe I’m subconsciously changing my gait to compensate for the knee?
