Very new experience yesterday, first time I've fallen over running. Out doing a 60 min taper run before next week's first half marathon of the year and I'd included the hill that's part of the course. On the way back down I had to run in the road for about 100m until the pavement started again and as I came up that point I placed my right foot on a storm drain cover, still wet from morning dew, and suddenly my leg was going in a different direction to the rest of my body and I was starting to look up at the sky. I landed on my elbow and arm first, then my buttock and finally my back, performing a slide down the hill and thinking that was next week's run gone and, more importantly, a half marathon in Philadelphia at the end of March might be at risk (entrance money, flights and hotel room notwithstanding).
Fortunately I seemed to land quite softly. My arm took the brunt of the impact and I was left with some very impressive bleeding dripping down my arm, but everything else seemed fine. Having literally picked myself off and brushed myself down I started off running again, adrenaline now coursing through my body.
All seems fine, apart from a mangled arm, no bones broken and fortunately no damage to my legs, which was my main worry. It could have been quite nasty as there was a low wall nearby which I could have easily headbutted, so I think I've been lucky. Due concern from my partner who asked what medical provisions I had at home (not much it transpires). I thanked her for her care and then said "What does it say on my mug?" She looked at me quizzically. "If you see me collapse stop my Garmin!"
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I was in Barcelona at the weekend with a few mates from my running club (marathon was on Sunday). We went out for an easy sightseeing run on the Thursday night and I tried to run across a main road (off the main roundabout at the start area, a really busy road) - I caught a camofalgued curb and did a commando roll across the road. After working out that I wasn't going to be run down, my next thought was "did anyone see that"? - yes, hundreds of people! Including my mate who was watching me so closely that he tripped over the same curb and went arse over tit as well. Needless to say, the rest of the guys were in tears at this.
Happens to the best of us.
Nowadays my wife insists I give her precise details of my route so she’ll know where to send the ambulance!
And then what's the appropriate response from your fellow runners? There is the initial concern, just in case someone is badly hurt. But doing the splits on an apple core does have a certain comedic value associated with it.
Added to that, what if you caused the fall? I did a race last year which was through a forest. At one point there was a very low barrier to to jump over and as the runner in front of me took off I clipped their ankle. Fortunately they didn't fall, but it struck me after what was the proper form in that instance if they had fallen? I mean it was a team race where finishing position means points. Do you stop and help? Say sorry as you leave them prostrate in the mud and run on? Run over their back just to make sure they stay down longer? In those situations what would Roger Bannister have done?
But the memory of intense pain and the fear of injury are still there for me