WHAT DO FRIENDS, WILD PONIES & A CHIN HAVE IN COMMON? MINNICK MASSACRE (part 2)

As you have read in Beth’s previous post yesterday, 15 Iron Mountain Trail Runners met for what will become known as the annual Minnick Massacre. Beth was totally correct when she placed the word “massacre” in her fun run name. As you read on, you will soon find out that the only person that was massacred was me.

Fifteen of us met at Grayson Highlands State Park’s (Mouth of Wilson, VA) extended stay parking lot at 10:00am on Sunday, October 19th. Beth had arranged for a beautiful and challenging loop for us that she thought was about 12 miles. Most of us were happy to have a nice stroll through the mountains and enjoy the beautiful fall scenery. Some of us, like Doug Blackford, thought that we were going a little short. He was told to add what ever he wanted to add.

We had several new runners show up for their first encounter with our fun loving group. They consisted of Renee Blacken, Jeremy Ferell, Jim Bowers and Lou Moore. Annette came out to enjoy the sunshine and friends, saying that she was unsure how long she could go. She knows Grayson Highlands like the back of her hand and she knows all of the short cuts to get her out of the mountains if the pain in her leg became too much. It was wonderful to have Annette back with us for a few hours and we hope that our little fun run gives her hope that she is gradually recovering.

Beth’s post lists everyone that came out for a fun day. Us old trail runners are always happy to have new trail runners join us for a wonderful day in the woods. I guess our next fun run will be Adam Hill’s Bent Creek Gobbler on November 29th, so let’s all head to Asheville for a what I know from experience will be a great day.

Our fun runs are meant to have fun and we have a great time whenever we get together. Beth had discussed putting out water on our loop, but her car was unable to handle the unimproved jeep road that she would have had to travel to get there. I decided that I would be the water boy for this trip, so I started off with my Nathan backpack filled with two liters, a double bottle waist pack and two handhelds. As we went along, I ended up with a group that consisted of Jason, Martha, Jenny, Lou and Tammy. We were moving along just fine, stopping to smell the roses and enjoy the wonderful views that Grayson Highlands has to offer.

For those of you who are familiar with Grayson Higlands, there are very few places that are free from rocks. There are little rocks, medium rocks and big rocks. Some rocks are loose and others are planted firmly in the ground. In some places, the trail actually goes through a mountain of boulders at which time you boulder hop. I hope you are getting the idea that there are rocks everywhere. As I said earlier, Annette knows this area like the back of her hand. I can guarantee you that she has trained here so much. I imagine that training here has given her the talent for running through a rock garden like a ballerina.

Our little group was running along the Crest Trail and I looked off to my right, up on a little ridge, and saw two ponies. I pointed them out to the others and I started up to have a little look see. I approached slowly and walked for about 75 yards to where the first pony was grazing. I had my two handhelds in my left hand and put out my right hand so the pony would not be threatened. I made several petting strokes across the ponies head and then she began to turn her backside to me. It all happened so quickly and I instantly knew what was getting ready to happen. I was about to get kicked. All at the same time, I was turning to my left and stepping and/or running backwards. I tripped over one of those few well placed rocks. I then went down face first. To fast forward a little bit, Martha said that the other pony was a colt and that the pony I was petting was its mother. I guess she felt threatened.

I was trying to get up, but I was confused as to which way was up. I could here everyone yelling at me asking if I was ok. You see, they were smart, they stayed on the trail. I was the only one who ventured up for a close-up view of the ponies. My view became close-up and personal. About the time everyone got to me, I was able to sit down on another one of those few rocks. I kept telling everyone that I as ok and I was trying to stand up. Tammy kept yelling at me to sit down that I was going to pass out. She says she had to yell at me as I was not listening. She says my eyes were swimming around in my head. I was a little dizzy, so I decided that I better lie down and they all helped me accomplish that.

As I lay there they began to work on getting my chin to stop bleeding. Someone was carrying band aids and some tape. I ended up wearing Jenny’s bandana around my head to try to keep the cut compressed. I looked like Mr. Scrooge. The pony ended up kicking me in my right shin. It is a little cut and bruised, but nothing bad. I guess I got out of the way with that spectacular turning maneuver that I did. My left upper thigh is very sore as I guess I landed on a rock with it. The chin took the brunt of the impact. I will share the outcome of the chin issue in a moment.

After about 20 minutes (not that I remember), I felt good enough to stand up and I was not dizzy. We began the hike out. I think we hiked for about 1 ½ hours, so I imagine we were still 3 to 4 miles out when my pony experience began. I had some trouble hiking out with the pain in my left leg. As we got close to the parking lot, I could tell that my group had informed everyone of my mishap with the pony. Everyone was waiting on me as I came off of the trail. I told everyone what had happened. Tammy helped me change clothes. My left leg continued to get stiffer and I was beginning to chill. As we were standing around talking, I was telling everyone that I really did not need to go to the doctor. They would only put a butterfly strip on my chin and send me home. Tammy kept saying that I would have to have stitches. I wonder who was right? You see, it was a major disappointment not being able to go to Bellas Pizza for our after fun run fun.

Tammy and I said our goodbyes and we started the two hour drive home. I did not take my wallet with me, so I did not have my insurance card. I only had some money and my driver’s license. I have now been told that I should keep a copy in my car (makes sense). We decided to go to First Assist in Johnson City. Tammy dropped me off and I went in to fill out all of the paper work. Tammy went home to get my wallet. Soon after she got back to me, they took us back. They cleaned my cut chin up. Getting the grass out of the cut felt so good!!! Three different doctors looked at me and decided I needed to go to the hospital. They were concerned as to how deep the cut was and as to whether I need an MRI on my head.

They called the emergency room at Northside Hospital. They had a surgeon working, so I headed over. We got in pretty quickly. They cleaned the cut some more and then the doctor began what became around 45 – 60 minutes of stitching. My head was totally covered with a towel. That made breathing fun. I received two bottles of numbing medicine in my chin and at the same time, they gave me a tetanus shot in the left arm. This was such a fun procedure. Apparently, the numbing medicine never works completely. I was always feeling the doctor as he stitched me up. Tammy would come in and go back out. She was a little on the dizzy side watching all of this going on with my chin. When she would come in, she would grab my hand and it was always a relief to know she was there. Tammy thinks that I received about 30 stitches. The cut went all of the way to my jaw bone, so Tammy was correct in that I needed medical help. When the doctor was opening the cut up to begin the stitching, I could hear him tapping on my jaw bone. I asked him if that is what I thought it was and he said yes. I received three different layers of stitches. Two inside and one outside. The two inside layers will dissolve and the outer one I will have to remove. They gave me a prescription for a pain killer and an antibiotic and sent me on my way.

The last pain killer that I took was around 2:00am Monday morning. I was able to sleep pretty well last night (Monday night) and today (Tuesday), I am feeling pretty well. Tammy took a picture of my chin Sunday night when we got home and it is shown above. I took a couple of self-portraits this morning and they are also posted above. I have had a good bit of swelling. I was told yesterday, at work, that my face looks like one of those carnival mirrors that make your head look long. I have no separate chin and neck. It is all one piece. The swelling has gone down some from yesterday, but hopefully you will get the picture.

All in all, I know that I am so lucky to only end up with the injuries that I did. I am looking forward to our next fun run, but am praying that my chin and leg heels quickly enough that I am not bothered with it at Masochist in eleven days. For the future, I will give the ponies their needed space. I will view from afar. I do not blame the pony. I was in her home. To Beth and all of the Iron Mountain Trail Runners, I thank you for a wonderful day and I thank you for being so concerned about me. Your friendship is so special and I love you all. To Tammy (a/k/a Head Handler), thank you for getting me home and all patched up. I love you, Rick