The returning runner

Act 24 – Time to fly…

I was churning up the Galena Creek trail that early fall day in 2020. I had found myself in a groove – running the 4.8-mile up- and down route every few days and setting a personal record each time. The trail was lightly carpeted with the first golden tinges of fall. It was cool – ideal running conditions. I would set another personal best again, I thought. I alternated by pushing with fast short strides and emphasizing knee lift. It was going well. I was breathing hard but just as a steam locomotive I churned my way uphill. Poking through the leaves, there it was, a small root sticking almost straight up. I would have to remember that for the way down. I spotted the abandoned outhouse that lies just short of the turnaround at Mt Rose Highway and pushed the accelerator to the floor. At the turn-around, I had my best half-way time -23:23. I made the hairpin turn and dove into the downhill. As if a downhill skier, I slanted forward out over my skis. My upper body perfectly perpendicular to the slope and my center of mass moving parallel to the 10% ground slope without braking. As if an airplane pilot, my brief “touches” merely guided my flight without slowing. When I came upon sharp turns I switched back to downhill skier mode, dancing around the banked curves. This was the best of running. Without breaking, my knees experienced no pounding at all. My strides truly approached flight on the straighter stretches. BAM!! My toe caught. It was the root! I was flying as a missile now – my body fully parallel to the slope. Two large boulders narrowly bracketed the trail ahead. I managed to turn unto my side in mid-air and slipped between. Now, I was descending. Coming in like Pete Rose sliding into 2nd base, my hands hit first. Dirt sprayed my face. Straight ahead was a smaller boulder pile. I couldn’t do anything. I would not slow enough. My hands hit first and absorbed some fraction of the crash. Next my glasses were batted off my face and then my brow hit. I staggered upright, convinced I must be seriously injured. Shaking, I took stock. Well, my hands were certainly scraped, and my face was bloodied. I could feel the black eye forming as my right eye began squeezing shut. But, my eyes weren’t injured – I could see ok other than the narrowing of my vision. My face hurt but nothing seem broken. My body ached all over – shoulders and back in particular. I would not set my fastest time for the roundtrip today. I slow-trotted back to the trailhead while gingerly avoiding any sudden movements which brought painful reminders.

“Flying” downhill can be the most fun that you have running but possible consequences include:

·       DEATH!!!

So, here are some guidelines that I try to follow to reduce the risk of death or injury:

-          If you are recovering from an injury, don’t try to open it up on a downhill until you can run comfortably on rolling terrain;

-          I only let myself go fast on downhills on days when my hips and hammys are really nice and loose;

-          There is a limit to how steep of slope I will “fly” down – not much more than 12%;

-          “Play” with some short downhills first to see how it feels and to get comfortable; and,

-          Oh, don’t forget about the roots sticking up and other trip hazards ;O)

Photo: Mark following a crash and burn on Galena Creek trail, September 2020.