Humpty Dumpty had a Great Fall

Well, as I am at Mom's computer typing this, photos will have to wait. However, I will tell you a wonderful story about a fantastic fall. So, gather your children around. I have recently taken up trail running as a way to mix things up and to become a stronger runner. I spent 6 days in Durango, CO and Telluride, CO running the trails, camping and just enjoying to beautiful scenery. It is a gorgeous part of the country and I have even recommended a family vacation there. I ran about 55 miles on various different terrain, all trail without a single spill. I even did a 16-17 mile race called the Kennebac Mountain Challenge....and let me tell you it lives up to its name. You climb close to 4000 vertical feet, the terrain is miserable and there are places where there is hardly a trail. By the end of the trip I was feeling quite confident and was trilled that I had decided to take up trail running.

Upon my return to Salt Lake City, my friend whom I had gone on the trip with told me about the Jupiter Peak Steeple Chase in Park City. This is not the steeple chase that you see in the Olympics. This is a 16 mile trail race up and down various mountains that you can ski in the winter and some hidden single track trails that mountain bikers also use in the summer time. Things were going great, I was feeling great and I was moving fast...at least on the downhill portion of the course. I had managed to avoid about 3 spills earlier in the day and was feeling quite confident and thought I might even be able to catch a few more people on the descent. My feet were moving along at a nice pace, my breathing was comfortable, I was feeling hydrated and well fueled. And, then, the next thing I knew I was no longer upright; in fact I was splayed out across the trail. The wind had been knocked out of me a bit, my thigh seemed to be a little sore and it seemed that something was not quit right with my hand. I immediately popped up and did damage assessment....feet, fine; left knee, fine; right knee, a few bruises; left thigh, scraped and bloody but still able to function; right thigh, fine; right hip, a little scraped and bleeding; left elbow, scraped and bleeding but functioning fine; right arm, fine; right hand, not doing so well.....ok, in pretty bad shape.....aching, throbbing, swollen beyond recognition, by far my worst injury sustained from the fall. Face....fortunately my beautiful face was not damaged in the fall. So, its just a hand, I can still run; OK, not fast, but I can still run. And run I did....I had to get off the mountain and I had to finish the race because I don't quit. Fortunately, I only had about 1.5 miles left and I did manage to cross the finish line.....bloody, bruised, swollen and dirty as I was. Every guy who was there thought I was pretty tough for finishing....which I am. (But, they don't know how Stratton's are on the top of a mountain.)

Well, the hand is fortunately not broken, but it is a mess. I am in a splint for 2 weeks (only because it means I can run). I look pretty tough out running with my hand in a splint and my leg all scraped and bruised. Just remember....don't mess with me, I can out run you even if I am beat up and broken.

P.S. Mandy, you're allowed to laugh now because it is pretty funny. At least pops got hurt falling off a fast moving machine. I just got hurt falling off my own two feet (which, I suppose, are themselves a pretty fast moving machine too!)