« It's Like Riding a Bike | Main | Shorts Length »
September 24, 2005
Past Due
Last week my college roommate G sent this e-mail to a bunch of our friends:
i pulled an audrey last night. I had my first running accident. got back from the hospital [where she works] and went running...on the way back it got dark and i tripped on the sidewalk and fell :-( yeah so i had to walk the rest of the way home with blood dripping down my shin. it was kind of embarrassing b/c these people saw me fall. at least i was only 2 blocks from home by that point. i had to laugh, though, audj, because it just made me think of you :-)
It has been a couple of years since my last running fall. I have fallen three times that I can remember. I only needed stitches once. I can still pinpoint the exact location of two of the falls (within a mile of each other along the Potomac near the Lincoln Memorial). Today, right next to the Longfellow bridge on the Boston side, I added a fourth.
I was about 25 minutes into my run. I think I tripped on a tree branch. I got up immediately. The first thing I did was stop my watch. It was just a reflex-you stop running, you stop the watch. My first concern was if I had broken my wrist. I landed with most of my weight on the side of it and I know that’s a common way to break it. It was fine though. It actually didn’t hurt. I glanced at my knee which was dirty and bleeding. I few people asked if I was okay which was mildly embarrassing b/c they had seen the fall. Honestly though, I have been WAY more embarrassed in my life so this doesn’t really compare with the most embarrassing moments. I also cut my hand.
I started running again. For the next 5 or so miles people were glancing at my bleeding knee as they ran by. Around mile 5 (so about two miles later) I started moving my fingers around and realized my little finger hurt a bit. I spent the next twenty minutes bending it and prodding at it as I ran trying to decide if I needed an x-ray. (I mean it HAS been a whole month and 6 days since I was at the ER for a tetanus shot). I think I’m okay. I’ve broken my fingers and toes a lot and this one seems comparatively unhurt b/c I can bend it all of the way.
When I got home I just stood on my porch for a few minutes trying to decide what to do first: 1) ice my quad 2) ice my knee 3) clean my knee 4) ice my hand 5) stretch. I finally decided on stretch, clean my knee (shower), and then ice everything.
I ran for about 1:15. Route was BU-Longfellow bridge loop, plus getting to and from the Charles, plus adding on at a local park. I have no idea of the pace-which definitely varied greatly throughout the run. I'm guessing it was about 8 miles. I had originally planned to go to a core class at my gym after my run. Instead, I am just sitting here physically and mentally recuperating :)
Posted by Audrey at September 24, 2005 11:14 AM
Comments
So, I'm not the only one who falls when running!! I've had at least three that I can think of, two of which were pretty bad. It doesn't sound llike anything is broken, but moniter it for the next day or so.
Be careful!!
Blondie
Posted by: Blondie at September 24, 2005 07:18 PM
Good grief, Audrey, sorry you took a spill on the sidewalk. I think when I fall its mostly during races. Uh, except for when I jumped in the river like an idiot. But then I was being a hero, even if I wasn't a very good one.
Hope you are all healed up soon.
Posted by: Jon in Michigan at September 24, 2005 08:45 PM
Ouch!! I hope you heal up quickly. I can't remember ever falling when I was running, but I do remember several occasions when I've run into things (most notably mailboxes!). Ah...the hazards of long distance running... :)
Have a great rest of your weekend!
Posted by: Beth at September 24, 2005 10:55 PM
thanks for the comment on my blog. i actually saw your entry last night but it was too late for me to start commenting.
what i was thinking though was that it was kind of chilly in boston. so at least you won't be wearing shorts while that bloodied knee of yours heals. (except while running, but who cares while you're out running!)
btw, while i was in boston, i saw tons and tons of runners. not only when i drove by the charles, but just on the streets (e.g. beacon) as we were walking around. i remembered you were from boston (i'm pretty sure my interest in the charles has come from reading your entries) and i kept wondering if you were one of the runners passing me. not that i would know who you are anyway, but i was thinking that nonetheless.
feel better soon.
Posted by: Danny at September 25, 2005 02:55 PM
I liked your post--not that you fell, but that you kept on running. That's great that your friend named the fall after you.
I'm not clumsy, but I fell twice last week (Sunday and Thursday)! Luckily in both cases no one paid any attention.
Posted by: ShoreTurtle at September 27, 2005 09:45 AM