As I rounded this long curve on the outside of the curve I spotted a car traveling much faster than is safe around this curve. Their high rate of speed meant they were being pulled to the outside and the car was well onto the shoulder that I was running on. I have no doubt that if I had been running the other direction (with traffic) that I would have been hit because they just didn't have enough time to react, and I am not sure when they finally saw me.
Since I am writing this you know how this turned out. I didn't get hit by the car, but did have to "run for my life" and in a split second make the decision to jump off into the grassy ditch. I didn't get a good look at the car because I was too busy trying to keep myself from getting hurt to bad while running in the very unstable ditch along side the road. I didn't come out completely unscathed though.
I run in a few different pair of shoes. A couple of pairs of shoes that I have are neutral and so I cannot run too much or too many miles before they start to bother my right ankle. I also have my main pair of shoes which are my New Balance 769's - a stability shoe. My current 769's have around 450 miles on them and have started to bother my hip, knee, and ankle so I have been running in my other neutral shoes as much as possible. All of these issues with shoes has caused my right ankle to be a little weak already, but when I jumped into the grass it tweaked that ankle a bit more and made the last mile home very uncomfortable.
I consider myself very lucky to come out without any long term injury, and of course my life. An ankle will heal, and quickly given it wasn't truly an injury, but rather just a little twist. More information about this run can be found on my running log. Given the weakness in my ankle and the miles in my current schedule, I chose to take a few days off and let the foot strengthen up a bit before returning to my marathon training.
One of the frustrating parts is that I had finally found a pair of New Balance 769's in my size (they have been discontinued for some time now) and they arrived at my doorstep on Wednesday afternoon. I had to let them sit for a few days before I took them out on this mornings 17 mile long run.
My ankle is still not 100% but felt good enough on the long run this morning. The new shoes felt great and I am looking forward to getting back out on that long dark road this coming Wednesday.
Have you had any close calls? What steps do you take to make sure you are seen, day or night?
- subscribe - follow blog - twitter - fanpage - call
Glad you are ok Tim!
ReplyDeleteTwo times I've been not as lucky. When I was thirteen, someone hit me from behind while on my bike, I lost control of it, ditched, and twisted my knee pretty good. Had a arthroscopic on it a year later and have been fine ever since.
And then, one month (to the day!) after my first marathon finish, I was hit by a camry one mile into a short easy run. I rolled of the hood, and face planted either on the car or the concrete; I can't remember which. Broke my nose, busted my lip, and displaced my pelvis. To me a few months of rest and PT to recover, but I've managed to finish 9 more marathons since then.
The big factor in my accident was that the driver was making a right turn out of a parking lot, and I was approaching from the right side. Many drivers will look into traffic (to the left) and go when clear, not thinking that someone is approaching from the other side on the sidewalk. Now I'm sure to make eye contact, and more likely to go behind a car when possible.
Tim,
ReplyDeleteI am grateful for your protection, and wisdom in the nick of time!
As for running, I learned quickly that cars pulling out of parking lots and on to the side walk do not care if there is a runner approaching. I had a some close calls before I figured out it wasn't just a few.
ReplyDeleteI almost got run off of the road by a double trailer transport once, but I was in a car.
I wear New Balance too!
Holy Irish Runner, ouch, glad to hear you made it out of that ok, eventually! Same to you Tim.
ReplyDeleteGlad that you are safe.
ReplyDeleteDuring the winter (dark in the morning), I wear a headlamp with a blinking red light on the back. Plus, reflective clothes and reflective shoelaces.
Do you carry id with you? My husband asked me to wear the Road Id bracelet when out running.
Tim,
ReplyDeleteGlad you made it out alive man. Very good article as it brought up two points. One, road safety, and two, wearing the right shoe. Glad you were able to manage those pair. Seems you are a running maniac these days. Congrats! If at dark, I run with extra caution, and carry a handful of nails. (kidding about the nails). But, those cars can be really something, actually the people inside of them. I am thinking that they should start putting some info into the drivers manuals about sharing the road. I have had some close encounters too and they are rather scary, and this has been in the day time. Take care.
I am so glad to hear you are okay. What a close call.
ReplyDeleteTim, go with a good strong headlamp... much more effective than the blinking red light! Glad you're OK!
ReplyDeleteMike
Running for me is a passion...Like you, I strive also to run as fast as I can..Glad you continue running in spite your ankle...Keep running.
ReplyDelete__________
--Life is a constant change.
Scary! I have had a few close calls myself - always have to jump off the road as well. It's really bad here cause we have no shoulders, just cruddy deep ditches. But like you said, better than being hit by a car. Hope your ankle feels better quickly.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad everything turned out okay! I hate close calls like that. I know it is also difficult and frustrating to take time off for an injury or small tweak when training for an marathon or similar event. So good for you for taking that rest anyway. Be safe out there!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for your kind words and your concern. My ankle is much better now after taking 3 days off to let it get nice and solid again.
ReplyDelete@Irish Runner - wow! That is crazy, you did not start with very good luck, but it is good to hear that you turned it around.
@OrangeBlossom I do carry a hand-written ID tag on my shoe, but since I run in different shoes I forget to move it often enough though. I need to get me a RoadID for my wrist.
@kenley I agree - these are points we all need to remember all the time.
@mike - maybe one of these days. I have one, just not very comfortable with it yet.
Thanks again everyone!
thank God your ok Tim, next time have a LED blinker when you run, so that the cars can see you.
ReplyDeleteYour article more than wonderful ... Good luck always
ReplyDeleteYour article more than wonderful ... Good luck always
ReplyDeleteScary! I have had a few close calls myself - always have to jump off the road as well. It's really bad here cause we have no shoulders, just cruddy deep ditches. But like you said, better than being hit by a car. Hope your ankle feels better quickly.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for your kind words and your concern. My ankle is much better now after taking 3 days off to let it get nice and solid again.
ReplyDelete@Irish Runner - wow! That is crazy, you did not start with very good luck, but it is good to hear that you turned it around.
@OrangeBlossom I do carry a hand-written ID tag on my shoe, but since I run in different shoes I forget to move it often enough though. I need to get me a RoadID for my wrist.
@kenley I agree - these are points we all need to remember all the time.
@mike - maybe one of these days. I have one, just not very comfortable with it yet.
Thanks again everyone!