Tales of the Humerus by John Way Once upon a time, there was a runner with a slight concern over running two ten-milers on the same weekend with a slight head cold. Then with 9 of 10 miles completed on the first race, a challenging trail course, a slight mishap occurs. While pushing hard and hoping to catch who turned out to be the 2nd place finisher, this runner got into a slight skirmish with a rock. This quickly turned into an all-out brawl with many of the rocks compadres. Being fought on the rocks home turf, they easily won the day. After a shout of OUCH!!!, the runner ahead came back to assist, but was assured he should go on. The slightly in-pain runner got up slowly and walked and jogged the last mile, being passed by just one other, ironically the trail-race neophyte he had earlier given advice to keep lifting his feet. All the way, the runner supported his right arm with his left, imagining this could be what a separated shoulder felt like. Sympathy and assistance was provided at the finish in exchange for ample gratitude. Arrival at an urgent care facility at 10am started the rest of the journey. One hospital emergency room and three CVSs later, a brisk 10 more hours had passed while gaining swag of a sling, prescription ibuprofen and Percocet, and a diagnosis of a broken humeral head (the ball at the end of the humerus in the shoulder socket). There will be no 10-miler tomorrow for this runner.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 00:54:42 +0000