Month: October 2014

In high school, I ran middle distance for the school track team. I competed in the 800m dash and the 4x800m relay. As I remember it, my training routine consisted of 1hr road runs three days a week, and interval training on the track two or three days a week.

One weekend, I got it into my head that it would be really cool to run around town. By that I mean, literally all the way around town. Early one Sunday I set out from my house and headed east toward the highway. I went up, then hooked west back toward the high school. I stopped by my friends house and chatted a while, had a drink of water, then set out to continue my run.

I continued around town, avoiding the busy streets, and passing through all the interesting neighborhoods and byroads. By the time I returned home, I was totally exhausted. I was dizzy and weak. I drank gatorade and lay flat on the floor for a long while.

The next morning, I had a bad ache in my left shin. I recognized this to be a stress fracture, which I had been diagnosed with, and recovered from, in the past.

Fast forward to the following Tuesday. Our team was competing in a large regional track meet with a dozen or so other schools. I was the anchor in the 4x800m relay. My leg still ached badly, so I tightly wrapped it in a bandage, and tried to shake off the pain with some warm-up sprints and edgy 90s alternative rock.

The race begins. Our first three runners were very good, and when the baton came to me we were in 1st or 2nd place (as best I can recall). I set out around the first lap, and easily maintained our position. Right as I began the 2nd lap, something started to feel strange. I had an odd sensation in my left leg, and heard a strange grinding noise. It sounded like my track spikes had started to break off or come loose. I assumed this was the case, and I kicked extra hard around the first turn.

Just as I left the first turn, it happened. My tibia snapped right out from under me, and I fell flat on my face. In that moment, I had such a level of adrenaline and endorphins, that I didn’t feel anything at all. I tried to stand up, but my broken leg just buckled beneath me and I fell once again.

Still confused, I began to try to stand again. Before I could, a teammate had made it to me and explained what had happened. I sat in shock as all the other runners passed me.

As I limped to my car, a parent who was sitting in the audience called out to get my attention. He said that he could hear the bone break from where he was sitting in the bleachers. Still riding the endorphin high, I drove myself to the ER and had my leg set in a cast.