As we begin these Winter Olympics, we also are upon the 20 year anniversary of when Olympian skater Nancy Kerrigan had her knee get whacked by an attacker.
To honor that anniversary, I apparently thought it would be a good idea to recreate the event…on myself.
Last week we had some nice weather, and I was getting the running itch after my couple week rest from the Dopey Challenge. So I threw on the ole runnin jorts and hit the road. About a half mile into it I saw some old abandoned railroad tracks.
Now, I’m a lover of history, and a little way down these tracks is where the first train robbery in Texas had happened back in the 1800’s. I’d visited to the spot several times (the even host a 5k there). But I was heading the other way. I did because I know it leads to the site of where an old Native American attack occurred on some of the first settlers there. Thought I might check that out.
But I also knew that a little down the tracks, a portion had been removed and was now a dirt path that leads to some paved trails. Thought it would make for a nice run. Wrong.
Let me preface this next part by saying that I have NEVER fallen on a run. Ever. I know I’m in the minority there…or I was…
As soon as I got on the tracks, I realized it wasn’t a good running surface. I decided to get off of them. But about 4 steps in, my feet got tangled in a circular metal wire that was in the overgrown grass on the tracks. I knew I was going down. I landed hard. I knew instantly that something was wrong with my knee. I looked and it had graciously broken my fall…on a big rock.
Both knees and hands were bleeding. My shoulder hurt. My whole body felt on fire. I knew it was the adrenaline from the unexpected hit. I laid on the tracks for several minutes holding my knee, not able to move. Now mind you, I was only a few feet from a busy road. Why did nobody stop to check on the motionless body on the abandoned train tracks? Maybe they were scared of what they’d find.
Anyway, after the adrenaline wore off, I was able to slowly get up and slowly walk back. I got cleaned up and drove home. Spent the night icing and elevating. The next morning I woke to find my knee was replaced by a flesh colored grapefruit.
One of these knees is knot like the other. PS, this was 3 days after, so the swelling was down.
I iced and elevated the next few days and the swelling mostly went down. It feels better every day, but I haven’t had it checked out yet. Going to monitor it a bit more. I’ve been able to walk OK, but it is stiff. It is a tad tender to the touch at the point of impact. I don’t have full range of motion yet. I’m pretty positive that nothing is torn or broken. I’m hoping it was just like a big charlie horse.
Anyway, since then we’ve had a nasty little cold front come through, and we even got some snow! So I’m glad I have an excuse for not running right now! To be continued…
Do you have any embarrassing good unfortunate fall stories? Would you stop if you saw a body on the tracks? Do you have any professional diagnosis?
Piratebobcat 