This Sucks

I feel like the kid who knows someone's throwing a party, but hasn't been invited.
Running season officially began in Chicago today with the Shamrock Shuffle. I signed up for the event back in January. Needless to say, I did not participate today.
I went grocery shopping - just about the time all of the runners were finished with the race and going about a few errands on the way home.
There I was, pushing a cart around the supermarket and I see this disgustingly cute couple who still had their bib numbers pinned to their shirts.
I didn't think I'd be going this stir-crazy.
More recent evaluations of my injury point to ITBS: Excessive friction between your Iliotibial Band and your knee (or hip) bone. This causes a sharp pain at either the side of your knee or the side of your hip.
I hate this. I was always the kid who found any excuse not to participate in gym class and now that I have no choice but not to run an insanely long distance, its all I want to do.
Who knew?