Protection for Falls While Running

I run every day on rough trails. About four times a year I fall. The injuries I've suffered have been minor except on three occasions when I broke ribs.

I always fall forward. My shoe catches on some minor obstruction when I'm picking my foot up behind my body to move my leg forward for my next step. Since my leg doesn't move forward, I fall very quickly. Usually I have time to break my fall with one, or if I'm lucky, both hands and thus avoid head injury or tooth breakage. However, a few days ago I fell so quickly I didn't have time enough to bring even one hands forward to break my fall and consequently my forehead hit the hard clay surface on which I was running - I suffered a cut above my eye and a very bad black eye. The next time I take such a fall, I fear loosing an eye, a tooth, or suffering a concussion. My wife wants me to stop running.

I'm thinking of fashioning a headband from bubble wrap but I prefer purchasing a commercial product that might provide me the protection I need - that is, I need to protect only my forehead. A baseball or biker's helmet would provide much more protection than I really need besides being uncomfortable to wear. Do any of you have any

Having run on rocky trails in the dark, through snow, over ice, and of course in good weather too, I have fallen quite a few times myself. I wear gloves to protect my hands when I fall, but the most important thing I have learned to do is to run mindfully. I really pay attention to where I put my feet and this provides the best protection. Trail running is different than street running and you can't just shut your mind down. This may sound silly but it is what works for me.

Lay off the booze for a while. You'll soon find that you fall less frequently, when you're sober.

In rec.running

Angular accelleration.

A helmet?

No way... how are you going to run with a helmet?

yup. my tip of the day would be: don't run on uneven terrain at dusk when you're sleep-deprived. i tried that today and fell flat on my nose (well, almost) for the first time. well, for the first time running. makes you feel pretty silly indeed... but i think wearing a headband of bubble wrap would make me feel even dumber.

I agree with the general advice you have already been given. I just want to add one word of warning about the way you say you land when you have time to react. You should not try to catch yourself with you hands. Catching yourself with your hads greatly increases the risk that you will fracture a wrist. You should try to land on your formarms and then roll. Yes I have taken a few spills on trails and yes even a couple on the roads.

Tom

: I run every day on rough trails. About four times a year I fall. The : injuries I've suffered have been minor except on three occasions when : I broke ribs.

: I always fall forward. My shoe catches on some minor obstruction when : I'm picking my foot up behind my body to move my leg forward for my : next step. Since my leg doesn't move forward, I fall very quickly. : Usually I have time to break my fall with one, or if I'm lucky, both : hands and thus avoid head injury or tooth breakage. However, a few : days ago I fell so quickly I didn't have time enough to bring even one : hands forward to break my fall and consequently my forehead hit the : hard clay surface on which I was running - I suffered a cut above my : eye and a very bad black eye. The next time I take such a fall, I : fear loosing an eye, a tooth, or suffering a concussion. My wife : wants me to stop running.

: I'm thinking of fashioning a headband from bubble wrap but I prefer : purchasing a commercial product that might provide me the protection I : need - that is, I need to protect only my forehead. A baseball or : biker's helmet would provide much more protection than I really need : besides being uncomfortable to wear. Do any of you have any : suggestions?

Simple one-to-one correlation between faceplants and fatheaded thoughts. Works for me! I get to thinking I'm looking pretty good, running like a hill tiger, not too shabby for my age