Hi all, looking for some advice related to hip and quad pain, suspect this is multifactorial. After a few year hiatus from intensive training (last real race was LT100MTB 2023) due to my son’s birth and a dx with pulmonary autoimmune dz, I’ve been able to re-engage this year. Using TR’s training plans and targeting my primary “A” event of the Triple Bypass in CO, I’d gotten my FTP up to about where I was in 2023, though I’m still about 10-15lb overweight, in part from being on prednisone for 6mo through early Jan. It is what it is. For background, I’m a 48yo M, and i’ve been into training for endurance stuff for about 13 y.
Anyway, using TR, I’ve gradually increased my TSS. About 1mo ago, i increased my weekend ride length significantly, from 1.5h long rides to 3-3.5h long rides with climbing. Also, around that time, I received a bump in my AI FTP of about 3%, and my training plan switched to the final build phase before the A event in mid July, now with much more mixed suprathreshold and VO2max work. Lastly, as if that wasn’t enough change, I was also placed on a statin 3 weeks ago due to some incidental findings on one of my lung CTs and a +family hx.
over the past 2 weeks, I’ve started to fail the interval work, which is uncharacteristic of me. This is in large part due to bilateral quad and hip pain that i’m now experiencing. I can ride z1/2/3 with minimal discomfort, but attempts to go north of that, particularly that higher threshold work, are falling really flat. My primary concern is overtraining, given the persistence of this effect, coupled with it’s occurring a few weeks after training volume increase and FTP increase. I’m going to modify this and next week to z2 only. AI FTP has readjusted my FTP down 4% based on the workout failures as well. But in the back of my mind is also a potential pharmacologic adverse event. I’m hoping to give it a few weeks and see how things shake out.
So my collective questions:
Would anyone do anything differently? How long would you stay in turtle mode? Any advice regarding timing going into my A event in mid July?
any favorite hip/quad stretches that I could employ to try to loosen thing sup
Any experience with statin-assoc. myopathy and/or myalgias? I’m concerned that there are too many moving parts right now to blame the Crestor 20mg, but the timing is quite the coincidence regardless.
As someone who underwent hip surgery for a torn labrum, I’d be incredibly cautious about getting into a deep hip stretching routine. Torn labrums due to impingements are insanely common. Many people have little to no issues and will likely never know they even have them.
I was attacked by some dogs during a training run a few years ago and tweaked my hip when running away and stepping on something awkwardly. I got into this deep regular hip stretching routine (pigeon pose) trying to fix it, but what it really did was just make it a ton worse. The torn labrum was already there and identified in an MRI when I tore my hamstring the year prior, but ignored and not even discussed since I never had hip pain. I was unaware of the existing tear when I started stretching.
I had it fixed and it’s good now, however the other side is also torn. Through a lot of strength training and cycling, I think I can get by without getting my other hip fixed, but it’s definitely not off the table as I do occasionally have bad flare ups.
Aside from that, enjoy the triple bypass! I did it last year (was living in Texas and included it as part of a summer family vacation) and I had an absolute blast. Do you intend to “go all out” since it’s an A event for you, or just enjoy the ride since it’s not technically a race? I don’t believe they ever issued any sort of rankings, just times. There may have been a couple timed segments.
My A race last year was unbound, with triple bypass around 6 weeks after. I achieved my unbound goals and took it easy on training to the triple bypass and just made it a plan to really enjoy the ride, the view, and meeting nice people along the way. My parents, wife, and kids were there and met me at one of the aid stations. It’s a hard ride, especially from a sea level dweller. The aid stations are hopping and they have great food choices. To date, I think it’s the longest ride with the most elevation gain I have ever done. Since moving to Washington state, however, I frequently get more elevation per mile than I did over the triple bypass, which is crazy.
My guess is that it is the Statin. My wife and I cannot take statins at all without muscle weakness. A couple of years ago, I was put on a statin. Within 2 days, I could barely function. Having gone through my wife’s experiences, I knew what it was - stopped. Informed my doctor. Back to normal strength.