I have been running for about 2 months. Over time I have developed a nagging pain in my right hip/lower back. I want to keep training as I have a 5k coming up in June, but it is worrying me. It is not too bad during the run, but afterward it gets worse and it is painful to walk now as well. A friend of mine is a PT and he thinks it may be my QL muscle. I haven't seen a doctor for it yet. I may just have to rest it for a while. any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks
Reply - Janet
Angie do you think your friend the PT would be willing to evaluate you for muscle imbalances or leg length discrepancy?  If he is right that it's the QL muscle that's bothering you - the question becomes "why?"  What's irritating the QL?  The first thought that comes to my mind is a leg length difference or perhaps asymmetry in your gait pattern (one foot that pronates a bit further or later than the other one).  Also - are you running correct paces? If you've been ramping up training in preparation for the 5K are you ramping up too fast? Are you trying to do all your running at paces that are close to race pace?  Hope this is food for thought - let me know if I can be of assistance. Feel free to e-mail me at janet at runningstrong dot com.   Janet Hamilton, MA, RCEP, CSCS ,RRCA coaching instructor

Last year while training for the NYC marathon and shortly after running a half marathon (7-08) I hurt my knee and decided not to run the marathon. I went to a chiropractor who specialized in active release therapy and continued treatment for about 8 weeks. My knee seems to be okay now;however I have not run consistently since December 08. Due to my battle with depression I have not been able to get back on track with my training. I have a guaranteed entry to the NYC marathon and would love to run it this November. If I get on a training program by the end of the month do you think I will be able to run the marathon in November with a descent time? (4hrs)
Reply - Janet
First of all, sorry about the delayed response - the weekend was a whirlwind!  By my count you've got about 5 months to prepare for your marathon (give or take a week or two).  That's a short period of time but if you have been doing some running and are starting this training with a base mileage of perhaps 15-20 miles a week... it might well be doable. It is hard to say without knowing more about you and your injury and training history.  Since you have a history of a knee issue you would want to be gradual in your build up and be sure to run proper paces on your training runs.  Most people are able to complete a marathon on as little as 45 miles a week and a long run of 20 miles... but to really strive for a performance goal (not just complete it) you'd probably want to try to get your mileage a tad higher than that.  Whether you can safely do that in the short period of time you have is the unknown.  I'd be delighted to give you better guidance if you'll give me more information -- you can fill out the coaching questionnaire on the "Services" page of this website.  At the top of that page there's  a link to it, click it and then copy/paste it into a word document or e-mail and fill it in and we can get started pretty quickly.  Feel free to e-mail me directly if you have more questions - janet at runningstrong dot com.   Janet Hamilton, MA, RCEP, CSCS, RRCA coaching instructor

I am 76years old i have a chip fracture of tip lateral malleolus on my right ankle it is still swollen is o.k to walk on it for one hour ?
Reply - Janet
I'd be careful with this one... Although the lateral malleolus isn't a direct weight-bearing bone like the medial malleolus is - it's still a broken bone!  Did your doc clear you to walk on it?  Are you in an immobilizer boot?  Even if you're in an immoblizer boot - walking that long may not be a great idea because although the bone is stabilized, your gait pattern is altered by the boot and this may set you up for overuse injuries elsewhere.  Perhaps it would be better to focus on shorter walks if you've been cleared by your doc?  Get well soon!  Janet Hamilton, MA, RCEP, CSCS, RRCA coaching instructor