Flat tire

This Saturday I decided to do another trail run.  This time there would be no cross country 5k before the run.  This time I would run 3.5 miles in turn around and go back an out-and-back route.  7 miles would be tough.  This is no flat course the trail I chose is a mountain bike trail around Pinacle mountain.  I forget the elevation my Garmin recorded I'll add it in later.

The Jackfork trail is the same trail I ran last time with the Hard/Harder sign.  This time I chose Hard.  It was definitely not Harder but by mile 6 I was more walk than run.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

About a half mile in I step down and feel a sharp poke to my left foot.  I think oh sh!t I've stepped on a nail because (as everyone knows) there are nails everywhere on the side of an undeveloped moutainside in a state park.  Nails are at the top of the Trail Running Hazard List.

The list is as follows
1. nails
2. bears
3. snakes
4. falling and breaking your leg in the middle of nowhere without anyone knowing where you are and dying of exposure

I might have mixed up bears and snakes but the rest is 100% accurate.  I read it on the internet.

As I was saying I, at first thought I had fallen victim to the nail.  Instead I found a stick stuck to the botom of my shoe.  There was a piece about 1 inch long stuck through the bottom of my shoe and quite possibly through my foot.  I immediately pulled it out wishing much later I'd taken a picture frst.

I'd just driven 30 minutes to get there and decided I was running no matter what.  So I gingerly took off and felt only minor pain.  As I ran along I tried to pay attention to see if my shoe was filling up with blood.  The pain quickly faded and I forgot about it.

My foot is fine.  The stick didn't break the skin.  The lesson learned is- there is a reason people in the 'know' recommend trail specific shoes.  Bigger lugs that release mud, a thicker (more puncture resistant) sole and generally an upper that will keep  out small rocks and debris.