Take a good look at this picture ... really cool right! Nice and serene, peaceful, easy like Sunday morning. And I actually took it on Sunday morning at Lake Jacomo in Lees Summit, MO. Yep, everything was going great when all of sudden ... WHAMMMMM! I slipped on the ice and busted my arm. It was numb for about 20 minutes. I don't think it's broken, but I have a huge goose egg on my forearm, right below the elbow. Stupid winter.
Studies show that 100% of winter accidents from slipping on the ice are directly related to the surface being much slicker than normal. It's true. But that being said, I actually really enjoy trail running during the winter. And it's a good thing, 'cause when I slipped and fell, I was about 3 miles from my car. I tried to be tough and not rub it ... but man, it hurt!
Slipping and falling is a weird thing. It's a incredibly humbling experience, especially if there are people around to laugh at you. But when the carpet's pulled out from under your feet, and you smack the ground ... it suddenly becomes very clear to you ... "Dude, you're 44 years old ...you gotta be careful!" And once you realize that nothing's broken - at least I don't think so - it really makes you appreciate your health and how it could all be taken away in the blink of an eye.
Anyway, here are some pictures of what my trail course looks like during the winter. Fascinating I know. I do most of my trail work at the Lees Summit High School Cross Country course on the banks of Lake Jacomo. It's a 5K loop directly adjacent to a 2 mile out & back wooded gravel lane. So I can usually get in a good 5 miles or so on it. Typically I'll use this course as my second of two daily runs, or for a light recovery run on the weekend. It's nice and peaceful ... except sometimes echoing through the woods you can here the sound of 44 year old runner swearing after slipping on the ice. Have a great week!
... be great today!
Ha ha. That last little bit made me laugh. I like the idea of a gentle echoing of swearing coming down the trail.
ReplyDeleteMy paper delivery boy has Tourette's disease and I often hear the gentle echo of swearing as he throws the paper onto our footpath.
Ha ha. That last little bit made me laugh. I like the idea of a gentle echoing of swearing coming down the trail.
ReplyDeleteMy paper delivery boy has Tourette's disease and I often hear the gentle echo of swearing as he throws the paper onto our footpath.
Oh no! I'm sorry to hear about the fall. That's my biggest fear for winter running. Be safe on those trails!
ReplyDeleteFalling on the ice is no bueno! Hope you didn't break anything. Have you tried yak traks? I bought them but haven't tried them yet.
ReplyDeleteOuch. You call that winter? Haha. No really sorry you fell. I run at the park where they plow and salt the 6 mile path. Happy New Year Jim. Hope the arm feels better.
ReplyDeleteHope the arm is nothing serious. Check out the Psycho Wyco Run Toto Run on Feb. 9. It's a fun and challenging course, it will definitely give you a run for your money!
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures! I enjoy trail running in the winter as well. AND I too slipped and fell on the ice during my trail run this morning. Hope your arm is okay.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures!! I fell in March, no ice, no snow, just a beautiful 70 degree day, down I went on the sidewalk, college students all around me walking to class. My knee hurt, but mostly my pride :)
ReplyDeleteYak trax. Go get 'em!
ReplyDeleteHeal quickly.