Help! Splash! Ow!
I went running today at the park with my wife and son. Them on bikes and me on foot. I needed about 5 miles today and I was really tired but I dragged myself over there anyway (mostly with the wife pushing). Lots of storm clouds but the rain was just about done for the day so it was only muggy.
We had gotten about 1.5 miles out and I was feeling pretty good. Stride was nice, I was hitting midfoot, no hard breathing, and it looked like a 9:00 - 8:40 pace (hard to tell in the woods with Forerunner). I was doing well.
This section of the path comes close to the river, which is actually more like a creek here. Deep enough to wade in and fly fish, or canoe, but not so deep that you could normally drown, because standing is easier.
There’s a dirt path that goes along side the river and parallels the paved path here as well, and my son likes to ride in the dirt, while I run the path. As long as he stays out of the poison ivy, he’s ok. There’s a little bench for watching the river, right were the dirt path begins, and there’s a steep dropoff down to the water. Its a 5 foot cliff where the water has washed the bank away, so that roots and stuff are exposed.
Today we went right past that spot where the dirt trail starts. I first thought my son was going to skip it today, but he turned around and headed back. I kept on running, knowing he would soon be charging through the woods, yelling and hollering and annoying the wildlife. Then I heard him, but not the same hollering.
Whooa! Whooooooaaaa! Aaah! Aaaaaaaaaah! SPLASH!!!!!
I’m running now like lightning. I think I would have passed Richard and Jeff like they were standing still. Then I hear him again.
Ack! HELP! (glub) Ack! HE-(glub)-LP!
I’m having a vision, as I fly, of him stuck under the damn bike and can’t get his head up. Down to the bench, down to the edge, and I’m looking while I’m moving, trying to spot where he is. And then I keep moving, straight forward, over the edge of the drop off. Its like Wyle E. Coyote when he goes off a cliff and is suspended in the air for a moment when he realizes that he’s over the edge but can’t do anything about.
Then everything goes into slow motion. I can see the bike under the water, but not my son.
SMASH! OWWWOWOW!! My foot hits a log, my knee buckles, and my shin (oh, yes my friggin’ shin because there just isn’t enough pain there already) hits a rock. SPLASH! I’m in the water lying down face first.
I lift me head and see my son. Standing. Standing in the water up to his ankles by the edge of the drop off. He’s got mud on his face and a little blood on his temple, and he’s soaked.. Not drowning.
I was ecstatic that he wasn’t drowning and so thoroughly pissed that he had been screaming like he was.
My wife pulled out the first aid kit (are you surprised we carry one?) and patched him up. He had two small cuts on his temple (a shiner for tomorrow?), a big bruise on his left quad and a bruise on his collarbone. I had a giant bulging bloody and blue lumpy area on my shin and more bruises on my calf. After a little rest, the two soggy, injured ones and the only dry one there, trudged on back to the car. It didn’t hurt to run for some reason, probably because it was so numb. It sure as hell hurt when I went home and put the hydrogen peroxide on it, and then the ice.
So my 5 mile run became only 3, with added injuries. Fortunately nobody died in this incident. From what I can piece together, he made the sharp turn to head onto the dirt path, went too fast, couldn’t turn, and didn’t react in time to stop before going right through the poison ivy and straight off the cliff into the water (his tire tracks looked like that’s what happened). Must have been a real rush. If he starts doing mountain biking and extreme sports, I think I can pinpoint the day when he first got the notion .
He is banned from offroad riding for 10 years.
June 12th, 2005 20:14
Hi, Jon- I see your comments here and there so checked and lo! I think I know the scene of this accident…we’re probably neighbors. I scrolled down to see if you had a post on the D-A2 Run but the page doesn’t go back that far- how did you do?
Glad everyone survived today’s incident.
June 12th, 2005 20:41
There’s always something humilating about being the parent hero and ending up being the one with the bigger bruises. I feel for you and can imagine that slow motion realization of being over the cliff. I hope you take something tonight to ward off the mid-night pain.
June 12th, 2005 21:13
Glad to hear everyone is all right! But, did y’all come in contact with that poison ivy?
June 12th, 2005 21:27
Hello, I see you all the time at rude cactus and so the fish said, but I’m here today because Vicki told me you are a running fool too. My neighbor and I started out training for a marathon, but now I think I have to do only a half this year. I have a ways to go. But I’ve been blogging about it too, and I stopped by to read about your running, because I love to read about running. Great links!!!
And great story today!
June 12th, 2005 21:55
What a scary story - I’m glad you all are okay (bruises and cuts aside).
Thanks for the link this morning, too!
June 12th, 2005 22:03
Glad to hear everyone is okay. Glad the wife had a first aid kit. Too bad there was no camera. I’d love to of seen a shot of the two of you standing there stunned and muddy.
Good luck keeping him off those trails now that he’s been bit by the bug.
June 12th, 2005 22:17
Wow. My heart rate picked up just reading about the incident. Too scary. Glad everyone is okay. Do you know about Tecnu? It’s great for washing off the oils from poison ivy that causes all of the itching. If you don’t know about it then it’s probably too late to use by now but we keep some in our cars just in case.
Hope everyone’s injuries heal quickly.
June 12th, 2005 22:19
you are such a good dad. seriously. and i am sorry your run got cut short :)
June 13th, 2005 03:50
I hope you all heal quickly! Great description, I was already to jump in the water and rescue you both!
June 13th, 2005 06:38
That is because I thought you were a woman!! I did. I doesn’t say anywhere on your weblog that you are not. My bad. I am sorry. I will change my example hehehe.
June 13th, 2005 08:09
Imagining you running full speed through the woods and launching yourself into the water to save your son (with suspensful, adventure-type soundtrack inserted) is wicked turn-on. I hope your heroics were rewarded.
June 13th, 2005 08:15
Great story. It’s one to save for the future grandkids. Glad you are both ok.
June 13th, 2005 08:46
wow, I missed a lot this weekend. I am SO glad your adventure ended up safely. What a scare. My oldest took up mountain bike racing in college and ended up with a major concussion at some point…but he did love those trails.
June 13th, 2005 09:34
Is it wrong that I laughed at this? I mean, once I saw that everyone was not drowning, of course. If it helps, I laugh when I hurt myself too. Maybe it’s just nerves. Or maybe it was your description. Glad everyone’s okay!
June 13th, 2005 12:57
What? Why does someone think you are a woman? And after all that, did your little guy at least avoid the poison ivy? Glad you’re both still walking on 2 legs!!
I know I’ve been on vacation for a week, but if you are now a woman, I’m going to need details and, preferably, photos as well.
June 13th, 2005 14:13
Yikes! I laughed that your wife had a first aid kit. (We carry one too.) Glad all ended well!
June 13th, 2005 14:53
How scary! Glad that you are both mostly ok.
June 13th, 2005 15:47
OH
MY.
I hate that kind of panic…and then..it’s nothing. When our sons (the older one) screams irrationally we say…oh no..that scream is not for stubbing your toe or skinning your knee, that one’s reserved for the loss of an eye or perhaps a severed limb.
June 13th, 2005 16:05
Like mIa, I ended up laughing at this too - I hope that i’m not becoming immune to the screaming, but somehow it seems like real trouble is usually much quieter…
Though I could see you flying off the bank - SuperJon!
June 13th, 2005 16:16
did you leave a little puff of cloud as you dropped down into the water? what a great story, jon. i, too, like jank, ended up laughing. hope you don’t mind =)
June 13th, 2005 18:16
Oh, wow. Glad that you’re both okay overall. Hope your legs are on the mend. Did either of you get poison ivy?!
June 13th, 2005 20:15
lol, Didnt you just say to me,, its never boring with kids? Glad your all ok,, and hope your shin doesnt bugg ya later!!
heather
June 13th, 2005 20:24
Excellent story…made that much better yb the fact that you’re okay!
June 13th, 2005 22:20
What a day! I am glad you are both okay. I hope your bumps, bruises, and scraps are healing quickly.
June 13th, 2005 23:30
Oh man! I’m glad you guys are ok! I have to admit, the Wiley Cayote part made me pause and then smile a little.
June 13th, 2005 23:57
i’m glad everyone is okay and I”m holding my breath for the future. If My little guy is anything like me I’ll be competing for wylie coyote status before long…..once I fell down A stair and broke both bones in my lower leg….yeah I rock
June 14th, 2005 10:58
I’m glad to hear that you’re involving your family in exercise. Wow! What excitement! Hope you’re all recovered. kirsten
June 14th, 2005 13:56
Oh man! What a day..glad to hear that you guys are OK!
June 14th, 2005 14:12
Oh.my.gosh. Jon, you are a great dad, if for no other reason than that you didn’t kill your son. Oh, man!
Your write-up is great. But damn it, you gotta quite hurting yourself!
June 14th, 2005 17:00
are you going to leave this comment box open until everyone on the internet has commented? seriously, i have never seen so many comments!!! i guess you tell a compelling story.
June 14th, 2005 17:26
Run-O-Rama / the carnival of the runners
Jon learned that its easier to run on an injured shin if you bash it hard enough to make it go numb, and the value of carrying a first-aid kit wherever you go.
June 14th, 2005 19:47
OMG Jon, I was holding my breath reading this post. I am sorry your injured =( but I am so relieved that you son is okay…..LOL grounded for 10 years from offroad riding - that’s funny, he is lucky his Dad has such a great sense of humour =)
June 15th, 2005 22:46
My goodness Jon, what a scary and painful adventure. I’m so glad your little man is okay and I sure hope you heal soon. And btw, you rock super-dad
June 20th, 2005 11:24
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