Las Vegas, NV

Running Time: 51:50 interrupted

This is my plug for safety. I sometimes run on sidewalks or pavement when a track or trail is not available. No more. Pavement is hard. If you fall, there is no give to it. It is hard on your feet, legs, hips, and core when you run on it. If pavement is all there is available forthwith, I will walk, not run.

I started out just down the road behind the Westgate Resort, where I was staying for a trade show, headed south to UNLV. It took me half of my running time to get to UNLV, so I just headed back. It had been a long day of walking a trade show floor surrounded by half-masked fools. I was most of the way back when, boom, I was down and bleeding.

I think I turned to look at something on my right, and I did not see a construction mat lying across the sidewalk. I landed on my left shoulder, and my left eyebrow struck the pavement. It opened up 3 large cuts, possibly aided by my sunglasses, which cracked. I also lost one of my earbuds.

I made it about a block before I realized that the blood loss was a problem, mostly to my appearance. My shirt was covered in blood. I had to somehow get into the hotel and up to the 27th floor looking like I just fought Mike Tyson. As I pondered this, I saw an ambulance getting gas at the 7/11 across the street.

I walked over there and they patched me up. They cleaned the wound, put a loose bandage over the wound, and wrapped gauze around my head to keep it in place. Now I looked like a triage patient. The paramedics told me I needed stitches and suggested I got to Elite Medical.

I managed to get into my hotel room largely unnoticed. Those that I did see didn’t seem much phased by my appearance. I took a cab to Elite Medical, paid a grand + to get my stitches, then took another cab back to the hotel. I took some ibuprofen and went to bed. I hadn’t eaten since 8 am.

So it is track or trail running from here on out for me. Pavement is for walking, if I have use it. And Vegas is not my town.