VARSITY ATHLETICS

October 30, 2008

A Senior Season Almost Lost On Adelbert Road...

By Senior Runner Dominic Smith (New Richmond, OH)

"I can't move my arms. I won't be able to run. I lost Nationals for myself and the rest of the team. I should try to get up and get out of the street."

That was the order things went through my head while I was lying on Adelbert Road immediately after going over the handle bars of my bike one early September day.

Looking back on that moment I realize how important running has become to me. It wasn't until much later it occurred to me I was missing class or that I could have caused lasting damage to my body. All I cared about was when I could run again.

Finally I got up and as I was standing there shaking almost unable to move my arms my first thought was, "I better get to the training room. Coach is not going to be happy." Someone passing by told me I needed to go to the hospital and I was in no condition to argue.

After the initial shock wore off I started to feel quite a bit better and while the x-rays were being taken I had myself convinced that nothing was wrong with me. Then a nurse came in with a cart that had plaster written on the side. I left with a cast on my arm and the promise I could get it off in four to six weeks.

I started making plans for cross training for the next month and a half hoping that I would be able stay in shape enough to save my season. Then I heard that a couple doctors had looked at my x-rays and decided I might need surgery. When I met with a doctor four days later she took off my cast asked me to rotate my wrist. I went into that appointment assuming I was going to need surgery and I left without a cast on.

In the end I only missed a week of running before I was ready to go again. It took about three weeks before I felt completely recovered, but these last few weeks have been my best weeks of running ever.

This season has been as exciting as any I've seen before. I can't wait to see what conference brings.

Posted by: Creg Jantz October 30, 2008 11:53 AM | Category: Men's Cross Country

Posted by: cnj4 (Creg Jantz) October 30, 2008 11:53 AM | Comments (0) | Trackback