I’ve waited awhile to write a post about how my bum butt is doing. I’m not entire sure bum butt is a common term but both my Glute Medius and Glute Maximus have not been firing correctly. I said that if my butt was not feeling better after my honeymoon, I was going to get an X-ray and MRI. In the cliff notes version: my bum butt is not an issue right now.
Anyways how did I get to this point?
To be honest, my butt (known as the #bumbutt) has been one of the most frustrating injuries. While this is a running blog, so much has taken place post-marathon that I haven’t spent an extended amount of time whining and complaining. For better or for worse, the whining has been minimized. That doesn’t mean I haven’t been frustrated with my injury and num butt; it just means I haven’t been internet whining.
Now that I’m married and settled in, the whining and nagging can begin!
Long story short, my bum butt is finally starting to get better. This is a combination of many factors, but a big one is going to see Dr. Kemenosh and his team (and no, I’m not being paid to say that).
I’ve had seven appointments now (the last being right before the honeymoon). The first 4-5 times my butt wasn’t seeing much improvement. I completely tore my body apart running the Phoenix marathon. I did damage that I needed a lot of time off for…that makes complete sense, and anyone who saw me after about mile 18 can realize that. I was so amped on endorphins I did not know the damage I was doing.
Was it the smartest to finish the marathon with a bum butt? Maybe not, but I don’t regret it…
Post marathon, it was hard to get into the mindset that “this isn’t a quick fix.” Healing was going to take time versus one visit and I’ll be 100%.
Things I’ve been doing to promote healing of the bum butt:
- I have kept a journal since beginning my recovery in March. I have recorded how my run felt and when I felt pain (if I did).
- I’ve stepped almost entirely off of dailymile. It’s not that I don’t enjoy dailymile but I didn’t need more advice and I didn’t have the time to keep up with it.
- I’ve been strengthening my hips, glutes and everything along the legs.
- I’ve alternated shoes between the Asics Nimbus and Saucony Triumph. Both are similar high cushioned neutral shoes but I have found the Saucony triumph don’t irritate my foot and cause blisters. Eventually, I would like to run most (if not all) miles in the Triumph but I’ve been hesitant due to sticking to what works. The fact is the Asics nimbus 16 worked for me, but I’m not 100% convinced the 17s do. I’ve had a nasty blister on top of my foot (and yes, I wear proper socks…).
- I’m going to specialists (Dr. Kemenosh and team) to get my muscles and bum butt loosened up. This is the most essential aspect of recovery and I would not be as recovered as I am without doing this. They can pinpoint exact trigger points that need to be released so the muscle releases.
Noticeable differences:
After my marathon, I had a lot of pain everywhere on my left leg. I had pain in the glutes, the piriformis, adductor muscle (it was painful to turn corners). Anywhere from my bum butt to halfway down my quad had pain at some point.
Slowly respected muscle groups became less obnoxious and painful. The first to deflame was my adductor muscle. Within a few visits and realignments to my first chiropractor, that felt better. I was able to walk normally.
Next, my piriformis began slowly deflaming. Beginning in mid-March, my piriformis became less inflamed. The only part that bothered me was a small attachment in my glute medius and the bum butt. The pain was no more significant than the diameter of a pen but somehow was able to control my entire butt. That’s why we called it the bum butt!
Running the Shamrock half marathon was probably not one of my better ideas either, but it is one of my favorite races. I don’t have regrets running that race either. After Shamrock, I decided to get my act together. I had given myself 3 weeks of recovery, and I knew this was something more serious than “second marathon blunders.” Although I knew I had done damage when I finished the marathon and had pain. I probably extended my recovery by running Shamrock, but oh well.
Bum Butt Cliff notes:
I am slowly getting better (emphasis on slowly). I know that going to a professional has expedited this process for the bum butt and I would not be anywhere close to where I am now without them. I am honestly about 95% better at this point. In a world that we want nothing but quick fixes, injuries that take time are the most frustrating.
I have another post later, but long story short, I don’t enjoy marathons. I’ve run two full marathons and neither has been enjoyable. I am going to stick with shorter distances for a while. I have lots of shorter summer races in the plan this year and I’m hoping to stay injury-free to do them all.
What an extremely long post about my bum butt. Luckily my bum butt is almost healed and it’s time to move forward. Hopefully, it helps someone else in their bum butt recovery.
Question for you: Have you ever dealt with bum butt issues? IE: pain in your gluteus medius or gluteus maximus? How did you overcome it?
I am so glad this has finally resolved itself! Nice job being proactive with the doctors help and with staying patient in a super busy time in your life. I’ll save the inappropriate jokes for text 😉
Ha! That series of texts was my favorite.
In summary, your butt is behind you and you are moving forward. 🙂
First, it’s great to hear the #bumbutt is improving. You’ve made all the right moves, and it’s about time the #bumbutt started to get its act together. The marathon distance is always going to be there too; no rush to do another. 🙂
What a bummer your butt has been but I’m so glad to hear it has been improving! I just casually told Mike that I read your latest post on your bum butt… over coffee at a fancy cafe in Istanbul. I don’t want to know what people think of us after hearing that…
Glad the bumbutt is on the mend!! Xo
Hooray for healing! You’ve definitely been smart taking care of it the right way, and even though it’s been frustrating, I’m sure it will pay off with a solid summer/fall racing season as you get back into shape.
There’s nothing wrong with saying marathons aren’t for you. I said the same about Ironmans – I did two, didn’t enjoy either, and that was enough for me (for now, at least). We aren’t getting paid for this so do what makes you happy.
I think I could have been a little bit smarter in my choice with Shamrock but it was fun. It wasn’t extreme pain if that makes sense.
You are right though, life is too short to do something you aren’t enjoying. I enjoyed myself and my career or paycheck doesn’t on running!
I’m so glad you’re feeling better! Dr. Kemenosh’s team really is the best. I don’t know what I would do without them!
I’m glad you’re getting better! And it’s a good thing you got all that wedding stuff out of the way so you can focus on that butt 😉 haha
I am glad things are healing and you are able to move forward (literally!). You gave the marathon two chances and both times you ran really admirable marathon times, if it is not for you, there’s no shame in moving to a distance that does work for you and you enjoy! In the end we are all doing this for fun anyway :).
I noticed you stopped DailyMile and I can understand why. Social media in general is really tough not to compare but especially when you’re injured or things aren’t going your way. I see so many people posting times and paces and distances, and then basically bragging about an easy run at 8 min/mile or something (when that is clearly not their easy pace). I like using DM because I’m tracking my shoe wear on there but I recently signed up for Training Peaks and am starting to think that is better for keeping up with paces and splits. I already blog my training each week (and I know you do too, typically) and am starting to think that’s enough details to give out, lol.
Agghh!!! Good luck with your bum issues!!! 😉
Thank you for sharing. I’m gla you are getting better slow as it may be. Hang int here!
Well that’s the worst spelled comment ever!
Glad you’re healing.!! And sounds like you’ve found the distance you like. Shorter races, nothing wrong with that. I feel like there’s lots of pressure to always up the race distance, and I don’t think that’s always right for everyone. (I’ve never ran a marathon) but keep healing girl.!! 🙂
Hi Hollie – speaking as an “elder ” at 36 years old… 🙂 I 100% support you focusing on the shorter distances (up to half) – especially while you are in your 20’s. You still have SPEED! When you get to >34,35, the speed goes away a bit, all your friends are running marathons (at least in my experience) and you actually enjoy the long slow runs to talk about life… Until then, I agree with you to LIVE IT UP and race fast NOW! Lots of luck and I look forward to continue reading 🙂
Amanda
I’ve had #bumbutt syndrome as well. I hope you recover quick!
Thanks Jay and I hope it’s not something you are dealing with now!
I think I have something similar (but in my right butt!) from marathon training and racing. Perhaps it CAUSES #BumButt 🙂 Seriously though, I realized I don’t like the distance either. I definitely want to run NY but that may be it…
I hope you don’t! It was so painful and long to get rid of. I hope you are recovering nicely from your marathon though 🙂
I will miss the #bumbutt hashtag but at least there is an epic video I can watch that will never let me forget.
I am very glad that you are feeling better. It sucks that it took so long but at least you had some other stuff to distract you. Also there is always room on my marathon hating bandwagon 🙂
I was just thinking about that video! I almost retexted it to you yesterday actually. LOL