Ever go out for a run and find yourself flat on the ground, bleeding and wondering how the heck you just ended up there?  Everyone who runs “goes down” eventually — tell us about your most memorable fall — funny, scary, silly — and tell us if you still have the scars!

I have two memorable falls:

The first was on Lake Pleasant Road in the dead of winter. I was running along just fine until one of the springs on my right foot Yak Trax jiggled out and grabbed the lace of my left running shoe.  Imagine if someone instantly tied your shoes together mid-stride. I went down hard. Because it was winter and I had tights, layers and gloves on, I didn’t get very bloody. I did, however have bruised knees for a good week.  I ripped those Yaks off right then & there.

My other fall was actually on the treadmill in my basement. I had hopped off the treadmill mid-run to run upstairs and get some water. I thought I had stopped the treadmill, but it never stopped. I didn’t notice because I had my headphones on and I had just had it serviced the day before (so it was running extremely quiet). I stepped on the belt, which was going 7.5 mph.

I immediately went down and slid down to the end where the belt tore away at my skin until I processed what had just happened (you know how it takes you a few seconds to think…WTH?) and I managed to get myself off the burning belt.

I had painful brush-burn like injuries to both knees, one elbow and my forehead (yep, my FOREHEAD hit the belt). I felt like the biggest dork.  I had the scars on my knees for months.

Suffice to say, now I am very careful about making sure the treadmill is stopped before I step on the belt.

Amy Cronk

Oh yes, I have a story.   I went out for a run on an extremely windy day;  things were  blowing everywhere.   I had almost made it home when I had to cross 6^th street and go a up slight hill. As I am crossing the street and just about to go up, this branch falls down.

I,  forgetting that I am not a Olympic hurdler, decide to hurdle right over it. As I did,  it caught my foot and down I went right on my face, elbows, knees.  Of course I jump right up, thinking I am fine, and I continue my run.

I was about a block from home when I started to feel the blood running down my face.  I had a nice gash on my nose right between my eyes.

My husband had a great time (once he knew I was OK),  trying to figure out/picture how I had landed on my face.  On windy days, he never lets me forget it. LOL.

Benjamin Reitz

I was crossing Forbes Avenue in Pittsburgh and it was starting to get dark.  I was in the middle of the road and just magically tripped on the center paint line.

As I lay on the ground checking all my parts it dawned on me that I was laying in the middle of the road.

So I quickly got up, and noticed traffic was coming in both directions.

After playing a little bit of “Frogger”, I safely returned to the side of the street I came from and decided to call it a night

And I walked from corner to corner for the remaining few blocks to get to my car.

Kim

I have so many fall down stories! Here’s the latest….  A friend of mine and I were running a short 3 mile route (she’s a newby runner). On our way back, on 36th and Greengarden, I failed to pick my foot up high enough on flat pavement and fell forward in slow motion. I landed with my right palm down and managed to dislocate the bone in my hand that makes your pinky finger move. Ended up in the ER and a cast for 4 weeks, a splint for 2 more. It was horrible!

On a side note: Two people walked past me while I was sitting on the sidewalk crying in pain and they never stopped or said a word to me. Yet one day, about 4 miles into a long run at Presque Isle, I stopped to just to take a breather. Two runners passed by and slowed to ask me if I was OK. I love runners…always looking out for each other!

Karen Manganaro

My most memorable fall – I was half a block from home and moving along pretty well. At the corner of Zuck Road and West 32nd Street there is a sharp tight right turn, and the sidewalk on this corner has a lot of loose stones and pebbles. This intersection is also very busy. Rounding the corner, down I went. I didn’t even look to see how many witnesses there were to my face plant.  I just jumped back up, ran the half a block home and then assessed the damages.

Phil Hirsch

A few years ago, I had been spending a lot of time helping to care for a newborn. One day I decided that I needed a break, so I set off to take just a short run. About half a mile in, I stumbled on some rough pavement, and I instinctively clutched both arms to my chest to protect the baby as I fell.

Of course, I wasn’t carrying the baby — he was safe at home with his mother — but since I hadn’t extended my arms to brace my fall, I did a face-plant on the sidewalk.