• Home
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Contact

Nutrition Nut on the Run

  • Recipes
  • Workouts
  • Running
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Beauty
  • Shop My Favorites
    • Shop Beautycounter
    • 2020 Holiday Gift Guide

Running Tuesday: Embarrassing Stories Edition

October 20, 2010 by Hillary 28 Comments

Running Tuesday: 1 mi. ITR… crash

Running Tuesday Wednesday: 2 x 1 mi. ITR + 20 min. spin + strength training

I know it’s Waffle Wednesday [hope you celebrated!], but I was too busy getting stitched up in Urgent Care yesterday to get around to write my intended Running Tuesday post. It was a special Running Tuesday post too – more marathon reviewing and details – but that’ll have to wait ‘til later as I have something more pertinent to share…

Caution: icky images.

073

068

059 

Black & blue from shoulders to shins.

I still can’t believe it happened… I laugh a little inside every time I replay the image of the incident in my mind; though, it was certainly was not funny [to me] at the time. Believe it or not, I ate sh*t on a treadmill. Pardon my language, but there’s no better way explain it. Yes, the first workout after running my blissful half-marathon up, down, and around the hilly streets of San Francisco, I biff on a treadmill – how does that happen!? Oh, the irony.

Story

Hillary hops onto a treadmill, as she has every other day this semester, to see the computer “error-ing”. She notices that the treadmill to her right is empty, so she hops right off the malfunctioning machine, takes a step [or two?] onto the adjacent treadmill and SMACK! In the blink of an eye, she was face-down on the floor in the middle of the gym [at “rush hour”]. She bolts straight up and straddles the running machine as if she didn’t just flail down a conveyer belt. Spectators ask her if she’s alright. “Fine… yes, fine”, she replies in utter shock. The kind gym-goer a couple machines to her right informs her that her chin is bleeding. Yes, it was. In fact, her second half-marathon tee was now saturated in blood. Thank goodness she had a ‘sweat towel’ handy.

Before getting any more attention, she carefully climbs off the deactivated machine completely embarrassed and walks to the locker room – holding a blood-stained cloth to her face – which couldn’t have possibly been any farther away.

After checking out the damage, she calls her roommate from her phone who was able to quickly rescue her from the hidden corner of the locker room. A couple transitions later and Hillary and her roommate were on their way to Urgent Care.

“Stitches for sure”, the smart-alec of a doc exclaims.

Moan.

1 shot, a needle, and a bit of blue thread… and she was put back together again.

 
questions

1. Was it my mistake that I didn’t notice the treadmill was running!?

2. Why on Earth was it running without a runner!? There is NO reason for this. There is paid staff patrolling all areas of the recreation center that are constantly turning off unwatched televisions and keeping an eye on the equipment.

3. No, I was not distracted by my iPod [forgot it!], cell phone [never with me at the gym], or eye candy.

I don’t know who’s to blame here. All I can say is GRRR… and beware of irresponsible gym-goers.

The positives

1. I have one heck of a hilarious story to tell the rest of my life.

2. The damage could have been much worse. Thank goodness I still have my two front teeth… and the 3/4 inch-long split is slightly under my chin.

3. I get to look like a badass with a bandage on my face, and I don’t have to worry about a Halloween costume ;)

 

Very thankful to still able to run on my two feet with a smile. Tomorrow’s Thursday!

Toodles,

Hillary

* * *

SHARE
Have you ever had a running accident?
Have you ever had stitches?
Any embarrassing running stories?

Related Posts

  • Tuesday Tidbits | 2.19.13
  • Go Running
  • Runspiration
  • 30-minute hilly {HIIT to FIT} run.
  • share your strength.

Filed Under: Running Tagged With: Running Tuesday, Treadmill Accidents

« I Run To Be
Nothing But Good [GIVEAWAY!] »

SUBSCRIBE

Get the Nutrition Nut Newsletter delivered to your email inbox.

Comments

  1. Jean@RoastedRootsandPumpkinSpice says

    October 21, 2010 at 12:31 am

    Aww, Hillary! I can’t believe that happened. That’s crazy and dangerous that the treadmill was on running without someone on it. Good thing you didn’t break anything though. Sorry about the stitches.

    I’ve never had a running accident, but one time I was out with my friends at a bar dancing in flip flops when this random girl next to me wearing SHARP heels sliced open the side of my foot with them. I was bleeding profusely and had to get 7 stitches that night after getting dragged to the hospital by my friends. OY. Hope you heal soon!

    Reply
  2. Lauren says

    October 21, 2010 at 3:57 am

    OMG Hillary!! I am so sorry this happened. This is truly my biggest fear while running on treadmills. I just know its bound to happen one day. Ugh, feel better hun!!

    Reply
  3. Donna says

    October 21, 2010 at 4:50 am

    Of course: I was training for my marathon back in 1980 and running with my faithful running partner, Cholla. We were running on a beautiful San Francisco day, right underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Cholla (the unleashed dog) decided to take a left turn and took out both of my legs in the process. Body plant.
    Sure, we run for our health, but at 30, I was running to look good and to fit into my Calvin Kleins. Falling in the middle of all the other good-looking runners was not cool.

    Reply
  4. Camille says

    October 21, 2010 at 6:21 am

    Oh my gosh, how scary! I have had stitches before and they didn’t hurt, it was more of a scare than anything.
    I completely despise anyone who leaves their machine going. I have seen quite a few people fall because of that. Not only is it irresponsible, it is downright stupid. Completely NOT your fault!
    Heal up soon!

    Reply
  5. Janetha G - meals & moves says

    October 21, 2010 at 7:58 am

    Oh man, I am glad you are OK! That’s definitely a good story though. Luckily it was just a few stitches. Hope you heal up nicely! xoxo

    Reply
  6. Marg says

    October 21, 2010 at 8:02 am

    That sucks! Hopefully you won’t really see it once it heals. I always feel like something may happen when I’m doing my HITT workouts. Maybe I should wear that stop string, maybe not.

    I’ve had way too many stitches! Three different times on my face: once under my jaw (can’t even tell), on my lip (can kinda see), and kinda to the side below my eye (faint enough). I’ve also scraped my chin pretty bad falling off my bike in middle school, ran over a rock and it threw me off. That was right before Halloween too, have the pics with the scraped up chin! Bright side, the stiches will be really cool!

    Reply
  7. Maria @ Oh Healthy Day says

    October 21, 2010 at 8:12 am

    Ugh – sorry to hear about that! I’ve come to realize that half of the people in the gym never know how to use equipment correctly (hence leaving on the machine), so I think pointing fingers at them is perfectly acceptable! Hope the wound heals quickly!

    And in case it makes you feel better, I’ve ate it on many workouts (which I do with my coworkers and a trainer). The trainer has had to pick gravel out of my knees more times than I’d like to count! And just a a few weeks ago, I hit my head so hard on a bar that he thought I had a concussion. Just another day in the gym for me :)

    Reply
  8. Dorry says

    October 21, 2010 at 8:40 am

    Oh my goodness – I am SO sorry this happened to you! But so thankful it wasn’t worse and I love your attitude about it. But dang, I bet that hurt! :( I fell at a roller disco costume party 3-4 years ago wearing roller-skates and busted my chin AND chipped my tooth. So I feel your pain. xoxoxo

    Reply
  9. Kristina @ spabettie says

    October 21, 2010 at 8:40 am

    oooh, sorry! that is lame that someone left it running?

    I was running FAST on a treadmill once, and my foot hit the edge – I stumbled several times, my shoes EEK EEK EEKing so loud, before I flew off and hit the wall behind me. Bruises and scrapes, but I was okay and got back on… :)

    A few years ago I had eye surgery a couple days before Halloween – instant costume, since my surgeon taped up my face like I was Massive Head-wound Harry!

    feel better!

    Reply
  10. Lindsay @ The Ketchup Diaries says

    October 21, 2010 at 9:03 am

    Ouch. That looks painful. You have the right attitude, though!

    Reply
  11. Sami says

    October 21, 2010 at 10:02 am

    you poor thing!!! that is CRAP. i’d be furious if that happened to me. way to stay light-hearted, sweet pea! :) oh! and the other blogger (i guess there was only one other one that i can remember right now) was Tay (heyitstay.wordpress.com) who did the run i commented on yesterday! <3 i think there were more, but i can't remember.

    hope you heal up soon, dear!

    Reply
  12. linds says

    October 21, 2010 at 10:32 am

    wow. that’s a crazy story, but literally when i clicked on your blog i saw a spitting image of what i looked like with my chin sewn up in pretty blue after i busted my ass on my bike. cheer up… and it always makes for a good story :D

    Reply
  13. Jess says

    October 21, 2010 at 11:22 am

    aw hope you feel better. the treadmill definitely shouldn’t have been running with no one on it! what the heck! that is my worst fear!

    Reply
  14. Caryln says

    October 21, 2010 at 11:24 am

    Oh no! I hope you are alright! Once during a track race, while running the 200 meters (you know, in front of the 100s of people watching), my shoe FELL OFF! I don’t know how because I am a FREAK about making sure my shoes are tied good, but yeah…that’s my embarrassing running story.

    Reply
    • Caryln says

      October 21, 2010 at 11:25 am

      *whoops, that was supposed to say “the last 200 meters”

      Reply
  15. Shannon, Tropical Eats says

    October 21, 2010 at 2:25 pm

    Oh my goodness, Hill!!!! Really hope you are ok :( I give you mad props for how you handled it. You are one tough cookie!!

    Reply
  16. Yin says

    October 21, 2010 at 6:59 pm

    Ouch, I hope you feel better! I actually fell on a treadmill too, but I didn’t need stitches. The machine was on and even though I started walking, it seemed to go really fast. Next thing I knew, I fell :(

    Reply
  17. Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says

    October 21, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    Ahhhh!!! So sorry that happened to you! I’ve witnessed a similar incident, but the girl didn’t fall all the way down. I don’t understand when treadmills are running unattended. Bizarre. Glad you’re okay though.

    Reply
  18. BostonRunner says

    October 22, 2010 at 5:06 am

    Yikes!! Glad to hear you’re okay!

    Reply
  19. Lizzy says

    October 23, 2010 at 7:59 am

    Hillary-
    This happened to me about two years ago. I still workout at the same gym and most people no longer remember….
    I do at least 2-3X runs a week on a treadmill and I had such a similar story… I was walking towards the treadmills, it was January, so most were full… and then I saw a guy get off and I walked towards it… I jumped on it without noticing the jerk never shut it off. I went flying and landed on my a@$# and hit my hand on the groung and had to go to the hospital. I was crying, it was so embarrassing and my brother still makes fun of me… but its life and you will look back and laugh about it. And I’m sure from now on you will always look to make sure its off!!!
    Great job on your amazing half marathon btw!!

    Reply
  20. Lauren @ Health on the Run says

    October 24, 2010 at 9:05 am

    Oh my gosh!! This is a crazy, horrible story!! I can’t believe someone left the treadmill running! I mean, come on — how hard is it to press stop? I’m SO sorry about your fall, but I’m glad you weren’t hurt worse. Hope you are healing ok!

    Reply
  21. Eleanor says

    October 24, 2010 at 1:35 pm

    What a nightmare; hope you’re recovering… I’ve never had a running accident, BUT I fell off my bike at the age of seven and cut my chin open in exactly the same place you did – the pictures are almost identical! If it’s any consolation, no one’s ever been able to see my scar, unless I tilt my head right back :-)

    Reply
  22. Emily says

    October 24, 2010 at 8:34 pm

    Been there done that! Except I was the idiot who left my own treadmill on, stepped off to tie my shoe, and then forgot it was on and stepped back on…BAM! I don’t think I injured myself as badly as you; I cut open my knee and had bruises on my legs. The saddest part is that I was SO embarrassed I got right back up and ran my 30 mins… the whole time thinking to myself…don’t stop, don’t stop, omg, don’t stop, so embarrassed, hurts so bad, don’t look at it, omg… I practically crawled back home, and cried as I iced my leg.

    Reply
  23. Ashley says

    October 25, 2010 at 9:11 am

    This is crazy! I’m so glad you weren’t hurt even worse!

    Reply
  24. Rebecca says

    October 28, 2010 at 6:34 pm

    I can’t believe someone would walk away and leave a treadmill running, that is so strange. I hope you are feeling better, maybe the gym needs to put a sign up saying “please make sure the treadmill is off before you get off”.

    Reply
  25. maria says

    October 6, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    Hello Hillary! I fell from the bike and got a scar in exactly the same place as you. It was a month and a half ago. It still hurts a lot to the touch. How long did it take for it to stop being painful in your case? A bit annoying to have the scar, but it could have been worse!

    Reply
  26. Caitlin says

    November 14, 2012 at 4:47 pm

    Just came across your blog and saw this post – how awful!!! It’s one of my biggest fears to have something like this happen – both from injury as well as embarrassment.

    I fell one day while running and didn’t need stitches, but scrapped up my knees pretty bad. I was crossing across a road and was about to step onto the side walk, when my boyfriend (I’ll blame him) pointed a house out to me and I looked, not realizing that the sidewalk entrance ramp faced the street at an odd angle and didn’t face the road dead on, so I went to run up the little incline and instead hit a curb. :(

    Reply
  27. kalamckala says

    December 9, 2012 at 10:15 pm

    Badass.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search by Topic

Instagram

I’m sure Koba is wondering why we ever lived in I’m sure Koba is wondering why we ever lived in Florida for two years.

#takemetothemountains #snowday
dog [noun] companion, loyal comforter, playmate, f dog [noun] companion, loyal comforter, playmate, forgiving, loving, energetic, protective, best friend.
this is the season ✨ she will make beautiful th this is the season ✨

she will make beautiful things

not perfect things 

but honest things 

that speak to who she is

and who she is called to be 

— Morgan Harper Nichols 

#happynewyear
❷⓿❷⓿ - moved clear across the country to ❷⓿❷⓿

- moved clear across the country to a new state for the second time
- hopped from one AirBNB to the next for 6 weeks while looking for a house to call home
- made new friends, virtually & IRL
- binge watched more TV shows than I can recall
- leveled up as an entrepreneur: hitting milestones with my virtual assistant and @beautycounter businesses
- voted for a new president 
- ascended new trails and explored alpine lakes of the Pacific Northwest 
- adapted: to Zoom holidays, takeout, and masked faces becoming the (temporary) norm

This challenging year was all about appreciating the little things while living through some really BIG things. 2020 had more than a few lessons to teach us all. Through a pandemic, pivotal change in presidency, and loud cry for human rights, I see very clearly how privileged I am. It was the year to let go of plans and lean in to a new perspective. 

After all, hindsight is ②⓪②⓪.
From my quaranteam to yours, happiest of holidays From my quaranteam to yours,

happiest of holidays! ❄️

#happyholidays #wintersolstice
#GIRLGETAFTERIT GIVEAWAY 💯⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Best th #GIRLGETAFTERIT GIVEAWAY 💯⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Best thing about 2020... for me, it’s been relationships - virtual and IRL.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
One of the goals that I set for 2020 was to make one new local friend in Seattle (seriously something I wrote down as I began the new year moving across the country). While I’m happy to say that I did so (during a pandemic), I feel fortunate for the virtual friendships that developed, too.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I’ve gotta take a second to give a shoutout to my newest soul sista @weeksofwonder. You helped me get after it during my second year of entrepreneurship with a hefty dose of #2020 mayhem. 🙏🏼⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Wendy and I met here on IG, and what started as a business relationship and accountability partner has turned into a special bond that transcends any walkie-talkie or social media app. This creative spirit has not only inspired me to get after it and dream bigger as an entrepreneur, but in the same way has encouraged me to honor rest and play: whether it’s giving each other kudos on Strava for tackling a run, building badass business plans and packages, or simply holding space to share the wins and the many woes, personally and professionally, of a memorable year. Having Wendy in my corner has led to some serious momentum and a sense of consistent community.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
2020 has been a shit show, but it delivered GRL PWR 👊🏻⁣⁣
⁣⁣
We want to hear from YOU: Who has been your supportive soul sister through the ups and downs of 2020? ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
One lucky winner will receive a @girlgetafterit swag bag with hoodie, beanie & water bottle. ⁣⁣
 ⁣⁣
HOW TO ENTER:⁣⁣
1. 👆🏼LIKE this photo⁣⁣
⁣⁣
2. 👇🏼TAG a womxn who has helped you GET AFTER IT this year - virtually or IRL⁣⁣
⁣⁣
3. 👯‍♀️ FOLLOW @hillontherun, @weeksofwonder AND @girlgetafterit⁣⁣
⁣⁣
BONUS ENTRY: Share this post to your story and tag us!⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Winner will be announced Sunday @ 5pm PST. This promotion is not endorsed by Instagram. Must be 18 and over to enter. Only available to ship in the U.S.
Follow on Instagram

10% off Primally Pure

My Favorite Collagen Peptides

Recent Posts

  • A Few of My Favorite Things: 2020 Holiday Gift Guide
  • Six Months in Seattle
  • My Amazon Favorites
  • Farewell Florida
  • 10 Years + A Life Update!
  • An Inside Look at My Health Using InsideTracker

Connect with Me

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Keep in Touch

Get the Nutrition Nut Newsletter delivered to your email inbox.

Follow
Privacy Policy & Disclaimers

Copyright © 2021 Design by Deluxe Designs