Every year I run the Gulf Coast Half Marathon in Mandeville, LA. And every year I run it I have some type of pain or injury. Last year it was this same hip pain. I was really hoping this year I would be running it pain and injury free. :-(
I'm not sure why I get hip pain at this time every year. All I can guess is that all summer long I continue running but I don't run long distances. Then around August I start training and increase my mileage. I make sure to not increase too much. But maybe the increase just takes my body a little longer to get used to again.
Also...remember that super duper hilly long run I ran the weekend before last? I know hills are not good on your hips and IT Band. I was really sore after that run in my quads, IT Band, and calves....but maybe it hurt my hips more than I thought.
So what's my plan? Well...I decided last Friday afternoon to NOT run my planned 11 miles the next day. I decided I was going to rest. The last day I ran was last Thursday. So I'm planning to not run again until THIS Thursday. I'm taking a whole week off. And hopefully it gives the hip what it needs to get better.
So I am spending lots and lots of time with these things:
And lots and lots of time stretching.
It sucks. But I'm listening to my body and hopefully I'll be running pain free again soon.
QOTD: How do you handle being injured? Any hip injury advice for me?
