TALES FROM THE TRAIL (AND SOMETIMES THE ROAD TOO)

Monday, February 13, 2012

Feeling a Fall

After scampering around town to get chores done before a long work day this afternoon, I drove to the local trails at Aliso/Wood Canyons.  And oh, what a joy to feel my feet hit the dirt.

Rarely do I record my falls anymore because they are usually tame.  And falls are so far and few between.  I used to keep count of my falls.  I doubt anyone has read this blog long enough to remember that.  Today though I must report that I fell.  I tripped on a silly little rock on Aliso Creek Trail.  And I didn’t notice that I was falling until I was past the point of saving it.  For those of you who have fallen on runs, you can probably relate to this.  For those of you who haven’t, hopefully you can too.  Lots goes through my mind during the split second before I eat dirt.  They aren’t actually thoughts though.  They are feelings that convey thoughts to my mind.

In the beginning, “There was the Word,” No, that’s not what I’m trying to convey.  When I began running and fell, I used to think/feel first off, “I can’t believe I’m falling!!”  I remember my first fall (on the road no less, before sunrise), I thought/felt, “”Whose gonna call the ambulance?” 

Things have changed.  I no longer think/feel, “I can’t believe I’m falling!”  Today when I fell on Aliso Creek Trail, I thought/felt, “Spread out the impact!”  The worst thing I can do falling, is to land on one point, say my knee or wrist.  I’ve watched my oldest son practice falling in taekwondo for years, and the thing that I’ve noticed is this:  they fall with a full body impact, whether they’re falling backward, forward, or on their sides.  It looks like it hurts.  But those boys/girls just pop up right afterward. 

Likewise today, I hit the ground making impact with my two hands and one knee simultaneously, with the other knee quickly hitting afterward.  And wouldn’t you know it.  I popped right up, just like my boy’s taekwondo lessons.

That was a great start to my run.  Really!  So I took off onto, you guessed it, Meadows Trail, onward to Mentally Sensitive, even though I had little time to make it back home, shower and head off to work. 

Mentally Sensitive of course, was a chore.  But what a lovely cool-weathered chore it was.  I didn’t need to stop running, nor did I need a rest.  I wore a low profile shoe, which I haven’t worn in a while.  It felt like I ran in slippers.  The skies were so dark and gloomy I couldn’t even see Saddleback Mountains.  The scenery was eerie, yet serene.   

I pushed myself a bit, just a bit, with time so limited.  And I ran across to “Top of the World” wanting to call hubby (because it’s pretty much tradition to call hubby when I reach The Top of the World – I did it the first time, and pretty much every time after that).  Today though I ran onward – first to beat the rain, and second to get home in time to shower and get ready for work.

Approaching the top of Mentally Sensitive:

Rain began to fall as I ran down West Ridge Trail to connect my loop.  I could hardly feel the rain as it fell down, though I could see it plenty.  Thing was, the rain drenched my clothing so much that I began to grow quite cold.  Finally at Mathis Trail, I took off my drenched long sleeves, and put on the rain jacket that I’ve been packing all along.  I stopped to strike a pose.  Then, not fifteen minutes later, the rain stopped!

9.86 miles run today (15.88 km)

Muhahahaha!My Activities mentally sensitive - mathis 2-13-2012, Elevation - Distance

8 comments:

  1. I remember when you were keeping count of your falls very well. Glad this one wasn't too bad. I've had plenty falls and a few stand out. One was very bad where I cracked my sternum.

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    1. Yikes Johann!! Cracked your sternum. That is TERRIBLE. I have been very fortunate.

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  2. Hahahaaa. spread the impact. Never occurred to me.

    Looks like the trails are finally getting green!!

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    1. The trails are definitely getting green Giraffy, which means tics. : ( I would rather roll on my falls, but this fall was so quick, I had not time to roll. That is why I thought to spread the impact. : ))

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  3. I remember one fall I took (there have been many) when flying downhill on my local trials and my foot snagged a root. Before I knew it, I was airborne like superman thinking how did I get here. I hit the ground hard, but lucky to avoid the rocks and roots, and dusted myself off with only a few scratches. I laughed afterward thinking how funny this must have looked.

    I've seen a lot of runners fall, and after making sure they were ok, we always laugh afterward. I guess falling brings out the kid in us.

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    1. Those roots can be nasty Thomas. I do believe falling brings out the kids in us. I remember though, the fall was much shorter, and the weight hitting the ground, much less when I was a kid. LOL. Now, just like way, way back then, best part of a fall is the story. : ) Thanks for reading.

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  4. What a great day to run!! I love those grey days!

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    1. I love those gray days too Kate! They make for great pictures and nice cool running. Thanks for reading!!

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