Tony's Run for Autism: A job in IT

Based on my web surfing, it looks like I may have developed IT band syndrome. The iliotibial band starts at the top of the hip bone and connects all the way down to the upper lateral side (outside) of the tibia (shin bone). If overworked, the ligament that connects to the tibia can tighten and rub against the knee. The IT band is responsible for stabilizing the knee by counteracting adduction (inward or medial forces) in the leg. This would explain why I can dance without aggravating the problem, since Latin dance motion (with weight on the balls of the feet) naturally pushes the legs and hips laterally (abduction) and thus lessens the strain on the IT band.

Hopefully it's not too serious but the literature isn't very promising: recovery can typically delay one's training schedule from two weeks to a month or more. I will find out more when I see the doctor tomorrow, but this could mean having to drop out of (or at least hopefully walk) the Rock-N-Roll Half and Silicon Valley.

But getting to this point has been rewarding so far and giving up is not an option. I dare say that now I'm addicted to running and don't want to stop or even let up. If therapy and rest become necessary, I plan to run a different marathon: