This morning I set off on what was supposed to be my long barefoot run for the week around 7 am. I was in the middle of my first run interval getting into the groove, when all of a sudden I found myself knocked flat on my back!
In my neighborhood there are a lot of these little "arms" that branch off from the main streets. On this particular one there are three houses. Most of the arms don't have houses. One of the houses has two dogs - what I think is a Doberman and a collie. They have ran out to greet us many times before - every time though has been when I/we were walking.
Today though the Dobie saw me running past it's territory. I immagine that set off its prey instinct. I think it barreled into the middle of my back. The worst damage was a scraped elbow and broken hair clip (head hit the ground). Mostly I was a little dazed.
The owner ran out and apologized profusely and kept asking if I was ok. After I reassured him that I was, I continued my run. I did cut it in half though. A bandaid and a couple of asprin later, I am fine. I just hope the owner didn't punish it's dog - I'd much rather have the owner work on teaching the dog yard boundaries. It was after all just doing what comes naturally for a dog.
I do think I'll be skipping this particular section on my runs from now on though. It could have turned out a lot worse.
Update (6:45 p.m.): My stepdad talked to the homeowner who saw this happen this morning. The dog is a Boxer. According to the homeowner, the dog was running across the street and would have missed me, but I turned around and we hit. I don't remember turning around, and don't understand why I would have turned around, because at the end of that section is where I usually do my stretches after having had a bit of a warm up (and I hadn't reached the stretching area). The dog also was injured. 
Its leg was scraped and somehow it got a hole in its hindleg skin. I guess we kind of bounced off each other.
I don't have a bump on my head, so I don't think I had a concussion. I think my barette took the brunt of impact. My stepdad thinks I may have whiplash. I'm debating right now on whether or not to go to one of those emergency clinics and get xrays just to be sure. Their insurance will pay for it (reimburse). But especially if the dog wasn't actually running straight at me ... I'd hate to make their insurance go up - especially if it is something that'll go away with ice and rest.
What really bums me out is that I was just starting to make some good progress with my running. Now I'll probably need to take a week off. Ugh.
Scary run this am - updated
July 19th, 2010 at 01:19 pm
July 19th, 2010 at 02:02 pm 1279548133
July 19th, 2010 at 02:15 pm 1279548935
July 19th, 2010 at 02:33 pm 1279549996
July 19th, 2010 at 03:00 pm 1279551614
In thinking about it, I'm not entirely sure it was a Doberman. It may have been a black lab. My mom and stepdad don't want me running by myself anymore - "reaccess your running plan" We had an encounter a few months ago with three housedogs who'd escaped and between mom yelling at them and shaking her water bottle and stepdad yelling at them, they went away. But now with this today ... ( oh yeah, I'm pretty sure I saw a coyote about a month ago - far away at night but it sure looked like one ...)
July 19th, 2010 at 07:17 pm 1279567054
We have coyotes too, but everyone keeps telling me they won't hurt people. But still!
Glad you're ok.
July 19th, 2010 at 11:55 pm 1279583723
Invisible fences don't work with stubborn dogs. I've heard stories about dogs who get to the point where getting out is more important than a shock. So yeah, that would be scary.
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Updated my post with new info.