Quite an adventure today. I picked up where I left off from yesterday's final 5 miles - fluid legs and high energy - so I decided to do a South Farms loop with a favorable 70 degree blue sky guiding my way. At mile 5 I found a thick manilla folder laying in the middle of Illinois Street, so I picked it up and examined the contents, finding business documents and an uncashed $2500 check which was dated today. I decided to make a detour and ran 1 mile home and phoned the business to let them know I had some of their cash.
I resumed my run and had a few low energy bouts, but they lasted only briefly. Out on the South Farms I found a nice rhythm and got into a groove. At the MBK water pit I saw a woman in hystrics and tears telling her wobegone boyfriend that he makes her miserable. I recalled the times in my life when relationships were coming to an end, and I had to shrug and keep on with my run.
At mile 12 it felt as if things were just getting started, so I decided to run home to refuel. Rachel told me that the owner of the company stopped by the house and was happy that I had called about his missing folder. I felt happy about my good deed, and after eating fruit/nuts and drinking V8/water, took off for more running fun.
I ran back to Busey Woods and started doing loops. The pathways were a bit muddy, but nothing too terrible. Just before mile 20 I swerved around some water and tripped on a downed tree branch. I landed on my right knee and sliced the lower side section open. I quickly got up, which could have been a mistake because I fell awkwardly, but I seemed ok. My knee was bleeding and I was covered in mud. I was 500m from the Nature Center, and having once worked there, I knew I could get first aid supplies. I talked with Allison and she gave me what I needed. After cleaning and bandaging the wound I decided to finish the run with one more loop, and then a mile back into town. I still had a lot of energy, and felt I could go 30 miles if I wanted to, but I decided this was not the time for that kind of distance. I ran comfortably hard the last mile, and when I got home I bathed and recleaned the wound.
The cut has caused the side/bottom of the knee to swell, but it is at a part of the leg where pressure from running is minimal. Hopefully the swelling will go down in a few days and will not interfere with my training. | 