Ironman Canada, pre-race report, summer training report
So, I finished my summer long training peak race this last weekend, not to mention my 4 year in my sights up and coming wanna do goal.
Raced and completed my first full distance Ironman, in Penticton Canada August 30 2009. Here is my full and extensive race report and review/blog, errrr, here is the pre-race report, and summer training report, Triathlon report to follow
4 years into triathlon, with something in common with those around me, always wanting to do better, go faster, longer and harder. Well, last year I signed up, a year in advance for something I’ve been dreaming up for quite some time. The Ironman distance triathlon
My summer of 2009 was a bit hectic, I think it affected my training a little more than I would have liked. Here is the story on that.
I had a pretty bad crash on my mountain bike in May of 2009, while mountian biking in Mukilteo Washington, I was about 30 minutes downhill riding to the car, when, after a steep downhill section of trail, then a hard banked left hand turn, I jumped over a washed out creekbed, the washout was about 18 inchs wide, and a foot deep. I jumped my front tire over no prob, but what followed with my back tire would be terrible. My back tire, jaunted into the hole, then bottoming out, and blasting me upwards on the way out of the crevice. The rear of my bike sent me flying over the handlebars. (ok, so pretty normal right, for all those mountain bikers) The only problem, was, right there in front of me, and in the flash of my eyes, was a giant fir tree 2 feet in diameter. I went completely over the handlebars and butt planted, full speed into the dead center of the tree.
First impression, I think I may have passed out for a short period. Because once I opened my eyes, my friend was there, and I knew he had been quite a ways behind me as he wasn’t nearly as aggressive. I know the air got knocked out of me bad, but I remember distinctly the deep pain. And first check, to see if I could wiggle my toes and feet. And yes, I could. thank goodness.
After nearly a 2 hour limp down the mountain, I couldn’t get my bike into the car, or even sit down in the car. Would’ve had my friend drive me home, but then I would have to still get in the driver seat once I dropped him off. plus ohh yeah, I’m tough.
So I get in the driver seat, with my seat back nearly all the way down, and am unable to put any weight on my butt. I drop my friend off, and limp into the house. The neighbors noticed me getting out of my car and come to help, (it took 20 minutes to get out of car!) Limp into the house and crash on the couch, laying on my right side body only, shoes and muddy clothes still on. I lay there for like a day and a half before I even take my shoes off. Of course I have my phone, so I call for medical advice. Finally a long story short, after several x-rays, a chiropractic opinon, and a full body Cat Scan, (another term for the more inclusive one) The doctors find I have a compound fractured L5 bottom vertebre, and cracked tailbone The doctors are worried about bone splinters pinching the nerves. The only type of surgery is where they inject something similar to rubber cement into the bone, but this has long term uncomfort type side effects. hummm, the Cat scan turns out that surgery is not required. I rest and begin to collect disability from my work. No lifting or exercising of any type for 6-8 weeks. And that was very difficult, but the pain pretty much kept me from doing that stuff anyways.. ohh yeah, and the bruise on my backside, went from my theighs, to my mid back, behind my stomach area! Dang, wish I had a picture to post.
ok, what else caused my difficulty in my training for Ironman 2009 was moving to Texas. Since I claimed disability, I decided I was ready for a change in my life, I took some travel time while getting paid disability and applied for work in Portland Oregon, Eugene Oregon, and San Antonio Texas. After much effort and prayer, I decided I would move to San Antonio Texas. Since I have moved here, a few factors have affected my training very strongly. One being the weather, it’s very hard to get long hours training time for an Ironman when the daylight summer hours in Texas are normally above 100, with high humidity. Not to mention my time schedule. Starting a new job once I arrived, (my 8 weeks was up, and I was considered mostly healed, just no heavy lifting and limited running) so my new job was a whole new time demanding resource. Working extra hours to put in the extra initiative and make up for lost finances. Then balancing time with my kids, who also live in San Antonio, whereas in Washington, I was didnt have the opprotunity to spend time with them on a regular basis. What a blessing it was to be close to them though, since I have moved here my relationship with them has grown.
humm, ok, onto Ironman Canada, see next blog page
