Tuesday, August 27, 2013

It's a "Concrete" Jungle Out There

It's great to get off the road and onto single path trails!  The unevenness of the surface, roots and rocks,  that makes you use different muscles; the closed-in feeling of the trees, bushes and vegetation that make you feel like you are being hugged with with every step; and the quiet moments where you can actually hear yourself breathe and heart beat.  I've fallen a few times on trails but have never been injured by a fall.  I have sprained an ankle a few times, once while running a 50K and only 6 miles into the run.  Yes, I finished on a rainbow colored ankle!  Friday, in Las Vegas, I ran the urban jungle full of concrete, steps, noise and smells, treeless but without humidity (had to be something positive!)  About 8 miles into a run from the MGM Grand to Downtown and back, I tripped on uneven sidewalk and went down hard onto the concrete.  My football days trained me well - hit and roll!  Actually, to be more specific, it was called the monkey drill, hit and roll, while two other guys are jumping over you, alternating, as you jump over them.  There were no scrapes but a slightly bruised hip, nothing to keep me from finishing the run.  That's what trail runners do, get up and finish the run!