So I fell, which spurs a discussion... (Read 751 times)

Today's run was going great until 11.5 miles. I was making a turn around .5 miles from my house to finish the 12 miler. I turned around and hit a patch of ice and completely slipped and fell. It ticked me off because I tore the knee out of my new running tights (new as in, today was the first day I ever wore them since I got them last night... ) Anyways, there were two cars who had a clear view of this. One at a stop sign about 30 feet away, and one down the road probably 150 feet. Neither of them stopped or made any motion to see if I was okay after I got up and just stood there looking at my knee which was bleeding, as well as the fact that my pants were torn... Anyways, back in May, I was running in Nashville, slipped on a rainy day in front of one car. This one car stopped, rolled down her window and asked if I was okay, and then informed me she was a nurse at Vanderbilt. The following three cars behind her each stopped and asked me if I was okay, too. I now live in Indiana... My questions for discussion... Is this anything to do with Southern vs. Northern hospitality, ya think? Am I wrong to want to track down these people that just drove by and kick them in the shin? Anyone else have this happen to them?

Out here in California, my experience is you're lucky if they know anyone's on the side of the road. I've fallen a couple of times (once even ripped my big toenail off) and never had anyone pull over or ask if I needed help.

it is interesting to think how folks can ignore something like that... I once fell or slipped down 2 flights of steps... slipped... bump,bump,bump... landing... slide... bump.bump.bump.bump... slide into some bushes... right past 2 professors who where talking. They had to slow down to keep me from taking them out. Then didn't even stop and ask if I was ok... nothing... then just continued talking and walked up the steps... It took me a few minutes to catch my breath but I will never forget that...

I also live in Indiana, Goshenl, and I tend to fall too. I think people assume we deserve it for running in the stupid winter up here. I just fell pretty hard the other day. I'm still bleeding through band aids and shirts, but no sympathy for my wife. I've never had anyone stop for me. Would you stop for someone else? Depending on what I saw happen I may not either, but this post made me think perhaps I should. Next time fall on their stopped car.

well I've been hit by a car (while riding a bike) and no one stopped. So I can't really sympathise with the slipped on ice one too much.

well I've been hit by a car (while riding a bike) and no one stopped. So I can't really sympathise with the slipped on ice one too much.

You win.

I've lived in Texas and Maine, and there definitely IS something to the southern hospitality thing, but it's not always consistent. I spun out in my dad's 1973 Maverick when I was in high school - slid off the road in Austin and hit a telephone pole right next to the lake - and no one stopped to see if I was OK. That surprised me! When I took my two sons home to Texas and showed them around the UT campus, several people stopped to talk to us and give us directions. A security guard called us over and gave the boys a photo of the football team. At the end of the day, my oldest said, "Mom, everyone is so friendly here!"

Runners up north don't need help. The drivers are worried they'll offend you by offering.

That reminds me of an episode this Summer...I didn't fall, but was running during a downpour. A woman pulled up to me in a brand new car (nothing fancy...a PT Cruiser, but it still had dealer plates) and offered me a ride home. I on mile 5 of a 6 miler at this point and thoroughly enjoying myself. I think she thought I was nuts when I declined. I did thank her to let her know that the offer was appreciated, just not necessary. I had my first fall a couple of weeks ago (just the day after commenting that I had yet to fall while running, though I have had many close calls). I'm pretty certain that a guy at the bottom of the hill in a truck waiting to pull out on the main street saw me, but he drove off when he saw that I was unhurt and had resumed running. I like to think that he would have stopped if I really had been down for the count.