Training has taken over my normally jam packed life. I had been told I would get to this phase when the miles we trained started going into goofy territory.
FL or Bust and I had a 100 mile Heart of VA ride planned a few weekends ago. It was a good day for it, not a ton of sun, not a lot of humidity, a relaxed start, good times ahead! We met up with another Ironman participant we ride with from time to time and off we went. This was a dress rehearsal of sorts. Practice nutrition, pace, etc. We had Chesapeake Man Ultra distance aquavelo the next weekend, I needed another Century ride under my belt to feel comfortable.
And then IT happened......
I was on the pavement trying to remember how the crash happened. People were screaming at me not to move, I think I screamed that I got hurt, I think I was crying, but I don't remember. I was feeling rather dazed and confused. I went down, as a good cycling friend of mine referred to it. Road rash, yeah a little.
I flew out of my clips, how, still don't know, but I landed pretty squarely on my head. I guess a Sheriff was across the street from where the accident happened and said he heard my head hit, blech...So instead of 100 miles on my bike I got 11 miles on my bike, an ambulance ride, one CT scan, two motrin, some lovely road rash, a really nasty whiplash and a Concussion just for me....sounded like the 12 Days of Christmas almost. I'd rather have the guys jumping around or some geese dropping eggs everywhere.
I could sit and tell you how I said I was ok, insisted on driving myself home (stupid stupid stupid!) and telling everyone I was just freaking fine, but in hindsight, I wasn't. My brain was totally rattled. The headaches and nausea lasted all week, but I didn't let on that it was really bothering me. In my stupid opinion doing Chesapeake Man was all that mattered. And I did it, I did, but did I mention that that was pretty stupid?
I struggled hard. Took way longer on my swim then I should have, between the jellyfish stings to the face, maybe that was God's way of trying to get my stupid ass out of the water and resting, and the pain in my neck and shoulder, I suffered through that swim. I suffered through the bike, I suffered for nearly 9 hours of my life. I don't want to think of the damage I might have done, but done is done. Riding 112 miles and not being able to get aero was a very difficult way to have to ride. I hurt more then I'd care to remember, the pictures of me show it etched on my face, I hate looking at them. Don't know what I was thinking or expecting.
Lesson learned, sort of, now I am training rather gingerly. I stopped swimming the other morning because I got too dizzy during a particularly difficult set. I listened to my body and didn't push it. I missed a group ride on Saturday this week because my head was not feeling all too great. When it felt better I got on the trainer for two hours. Woke up yesterday with no headache so I went to MTT. I was able to run a really great 20 miles, I never would have believed there was such a thing. I was thrilled to run the whole thing, to run and not hurt, not a great deal of dizziness. Fl or Bust and I needed a great run like that. I am happy to report I woke up with no headache again today.
It has been awhile, "but everything I can't remember, as eff'd up as it may seem, the consequences that I've rendered, I've stretched myself beyond my means", story of my life, for now.
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