So, I've recently concluded that my left side is cursed. I'd screwed with my hip / and pelvic cradle are a few years back while lifting awkward things at my job. Since then, it's been an uphill battle with weakness and injuries from waist to foot.
Now, after about three weeks of discomfort, I've concluded that my outer left quad is injured, which has caused problems in both the quad tendon and especially the IT band. I can't remember a single incident that led to the injury, so I'm chalking it up to overuse. Too much mileage, not enough conditioning, overly difficult terrain. And I'm paying the price for it. As with my foot injury a few months back, there's been no extremely noticeable pain or discomfort while doing daily activities. But this all changes when I run. And it comes in the form of pain around the outside of the knee. During the marathon, it wasn't exactly crippling until about mile 11.5, then periodic walks started. By mile 18 I couldn't run anymore. Afterward, I thought just the IT Band was injured. But after much massaging, etc. my quad just aches. And the strength is gone. Finally an answer!
So, over the end of Fall I will work significantly on lower body maintenance, rehab, and strengthening. And I will do this before any significant running starts again. I resolve to not do much more than a short jog until the aching and stiffness has gone from the quad and its "base level" of strength has returned. There are no two ways around this.
NOTE: Fortunatel, my right side has experienced no difficulty in training except for my hip flexors locking up from overcompensating for the left leg, and an increased volume of blisters on the sole from the same. To keep both sets of hip flexors intact I will need to make sure my hip strength is up on both sides and that my running form is good.
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