The Chupacabra that bit me

I'm not sure what I did to enrage the Chupacabras. Last year, one tripped me. This year, one bit me.

On Friday night, at 9 p.m., 451 running buddies and I strapped on headlamps and headed into the deepest, darkest woods of McAllister Park. It was dark and the trails were technical, as is always the case at Los Chupacabras de la Noche 10k trail run.

We kept a nice, easy pace and I DID NOT FALL! However, while passing someone around mile 5, I either sustained a chupacabra bite or smashed my right foot into a big rock, then jammed my first Metatarsal-phalangeal Joint trying to keep my balance.

Whichever way it went down, my foot ended up very sore and bruised (even on the bottom, which made the next morning's women's 5k and Sunday's 11 miler pretty painful). Here's what Healthline has to say about my chupacabra bite: "Every time you take a step, the MTP joint bends, allowing the foot to roll forward and push off. During this phase of the walking cycle, the joint supports 50% of the body's weight. If the joint doesn't function properly, not only walking, but also exercising and many other activities of daily life can be difficult, sometimes impossible."

Impossible? Pshaw.

That is not a one-armed crazy chicken pose - I was just bumping my buddy, Adrian, for another great stumble, er, run at Los Chupacabras.

Thanks to Bill Gardner and Hill Country Rambling for blinding me on the trails with the flashes while taking these pics