Gasparilla Faux Pas

Posted Jan 24, 2010 by Patty Kim

Updated Jan 24, 2010 at 05:32 PM

Today’s faux pas (French for “false step”) happened about a quarter mile from the end of my 10-mile run.

Bayshore was busy with the usual Sunday morning throng of walkers, runners, bikers, skateboarders and more.

Then there was the leftover visual pandemonium of the Children’s Gasparilla Parade yesterday, from hot dog stands to Port-o-Pottys.

A Waste Management vehicle was gathering trash from the side of the road. Crews were erecting even more bleachers along the water.

Then there was me. Running along the sidewalk. Almost finished with my run and still feeling good.

I turned to check out the Sunday morning sights when I failed to negotiate the crack. It came out of nowhere. I had no chance.

I could feel myself losing my balance. I tried to regain my composure.

TIM-BER!

Picture me on a Slip ‘n Slide in your back yard.

Now imagine the same slide along the Bayshore concrete sidewalk.

Good times.

Fortunately my left elbow took the brunt of the fall along with my right hand. My left hand and hip are looking hot, too.

After I fell, I slapped the ground in frustration, securely lodging rocks and dirt particles into the raw skin of my palm.

I hopped up and immediately inspected my elbow, which was gushing blood.

“Are you OK, lady?” One of the garbage guys was checking on me. He witnessed the whole thing.

“Yeah.” I kept running—on the other side of the road. I was almost home.

I was on the verge of tears as I realized I was leaving a trail of blood along the way.

Once I got home, I almost passed out, likely from a combo of being dehydrated AND losing blood.

I debated heading to the Emergency Room after inspecting what looked to be my ulna in the middle of the bloody elbow mess.

But after reaching an on-call nurse, she said it would be a waste of time and money. Surgeons can’t stitch up abrasions.

Instead, she recommended cleaning up the wounds, applying Neosporin and wrapping in a wet/dry mix of gauze. She also recommended icing to stop the blood flow. Ibuprofen is my friend.

Check out my Sunday fun. WARNING: These photos do NOT pass the breakfast test.

Here’s my hand (which is not bleeding anymore at this point):

Making a fist, gripping the pitcher of water, driving ... it all hurts.

Here’s the real winner, the left elbow: