knee question

I have been running either barefoot (when I'm on clean sidewalks) or with the luna sandals for a few years now. I figured I was past the initial learning curve when I was able to go about 10-14 miles in the sandals. It's never clean enough for my taste to go much more than a couple of miles totally barefoot.

So, on weekends I would run maybe 10 miles or so and take a break in the week. I was never a good runner so never getting "faster" was fine by me. I decided to sign up for one of these ultra-marathon runs.

Well, I only made it 32 miles of the 37, mostly because my left knee was really hurting. It felt like the tendon around the outside was too tight and pulling everything in the knee into a lot of pain. In fact all the tendons in my whole body were tight, making me sort of lean over, but that's another story.

I've learned about foam roller stretches since then. But after about a month, I ran 5-miles and the pain is still there. I figured I would have just healed by now, since that is what happened with my foot prior to the ultra-marathon: my foot was really hurting, I did some stretches and rested, and then the pain went away.

Does anybody have any ideas about it? Otherwise I'll continue the foam roller exercises and continue resting.

Thanks for any help in advance.

V/r,
Bryan
 
I went to the lady who was helping me exercise for about a year (personal trainer). She gave me some foam roller stretches and I guess the knee has gotten better. But it's kind of like a situation where the injury seems to be mostly be gone, but when I do certain things it comes back. And I wanted to try doing one of those long runs where you run 60k. And there is no way I could do it with my knee like this.
 
I had a similar situation a couple years back that cut me to less than a.5 miles at a time. Turned out it was an issue with my right-side Pirifirmus muscle, which triggered symptoms that appeared to be IT-Band Syndrome.

Once we were able to get it properly diagnosed (first diagnosis was wrong), it took a couple months of PT get get past it. I still have an occasional flare-up if I'm not careful with how I sit and move... :(
 
You did TMTS and exposed your weakness. Go see a PT or DC who does some FMS so they can asses you and find your weakness. Foam rolling will help relieve the pain but not strengthen your weakness which could be many muscles.

PSA for you. Don't worry about dirty sidewalks, just wash your feet instead. Much easier than washing the sidewalk. :p
 
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