Patrick McCarty following his spike to the head @ a cross country meet.
Meet January Reckless Runner of the Month, Patrick McCarty. Patrick McCarty is now a collegiate runner at Northern Kentucky University, but back in 2010, he was a high school runner racing the Greater Catholic League Cross Country Championships at Rapid Run Park in Cincinnati. As his team’s number 1 runner, he went out with the leaders just like any other race, when 100 meters in he was pushed, fell down, and then spiked in the head. Despite the injury and blood, he finished the race, then immediately had to go to the hospital for 10 stitches in the head. Most people would have given up, but Patrick fought to the end.
RR: Tell us about yourself. Where are you from, how did you get started running.
PATRICK: In the fifth grade we did a timed mile at school and I finished second in my grade. Later I asked my dad about running a 5K even though neither one of us knew anything about running. The Flying Pig 5K was my first race. I did several after that and at one race I met Coach Fritz the Cross Country Coach for my school. After he finished, he came back out and finished with me. He encouraged me to come out for the Cross Country team that fall. I enjoyed my first season and Coach Fritz not only taught us about running but he made it fun. My 8th grade year we won the small school division of the Cincinnati City Championship. That team, between CC and track, now has five D1 college runners. We’re all still friends and when we have troubles we still go back to Coach Fritz.
RR: Take us back to the Greater Catholic League Cross country Championships back in 2010. Did the race start out just like any normal race?
PATRICK: The race was like any other race, except the start was fast because the field was loaded that year with lots of quick guys. Many of them I’ve know for years having raced against or with them in CYO Junior High meets. I felt great the morning of the race, felt confident in my ability and the training I had done. My plan was to go out with the leader pack hang with them until Heartbreak Hill, then give it everything I had to the finish. My goal was to finish in the top ten, top seven if I had a good race.
RR: Describe in detail exactly what happened during the race that led to the 10 stitches?
PATRICK: After about 100 yards from the start there was a tight left hand turn, the leaders slowed and the pack behind us ran up on us. I was pushed, lost my balance and fell. Someone tried to hurdle me and their spikes caught me in the head. By the time I got up and started running again I was dead last and almost 200 yards behind the leaders.
RR: How were you able to pick yourself back up and not only finish the race, but pass half the field? Were you aware you were bleeding or aware of the severity of your injury? Were you in a state of shock?
PATRICK: Pride. It was my senior season and I had hoped to finish in the top ten. I just decided that I wasn’t going to allow it to end like that. I knew I was bleeding but didn’t realize how bad it really was. I don’t think I was in shock but I was pretty mad at what had happened. When I finished, I just sat down near the finish line several people came up to help me and I just sat there quietly. Doc Adams, an Assistant Coach for my team, looked at it and said I needed to go to the hospital. By that time I didn’t care, the pain had set in and I was still mad! I ended up finishing 29th out of 77 runners.
RR: You finished the race with a blood stained shirt, and had to get 10 stitches in your head to close the wound. What did you take away from the race that day besides the stitches?
PATRICK: Well after I got the stitches we went back to school and met the team. Coach Prenger came over to make sure I was OK and I looked at him and said, “I’m keeping the singlet.” The look on his face was; I’m not arguing with you, you can have it. Tim Richmond, another Cross Country coach that is a family friend, made a comment. “Sometimes a good story is better than a good finishing time.” But for me I guess it could be said this way, ‘You never lose until you quit.’
RR: You are currently run for Northern Kentucky University, tell us about your transition from a high school to collegiate runner.
PATRICK: Well first of all I have great teammates and the older guys really have helped with the transition. The mileage is a little more than what we did in high school but at a faster pace. There are 17 guys on my team while in high school we had 55. In high school I was always in the lead pack, now I’m in the middle. The caliber of the runner and dedication is greater than in high school.
RR: What are your goals for the 2012 Track Season at NKU?
PATRICK: I love the distance events, I want to continue to improve at the longer distances.
A bloody Patrick McCarty finishing the race.
