First time poster, long time reader of slowtwitch…probably too much!
Anyways, I have done a lot of ST searching and also google, but just want to get some opinions from everyone on my situation.
Basically, my tailbone is hurting and has been pretty sore since this past Saturday (my first 1/2 Ironman, High Cliff). Leading up to the race, my bike mileage was pretty consistent. I had done a few big rides, a 4hr and a 5hr in the previous weeks leading up to High Cliff (I’m also training for IMWI). I have a road bike with clip-on bars and during those long rides I was in the aero-bars a good portion of the time.
Fast forward to the few days before High Cliff. I can’t remember exactly, but I’m pretty sure I “noticed” my tailbone area slightly last week. It was minor enough that I can’t really recall what day or when it was, but I think it was there slightly. Anyways, I raced the 1/2 on Saturday and was in the aero position most of the 56 miles. Didn’t hammer too bad and felt good coming off the bike. Basically as soon as I dismounted and started running my bike back into transition I could feel my tailbone, it felt sore. I set off for the run and I wasn’t even thinking about my legs hurting, it was more my tailbone being “sore” and making running awkward. I don’t remember when, but eventually I stoppped noticing it and keep on running. I did have an epic fall on the run course around mile 9, but I don’t think that has anything to do with the pain I’m experiencing. By the way, it was a trail run, I did not fall down on a perfecly paved road!
Race over, cool down, hang out, eat food, massage. I eventually drove home, ~2 hours back to Madison, and relaxed. Didn’t notice the tailbone the rest of Saturday. On Sunday I felt the tailbone pain. Also felt it yesterday and I feel it today. Sitting here typing this it doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t hurt to walk. However, it does hurt if I take off into a jog. Basically in a quick jog each step hurts right in the tailbone area, directly at the top of my butt, not the low back at all, right below that. I can “feel” the pain if I press on the tip of the tailbone, (imagine coming up from the ground and touching it). I “biked” today for a few minutes just to see what it was like on my bike, it was alright.
Kind of rambling, and maybe I’m making something out of nothing, but does this sound like anything to anyone or am I just being a wussy with a bruised tailbone from sitting in a crappy position for 56 miles and putting the weight of my body on my tailbone? I definitely do not have a perfect position and I don’t think I’m usually positioned correctly on the “sit bones.” Does this just sound like I need to have better posture on my bike both when upright and when in aero?
Just a little freaked out I guess because it has been 3 days and a simple jog hurts enough that I can’t run right now. I’ve never hurt my tailbone before so it is a new feeling, very annoying.
Just for additional info, I did the 1/2 in 4:39, with 2:31 on the bike, so I wasn’t on the bike for too long of a time. The run was quick too, 1:34. No problems after 4-5 hr rides, this is my first experience of the pain. My 2 weeks leading up to the 1/2 looked like this:
125 bike/25 run
205 bike/21 run
Run miles are low, but fitness is there, I did a marathon at end of May.
Thanks for reading this if you make it all the way!