Ow.

I have a gift. I guess it's more of a talent, really. For falling.

For example: A few weeks ago -- President's Day in fact -- I fell while skate skiing. I fell hard enough to break one of my poles in two from the force of the pole-plant trying to withstand my hurtling body at warp speed. I still have the Montana-sized bruise on my left flank, although it's gone to grey and greenish now from the deep blue and purple it once was. I nearly knocked myself unconscious and experienced a pretty significant whiplash which has been healing nicely, thank you.

But last night, I discovered that my gift for falling is truly rare and magnificent. I was attending a coaching class for cycling -- doing time trials, measuring lactic acid thresholds, etc. My bike was mounted on a rear-wheel trainer and I was clipped in at the pedals. We were in the final minute of a forty-minute effort and had been instructed to go all out. Evidently my bike speaks and understands English, for at that very moment, one side of the rear wheel skewer slipped out of the trainer... trying for "all out", I presume. I tumbled over -- hard -- bike and all, feet still clipped in, and landed just near enough to the fellow next to me that his foot struck the back of my head --twice-- before he was able to stop the revolution of his cranks.

Now before you get all concerned, let me just ask you this: Who falls riding a bike indoors on a stationary trainer?!?!?! NO ONE, that's who! Except ME! So now, you can say you are acquainted with an exceptionally gifted athlete. The fact that my athletic gift is falling?? Well, that'll just be our little secret.