I’m just now approaching the end of base training, in my 12th week, and for the past 6-8 weeks, I have had slight discomfort in the front groin area (iliacus I believe). Anyway, I can ride and run without any pain, but I do have a dull ache and some tightness there while doing both. I experience most of the discomfort while in bed or after awakening, and periods of sitting still. I feel the most pain when I squat or try to bring my knee to my chest, but even then, it isn’t a sharp pain. I ice regulary and take NSAIDS but it hasn’t helped - the dull ache remains. Is this an early stage of hip flexor problems and have I caught it early enough to avoid some real problems? I’ve heard that 6-8 weeks of rest is the only sure way to alleviate the problem, but that seems to be with triathletes that are experiencing severe pain. Would you continue to train, take a few days off, or should I go see a doc? I have a long season ahead including IMFL, and although I hate to waste all of my base I just went through, I don’t want to ruin the whole season by making a stupid mistake either. Any ideas would be appreciated!
Hi Eric,
I battle hip flexor strains whenever I increase my run volume too fast or when I transition from indoor running to outdoor running each spring. To lesson the chance of injury AND help fix the problem once it begins I do hip flexor stretches. I’m pretty sure what you’re describing is the same problem I have. The stretching has been the cure for my problems. I stretch after I’m warm and after every run and before I go to bed at night.
I believe my vulnerability to hip flexor issues comes from my years of cycling and inconsistant run training. Cycling really has a way of tightening the hip flexors up. And by the way, I would continue training and not throw off your IM training. Just stop every few miles and stretch out the hip flexors then continue running.
Good luck.