The formula.

I think we all have one - a formula that keeps us healthy and happy. And everyone's formula is different, but I've been asked to share what I've learned in 8 months of ITBS and what I'm doing now to finally be functioning. A while back I posted that I was playing Magnum.. so let me give you the Thomas Magnum voice over ITBS mystery-solved wrap up. 

Since March I have graced the paper-covered padded table of an Orthopedic Surgeon, Physical Therapist, Sports Med Doctor, Chiropractor/ART Provider & Muscle Activation Therapist. I have had an x-ray, MRI, 2 rounds of cortisone, many a massage, months of strengthening exercises, weekly adjustments & months of absolute rest (June & July 2008 will forever be referred to as The Fattening.) I wore my gold aviators, but alas, didn't have Robin's Ferrari.

Here is what I now know: 

Glute medius strengthening, in spite of being the number one recommendation for ITBS, only injures me further. No glute medius strengthening.

No pool. Ever. Pool membership cancelled.

No running after swimming.
Swimming is limited to 3x/week.
No kicking. Ever.

High turnover, shorter stride in front when running.

I must stretch the psoas and glutes daily, even on rest days.
I must wear neutral, light racing flats.
I must get adjusted each week.

This stick thing, run along the tibialis, calf, arch and inner thigh for 30s each prior to running is supposed to activate the muscles that are being favored by my brain. Or something like that. It's working.

Saturday I rode 110 miles and swam a 2.4 mile race. Then I woke up Sunday and ran 2 hours without any IT band pain at all. I may have had a small, weeping tantrum and anxiety attack over my lack of fitness in the 30 mph headwind near Turtle Bay while lying down on the shoulder of Kam Hwy 80 miles into the ride. Katherine talked me back onto my bike (Ramsey won't come pick you up, he always tells you to walk until someone offers you a ride - she was right, he won't, he does, and someone always stops) and then she pulled my sorry ass home. By 110 I couldn't see out of my left eye. But even that was a welcome change to all the nothing. And The Fattening.

The injury wasn't completely fruitless. In all those months of swimming I became a sub-hour IM swimmer (wetsuit.. but we'll see if I can keep it for Kona) and an AG winner in a swim race this past weekend when I swam that extremely current-assisted 2.4 miler in 52:33. If I can con Bree or Hillary into wearing my chip for the swim at Kona, I'm going to use that swim as my evidence when they accuse me of cheating.

This is where the swim started. It was really hard to sight... well, it would have been if it weren't summer anyway..