Man Down!

That "man" would be me.

I was out for a run last Friday - 8 miles keeping it in Endurance Zone and finishing fast the last mile as directed. I mean I was finishing really fast - 6:45/mile fast. When suddenly I was airborne - arms stretched out like Superman - and then I was slamming chest first into the ground and listening as the wind was knocked out of me. UNGH!

After I came to a stop and realized I couldn't breath, I rolled over on my back and simultaneously stopped my watch. I lay there for a second while I started breathing - checked to make sure I had all my shit together - teeth, chin, lips: check. Palms: right one shredded, left one sore and dirty but no blood. Knees: surprisingly only mildly scraped. Nipples: intact (Thank you heart rate monitor/nipple protector.) I couldn't believe my face didn't make contact with the ground - them is some strong neck muscles. And then I saw the culprit.

When I was tying my shoes prior to my run I said to my self, "Huh, that one loop looks kind of big. I must be tying my shoes tighter or something. I hope that doesn't flop all over the place and annoy the shit out of me." That little observation came back to haunt me, for as I was flying home on the last mile my toe caught in that oversized shoelace loop and sent me sailing, body-slamming to the ground. Hilarious? Probably, if anyone saw it, but I didn't see anyone around. Painful? Most assuredly.

Being the dedicated age group triathlete with a ball buster for a coach that I am, I got back up and finished my run. That last mile - 6:49. Tha's right!

Ah, but there is more. I biked for over 3 hours on Saturday - easy no problems. Then Sunday I was all excited to run again - 9 miles alternating Endurance Zone/Steady State Zone. It took a while to get going, then it started to hurt. Finally at mile 5 I felt like someone had stuck a knife between a couple of ribs in my chest. And it hurt the rest of the day. So I went to see the doctor this morning. You will all be disappointed to know that I do not have broken ribs - not even worth an X-ray. Probably bruised or pulled some soft tissue - whatever. So now I have to endure being called a wuss (or worse) from my coach. (I'm just kidding - she is very supportive.) (not really - she is really kind of horrifying.) And listen to my wife chuckle every time I wince because she knows what wimps middle aged men are - she works with them every day. I get no respect.

I don't even get good scabs to pick. This was the worst injury ever!