Injuries

I have been training and racing since I was in 7th grade at Adams Junior High School.  That was back when I thought four times around the track was "long distance" running and injuries were confined to shin splints and blisters from ill fitting shoes.  Now as I approach the mid-century mark and prepare for my first Ironman, I spend more time thinking about potential injuries and the impact that would have on my training and racing.  The potential for serious injuries has really struck home with me over the last year, and espeically during the last month with the serious injury of a fellow mountain biker and Xterra athlete.

Since I began training with Coach T I have been fortunate to avoid any serious injuries, the worst being some sciatic nerve pain that kept me from sitting down for long periods of time and some mionr ankle sprains from train running.  While I have been avoiding the injury and accident bug, my training partner Jen has not been as lucky.  

The first "bite" from the injury bug happened last May while Jen and I were out on a training ride on the W&OD.  Jen suffered a nasty spill right in front of me after a gust of wind pushed her into the chain link fence on a pedestrian bridge.  Nothing ever prepares you for seeing someone bounce their head off the pavement in front of you, especially when it is your partner.  I remember rushing over to her laying on the pavement and stopping myself from dropping some expletive like, "holy $&#%, that was an ugly spill".  Instead of some massive injury, I saw those brown eyes start to tear up and the crack in her helmet but besides a few scrapes nothing looked too serious.  We were still miles from our car and of course I choose that day to leave my cell phone behind.  Fortunately we were near Green Lizard Bike Shop in Herndon, they made Jen comfortable and tended to her bike while I rode back to the car.  After speeding back to the shop and loading our bikes, our next stop was the nearest hospital in Reston and a visit to the ER.  Fortunately for us it was a slow day in the ER and Jen was admitted right away.  What started out as a quick check to ensure Jen was okay started to turn into something more.  Questions from nurses, doctors, MRI techs followed by the nurse prepping Jen for potential surgery.  This all turns out to be SOP but I admit I was getting a little worried with the direction of the day.  Next up, they began prepping Jen for her first of two MRIs.  The MRI revealed some small bleeding on the brain from the head trauma so the doctor's kept her overnight for observation.  Jen was cleared to leave in the morning and suffered some residual headaches for a few months but no long term damage thank goodness.  The injury kept her from her half-ironman in Raleigh but it clearly did not slow her down at Timberman.

It is my head that hurts

Fast forward to the  weekend before last and Jen and I are on the second leg of a three hour brick and enjoying our run around Burke Lake.  Burke Lake is a nice little park with a dirt path running around the perimeter of the lake.  There is nothing technical about the trail but for some reason, I have twisted more ankles on this trail than anyplace else around here.  As we are nearing the halfway mark of our run, Jen clips the edge of a rock sticking out of the ground and goes flying arse over tea kettle.  (I am beginning to think Jen will do anything to get out of a long brick).  She hit the deck pretty hard but thankfully only suffered some scrapes and bruises on one leg.

So what do I takeaway from all of this?  First Jen is one tough cookie both physically and mentally, pardon the pun.  I know she is mentally stronger than me on race day but I am really proud of how she perseveres through adversity when it comes to training and injuries.  Second, be prepared for these things.  Wearing a road ID is a good start but carry a cell phone (not just for you but in case you need to call for assistance for someone else) and keep a first aid kit in your car.

Here's hoping for an injury free season as we continue on our road to Zurich.