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Post by janice on Mar 6, 2008 20:29:56 GMT -5
hi there
just wanted to ask everyone to send their thoughts to tony, aka slwrunner
he was hit by a car today at the cross-walk in front of the kennesaw mtn visitor's center
i just spoke to allison and he is doing OK, no broken bones or known injuries, but it knocked him out and it could've been worse
PLEASE be careful out there!!!
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Post by lucinda on Mar 6, 2008 20:36:49 GMT -5
That is terrible!! I hope he recovers soon.
Sending him good thoughts, Lucinda
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Post by crimski on Mar 6, 2008 21:15:07 GMT -5
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Post by susanlance on Mar 6, 2008 22:31:15 GMT -5
Hi Tony- I hope you are recovering nicely...you'll be kicking my rear on the trails in no time! Susan
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Post by Sally on Mar 7, 2008 7:47:05 GMT -5
Pleeaaasseeee becareful out there!!! Tony, please let us know how you are doing!!
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Post by colonel on Mar 7, 2008 8:36:56 GMT -5
Tony - Glad to hear you are doing well! Did your stunning good looks cause some woman to try and knock you out so she could drag you home with her? Maybe Allison should make sure you leave the house with an "I'm Taken" sign around your neck!
Be careful out there folks! I've come close to getting run over at a crosswalk several times. Usually it is a case where the person is turning right and only looks left (at the oncoming traffic) before making the turn (right as I cross in front of them). I have finally learned to go behind any car sitting at the crossing, even if it looks like there is too much traffic for them to pull out. (My close calls have been when somebody figured they could beat that oncoming car if they floor it!)
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Post by cheetahhead on Mar 7, 2008 8:41:57 GMT -5
Tony,
Here's hoping you heal fast and come back strong. Looking forward to seeing you back out on Tuesday nights.
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Post by richcheese on Mar 7, 2008 15:24:27 GMT -5
Wow! Any hit hard enough to knock you out is bound to involve a lot of pain as well. Ouch! I hope you recover quickly, Tony.
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Post by LSDMike on Mar 7, 2008 17:53:19 GMT -5
Hope you're doing well Tony. Unfortunetly, here in Daphne, AL I'm forced to run roads mostly, and I've come close to being hit several times, always at a crosswalk. The roads are dangerous, please everyone, be careful!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2008 18:13:51 GMT -5
Hey SLW, that's tough, I know you'll snap back quickly though. Just think what it would have done to a ordinary(nonrunner) person. See ya on the trails soon. jb
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Post by nilspedersen on Mar 7, 2008 19:23:28 GMT -5
Hi Tony,
I hope you feel better and that we will see you back on the message board and the trails soon. Let me know if you need any help since I live barely a warm up run from you.
-Nils
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nader
GUTS Member
I wish I was this fast
Posts: 19
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Post by nader on Mar 7, 2008 20:30:00 GMT -5
Sending you get well wishes Tony!! Nick
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Post by Cardmaster on Mar 8, 2008 5:44:22 GMT -5
Tony,
So sad to hear that somebody tried to take you out! So glad to hear no serious injuries. Still understand how painful that has to be for you. Jim and I talk all the time that cross walks don't mean a thing to people when they are driving, only when they are walking. We have 2 miles of pavement between our house and the trails at KM. Every cross walk is a challenge, especially at rush hour or if we take the route by Kennestone Hospital. Sorry Susan, but most of the hospital staff pays no attention to pedestrians when going to and from work.
Anyway, here's wishing you a speedy recovery!
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Post by janice on Mar 8, 2008 8:15:22 GMT -5
here is an update from Tony's wife Allison (mega GUTS volunteer)
Hey all (please forward on to other GUTS folks or post on the forum) I just want to fill you in on what happened and what's going on now: For those who haven't heard (if such people exist?), on Thursday at 5:30 pm as Tony was headed toward his car after a run at Kennesaw Mtn., he was hit by a car while crossing in the crosswalk on Stilesboro Rd. in front of the Visitor's Center. From what we can piece together from witnesses, it appears that Tony was thrown onto the car's windshield, then roof, then to the grass on the side of the road. The windshield was smashed and where the roof met the windshield, Tony's body managed to create a v-shaped depression about 4-inches deep. The second the car hit him, many good samaritans came to his aid. The park ranger, Officer Lloyd Morris, called for help while a group of Marines, one of whom was an EMT, rushed to give first aid. One of the Marines, Jason, was able to get Tony's keys and belongings from his car and call my mom (Tony had the presence of mind to remember that calling me would be pointless as I was working and likely did not have a signal). Tony was brought via ambulance to Kennestone's ER, and though finding a room in the ER proved to be a tricky feat, he eventully found privacy and rest next door to a screaming overdose victim, then a couple who were forcibly removed from the hospital after verbally attacking the nursing staff (it was a very lively evening to say the least). Anyway, only 5 hours after being struck by a car, estimated to be traveling about 30 - 35 mph, Tony was discharged from the hospital with no broken bones or internal injuries. The woman working the discharge desk was shocked to see Tony leaving because she had driven past the scene of the accident on her way into work. The hospital tab was not even close to being finalized when we left, but we were imformed with a smile that it was "only" $5000. I guess she could smile because she knew we wouldn't be paying :-) The process of cleaning dirt, grass, and glass shards out of raw skin was unpleasant, and neither of us slept very well, but we're VERY happy that Tony appears to be healthy. He's extremely sore and extremely medicated, but he wanted me to pass on this update to all his GUTS friends. Ever the determined runner, he has already vowed that this will not keep him from running Oak Mtn. on the 22nd (I am not yet convinced, though)! We're very grateful for the concern expressed by everyone at GUTS. We'll keep you posted -- rest assured that there will be a tongue-in-cheek race report about this in the next newsletter, complete with pictures and grossly exaggerated details of heroism and invincibility (Tony will be writing it, if you can't tell) Be careful out there! Allison Gonzalez
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Post by Sally on Mar 8, 2008 9:59:28 GMT -5
Thanks Allison for the update! I look forward to seeing Tony back on the trails and very thankful he did not suffer any serious injuries. Here's to a speedy recovery!!!!
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Post by colonel on Mar 8, 2008 14:11:50 GMT -5
I went to see Tony today at his house. He is pretty dang banged up! Lots of scrapes, bruises and some pretty deep looking cuts. He said that today has been the worst day so far for soreness and pain, but he is in great spirits and still claims he will run Oak Mountain on the 22nd! Overall, he is doing great and is really very lucky that he came through this in relatively good shape.
BTW - Allison informs me that he was not wearing his brand new Road ID that he won at the Red Top Rumble! (the ID was on his "other" pair of running shoes) Another lucky break in this is that he was conscious and able to give the ambulance guys some contact info (although he was knocked so silly he doesn't remember anything that happened during that time and doesn't even remember giving them the number!). Run with ID people!!!!!
I'm thinking we need a new name for slwrunner. Here are a few suggestions to get the brain storming started ...
Tony Timex - he takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin' !
Teflon Tony - Cars hit him, but they slide right off.
Tony "Vaulting Pole" Gonzalez - maybe "VP" for short - because he is "pole" thin and, like a vaulting pole, he bends but doesn't break.
Tony "the Tiger" Gonzalez - because like a big cat, he apparently has nine lives!
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Post by lenthompson on Mar 8, 2008 20:25:40 GMT -5
WOW so glad to hear you are not seriously hurt. That sounds like one heck of a collision. definitely reminds me to were my road id on my Road and Trail shoes.
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Post by surftrip on Mar 9, 2008 8:56:57 GMT -5
wow.
step away from the forums for a couple days and all hell breaks loose.
bro - tony - that sucks.
Who's ass can we kick?
How does someone hit a runner, or walker, or whatever in an area where it's obvious that's the dominant activity?
damn... I feel for you man ...I hope you do make it to Oak Mountain. If so, you need a special triple crown award:
1) PR at Mist 2) Sick, but finished, Cheaha 3) Battered man at Oak
...it can only get better from here.
Good luck on the healin' and stuff.
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Post by gitagoing on Mar 9, 2008 10:37:57 GMT -5
Tony so glad you are not seriously injured That was probably a Northern Frustrated with Life driver, not aware of the surroundings. ;D When I lived in Chicago the cars would actuall try to hit me. One actually turned around and tried three times. It must be some kind of sport up "there". I finally picked up a big rock and smashed his windshield on the third attempt. I disappeared on the a golf course into the dark and changed my routine the next day to a morning run on the Pararie Path. ;D If you are just battered stay on for the Oak Mountain run, you will just be well rested and do great. I've been in Decatur Al for the Delano 12 hour run, so just saw all these posts. The windy snow fall was nice to run in - not!!!!!!!!
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Post by Tapering on Mar 9, 2008 19:22:44 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about your unexpected meeting with a car!! Very glad you'll be back on the trails soon (at least pretty soon!!).
C'ya soon Tapering
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