Hi there! Here are some answers:

1. It was a trail race, at Seaton Trail in Ontario. They do odd
distances usually around the 25-30k mark in Ontario.

2. Before that, my longest run was 20km, in the winter. That pace
was slow, about 6.8min/km. The race pace was more like 6min/km

3. I generally always train on trails, a lot of up and down. I don't
really run on the road at all.

4. I wear trail shoes, I bought them right after the first race
because my feet hurt (different issue which has resolved itself). So
they are pretty much brand new.

5. I didn't notice the knee pain until I tried to run a week or so
later. I have noticed that changing my pace too much will trigger it,
ie: if I am running and then I switch to walking, my right knee will
start to ache. Also I have noticed that going downhill irritates it
much more. I just ran a 10km race yesterday (52 minutes) and I felt
discomfort but no pain. I have noticed pain just walking around my
apartment, in both knees now.

I am thinking I will try out this pat strap. Congratulations re: Boston!

Thanks,
-Katie






--- In itbs@yahoogroups.com, "DrT \(George Themelis\)" <drt-3d@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Katie,
>
> Boy, this sounds so familiar.... It is a carbon copy of what happened to
> me, only instead of a 26 km race, mine was 42 km (my first
marathon), back
> in 2004. Also, at the time I was in my 3 year of running, so I was not
> exactly a beginner.
>
> Sounds like you have an ITB injury due to overuse, with maybe other
> contributing factors. A few questions:
>
> 1 - 26 km race is a strange number... somewhere between a half marathon
> (21) and a full marathon (42). What kind of race was this?
>
> 2 - How long was your longest run before this race, how often. and
at what
> pace? At what pace was your 26 mile run?
>
> 3 - Was the terrain unusual, compared to what you trained at? Too soft?
> Too hard? Too hilly? Any side-slope?
>
> 4 - Did you do anything unusual during the race? Did you wear different
> clothes? Anything to compress your legs (from thigh to knee)? How about
> your shoes?
>
> 5 - How much wear do your shoes have? Turn your shoes around and
> look at the wear pattern at the bottom. How does it look?
>
> 6 - Did you feel any pain in the legs during the race? How was your
> recovery (first day or two) after the race?
>
> As I said, I went through exactly the same thing in 2004. I was not
> exactly prepared for my first marathon, with a longest run of only 19
> miles. So, clearly, I ran longer (mile and time-wise) and with higher
> intensity. I was wearing the wrong shoes (trail shoes, always
bought what
> was cheap and had never given any thought to what shoes might be
> appropriate) and they had a lot of wear in them (I had used them through
> my training).
>
> When I tried to run after the marathon, I felt exactly what you are
> describing. I was able to bike and do anything else, except for running.
> 3 miles into the run, I was forced to stop and walk. I now believe that
> my ITBS injury was caused by "overuse" (too much running in one
race) with
> the shoes as a contributing factor.
>
> I went to the doctor (confirmed ITBS), had Physical Therapy, bought the
> "right" shoes, stretched, experimented with shoe inserts, etc. But the
> pain was not going away, after months of frustration. Finally, I tried
> the "band", based on a recommendation I read in this list. The band
is an
> elastic band that you tie just above the knee. It is supposed to
pin down
> the IT band and reduce the friction at the knee.
>
> I was very skeptical at first, but this did the trick for me. I
felt the
> difference the first time I put it on (I was able to run 7 miles
with only
> discomfort, no pain). I was able to run while the injury was
healing (so
> the band was acting as a "band-aid"). I kept the band for several
months,
> until the discomfort disappeared. I ran my 2nd marathon the next year,
> wearing the band as a precaution, and then got rid of it. The
particular
> brand I used is the pat strap (www.patstrap.com)
>
> I have been ITBS-free since then and have completed 4 more marathons
> without problems (the last one was last Sunday, I finally qualified for
> Boston!) I always run marathons with relatively new shoes.
>
> If the band or stretching or anything anyone else suggests does not work
> for you, then your only option is to stop running until the injury heals
> completely (this can take months) and then start from scratch again and
> *slowly* build up. That's the only advice I can give you. Be extremely
> careful. This condition is really tricky and if you are not careful you
> might join the ranks of those with chronic ITBS who are unable to run.
>
> Good luck!
>
> George T.
>
>
>
> 1a. New runner - pain after my first race
> Posted by: "katie_h10" katie_h10@... katie_h10
> Date: Thu May 22, 2008 3:28 pm ((PDT))
>
> Hi everyone, I'm 25 years old - female, and I have been running for 6
> months but physically very active with martial arts for 6 years. I
> ran my first ever 26km race last month.
>
> Now, recently whenever I go for a short run I will be fine for a few
> kilometers but then I have severe pain on the outside of my right
> knee. If I keep my leg straight and take a few steps this way there
> is no pain, but the moment I bend the knee in the slightest it is
> agony. I have to almost "walk it off" for 5-10 minutes before the
> pain goes away, and then I can start jogging again for a few more
> minutes before the pain comes back.
>
> I haven't ran in a week now for fear I am aggravating it. Also, I
> ride my bike fairly aggressively to school every day and there is zero
> pain. It seems to only happen when jogging. Any ideas?
>
> -Katie
>