I smugly claimed in a past post that I rarely fall down while running, even in icy conditions. But last month, I took a spill and gave myself a bright and colorful scrape.

I was on a trail with Diana Crabtree during a Manito Runners Club run, and as she was telling me about the scar on her knee, suffered in a fall on the trails we were on, I tripped. That the same experience would suddenly happen as it was being explained to me was quite a coincidence.

When I got home I poured hydrogen peroxide over my wound. Over the next couple weeks it provided a surprising benefit. As with previous scrapes, I was tempted to pick. Oddly, I also find it interesting to give my picked scabs a thorough look-over. I gave in to temptation and picked away, then I took things up a notch.

Scab-picking provides entertainment when not much is going on and you’re bored. I really liked peeling off a large, unbroken piece, and getting a treat out of it was a fringe benefit.

As I ate the scabs, I was delighted by the pleasant hints of hydrogen peroxide. I didn’t know an external-use-only medication could impart such flavor.

The scab has nearly healed, and I’m facing an end to my self-produced snacks. I’m considering getting more by falling intentionally on rough terrain and creating another large scab.

Perhaps you think it’s strange I eat scabs. I do, too. What I’m really eating is pictured below.

Next time you eat beef jerky, I apologize if this post causes you to associate it with scab-eating.