So right now i’m literally on the side of the road waiting to be picked up 80 miles into a 120 mile ride after my IT band completely failed on me. It had been irritating me for the last couple weeks but I was able to keep it from becoming a real problem with constant foam roller, ice and ART. During this ride it wasn’t bothering me too bad but in the matter of a few hundred yards went to the point where I had to stop completely not even being able to make it to the next intersection to tell my support where to pick me up. Anyway, as I sit here I know my season is over and for the foreseeable future triathlon training will not be part of my daily routing for the first time since I started the sport many years ago. The reason that I am posting this is because as disppointing as that is the main point of dispear that i’m feeling comes from the thought that I might lose the body that I have been able to attain and that I will not be able to eat as much as I am accostume to. In the back of my mind i’m thinking about the dinner plans I have in the next few weeks and how I am not going to be able to enjoy them as much as I would have if I had been training during this period. I know these are unhealthy thoughts, especially for a late 20’s male but how do I see past these feelings and realize that there is a lot more to living a healthy lifestyle than putting in large training volume so you can reward yourself and that I don’t have to put in that training volume to have a good looking triathlon body? It makes me feel like i’m doing the sport for all the wrong reasons.
Sorry to hear. Get well soon!! There is a long future out there. I love still having a body to use at 50
Dave
You will be back next season and be more fit than ever. 1st get healthy.
I would enjoy all the dinner plans. Even if you get a bit out of shape, it will come back. I have experienced almost the same feelings. I got injured gained about 15 pounds last summer and lost it all and came back faster than prior to my injury.
So I say, take this time to get back to 100%, enjoy all the things the triathlon lifestyle prevented. You can sleep more, spend time with family and friends, even enjoy some junk food. You’ll lose any weight, once your leg gets better
I feel your pain. My season never even started. I’ve been battling PF and IT band/knee problems all year. Not having something to train for sure does suck.
I had IT band problems earlier this years causing hip bursitis to the point I could barely walk. I took 2 solid weeks off (swam only) and rolled it with foam and a rolling pin. When you do roll it, does it hurt like you’ve bruised the bone? I thought I did some real damage, but was told this is normal and it’ll get better. 2 weeks later the sharp pain went away and it no longer hurts while rolling. Yeah, for 2 more weeks I only ran 3 @ 3 miles, but it got better quickly. This may not be as bad as you think. Stop everything; roll, ice, ibuprophen and re-evaluate in 2 weeks. But most importantly, don’t try to push through it.
I’m sorry about your injury. But I also think that a soft-issue injury shouldn’t end someone’s athletic career - unless by choice.
If the ART isn’t working perhaps there is something that needs to change in your bike set-up, running technique/shoes, regular body posture, etc. etc. If this really means that much to you, I’d seek out as many different experts as I could until something clicked. You could learn a lot about your body, and it may make you a better athlete in the end.
Maybe start by seeing if there is a graston or rolfing expert in your area - or by getting a bike fit by someone who is an expert?
I’m sorry to hear of your disappointment, but things could be worse. I’m not trying to belittle your ailments; I truly feel for you. Let me tell you of my last three weeks. I headed out for an early training ride on Memorial Day (a Monday - I live in the US) before I was going to take my family to a church picnic. I hit a cattle guard horribly wrong, which threw me from my bike. Result: fractured orbital over right eye socket, broken nose, fractured C4 spinous, 4 broken ribs, a fractured L1 transverse process, and a four day stay in the hospital. I was sent home in a neck brace and loaded with pain medication. Two days after leaving the hospital, I received a call from my brother that my parents had been in a head-on car accident on a highway. Result: my father passed away and my mom broke a rib, lacerated her liver, crushed two vertebrae in her back and broke both ankles. That night the muscles in my back around the broken ribs spasmed for two hours and I could hardly breathe. I truly felt like I was suffocating at times. I ended up back in the ER and they loaded me on muscle relaxers. Two days later my family flew to Texas to take care of my dad’s funeral arrangements, while we waited to see if my mom would be released from the hospital in time to “say good-bye” to her husband of 49 years and 10 months - two months before we were going to throw them an enormous 50th wedding anniversary party. Oh woa is me? Wrong.
Because I was in the hospital, I talked to my dad on the phone twice just days before he would pass away, otherwise, I wouldn’t have. We simply talked on the phone on the weekends. . My mom is alive without a scratch on her face and no life-threatening injuries (both cars were going at least 70mph and there were ZERO skid marks on the road. My parents care were in their lane. The other driver had a medical problem and swerved into their lane). My mom’s last memory of my dad was “a conversation about how beautiful the weather was.” . At the “public visitation” (open casket viewing the day before the funeral), we got a glimpse of how many lives my dad touched by the line of people the went out the door of the chapel, out the funeral home doors and wound through the parking and stayed that way for almost 3 hours. . I could write a book on the number of blessings that have come out of the last three weeks. I’ll spare you. 
I’m sure you’ll find some good out of your adversity that you are experiencing right now. Hang in there. I know it sucks to see your season go down the drain. Find some determination and purpose for what your true calling might be - being a great friend, a great husband, a great dad, and/or a great athlete. It can all fit. Maybe just take some time to see how it fits together for you. Hang in there. You’ll be fine. Email or PM me privately if you want or need to. I wouldn’t mind hearing from you.
- Jeff
Injury = depression
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The reason that I am posting this is because as disppointing as that is the main point of dispear that i’m feeling comes from the thought that I might lose the body that I have been able to attain and that I will not be able to eat as much as I am accostume to. In the back of my mind i’m thinking about the dinner plans I have in the next few weeks and how I am not going to be able to enjoy them as much as I would have if I had been training during this period. I know these are unhealthy thoughts, especially for a late 20’s male but how do I see past these feelings and realize that there is a lot more to living a healthy lifestyle than putting in large training volume so you can reward yourself and that I don’t have to put in that training volume to have a good looking triathlon body? It makes me feel like i’m doing the sport for all the wrong reasons.
It sounds like you are. Give a therapist who specializes in eating disorders a visit and have a chat. It can’t hurt!
Wow, I am think I have issues. Hope you, and your family, get well soon. I lost my father in law to lung cancer right before christmas, so
life is WAY too short to not smell the roses.
Dave
What was the verdict on your health issues?
Haim
Dude slow down. IT band stuff doesn’t have to end your season. Get to a good PT or chiro and really get into the routine. Also try iontophoresis on the bursa. As far as the body stuff just see this as a great opportunity to put in mega time in the pool. Control your thoughts man. Good luck
I second Meebo’s recommendation… it might help to use this time to get some solid therapy in so you can be ready to train (for the RIGHT reasons) when you are healthy…good luck!
I’ll chime in with the other guys and recommend you track down a good PT. There is a lot more you can do to address IT band problems than your current course. If you’re in Southern California let me know— I know a good holistic health practicioner down in Carlsbad who has a great approach to IT band and piriformus problems.
-Marc
Wow, it’s amazing how people are missing the point and question in his post. Hint: we weren’t recommending a *physical *therapist.
I had the same problem last season and was back at it in 3 weeks. Here is what helped me, I know that everyone is different.
Rollers, ice, NSADS, moved my cleat position out and saddle down ever so slightly. Swim only, do NOT push off with that leg.
You may be different. I wish you luck. I feel your pain and frustration
Yeah, this post isn’t about the IT band…
Take time out to enjoy the things you find yourself not having time for whilst training. Pig out a lil. Eat some junk food. Get drunk. Get laid.I’m not sure about your ‘life’ situation but enjoy the fact that you no longer always feel like you’re in a rush. Enjoy the fact you don’t have to get up at 530am to get to the pool. Enjoy the fact you don’t have to eat breakfast in 5 minutes so you can get to work on time. Enjoy the fact that once you come home from work you don’t have to rush around in an attempt to get ready to train again. Enjoy sleeping in on the weekend till 9am. Enjoy not feeling so tired all the time! Enjoy life!..there is much more to life than triathlon, believe me.
These things are all things that can make you ‘feel good’.
Yes, sadly it continues to fly over the head of everyone!
Oh my God Jeff. So sorry to hear about the incredible misfortune and give you credit for finding a silver lining here. Not to take away from the OP’s post, but wow, what a wakeup call!