I was training for the Army 10-miler, over the summer, in Arlington. It was 95+ degrees on the day I decided to do my long run. When I hit mile 8, mile 8 hit me back, and I passed out from severe dehydration and heat exhaustion.I’m not sure how long I was unconscious, but thankfully a passing cyclist found me unresponsive.He used my Road ID to call my wife. He also called 911.
Update: I was later able to run the Army 10-miler and shaved 12 minutes off my time from the previous year. Not bad, especially considering that 15 years ago I was told I would never run again after a drunk driver hit me, breaking my back in 4 places.
Road ID was there for me a second time when I was at a conference in Vegas. I collapsed from a blood clot in my hip (my fault for running in a Thanksgiving 10K, then driving for 15 hours and jumping on a plane with a muscle tear). The first responders were able to use my Road ID without repositioning my body. Had they rolled me over, looking for other forms of ID, the blood clot could have been dislodged and gone to my lungs or heart. The paramedics took me to the hospital.
Update: I am still “recovering”. Four more weeks of physical therapy before I’m back on the pavement. My Road ID has survived, except for a few scratches which “gives it character”. My Road ID has literally saved my life, and I will never be able to thank you guys enough.
- Richard .G from Arlington, VA
