Its been 2 and a half weeks since the accident.
I am finally just now getting my life back. The first week and a bit were really rough on me. At first when I tried to jump back into life my body fought back with headaches and pain. :(. Not to mention the dose of dumb.
I cut back and got off the meds very quickly. I needed my brain back and I knew if I wanted to train again I had to listen to my body.
I have successfully ran 5 K and now biked (on the commuter.) I haven't attempted to swim. I'm back at work for full 8 hour days. I'm driving my car again (it's a stick shift!). I'm on my way back.
Watch out world... ;)!
After my accident my parents went on a vacation to Denver to meet up with my uncle and cousins.
In Denver they have extreme mountain downhill cycling. You take a mountain bike up a ski lift and go down the ski hills. My cousins convinced my Uncle Doug and my dad to do this event.
My uncle Doug went down the hill fell down and dislocated his shoulder. A couple days later my cousins convinced my dad to go with them. Sure enough my dad fell down and got a concussion. Notice his helmet. This was less then a week from my accident.
In the meantime in Edmonton my brother Christopher had just gotten a brand new bike. It was less then 3 weeks old and he was enjoying riding it around the city. I get a phone call from my mother that Chris had been in an Accident. A truck ran into my brother's bike. Its unclear on exactly what happened, but the bike was smashed and my brothers helmet saved him. Beyond that he was pretty banged up but nothing serious.
My Brothers bike.
IN LESS THEN 2 WEEKs there was 4 bike accidents!!!! WoW!!
It was the Thursday night RMC ride and we were doing well. I was happy to make up for my crappy ride on Monday which included 2 flat tires! Needless to say it was a bad week for the bike for me.
We had just broken into smaller groups for oncoming rough pavement. Beside me was Nicole and in front of us was Robin and a man. The man stopped suddenly for the pavement and Nicole went to the left colliding with Robin in front of me. I went straight into them. Karen managed to navigate herself through the bodies and bikes. I was unconscious and on the road. The other girls were injured but responding. A stranger stopped to help with blankets etc.
911 was called. The first thing I remember is thinking where am I? And pain? The first thing that I realized is that I was in the recovery position and must be hurt. I blurt my parents phone number out. It's all blurry and a mess of in and out of consciousness. I remember in the ambulance seeing my Mom and Dad. At the hospital Katie and Tommy were waiting there. The night at the hospital was terrible. They wouldn't take the neck brace off till they knew I was okay and it was digging into my broken collarbone. The first half I was on a hardboard. The concussion equalled spins, light sensitivity and puking.
I didn't get drugs till after midnight and the brace stayed on till the end.
I'm all scraped up on the left side and my left collarbone is broke.
The doctor said I shouldn't do any "ironmans" but see what I can handle. The pain will speak for itself. I have a lot to do in the near future and I want to do them!
En Route into the Hospital, at this point the lights were a really big issue for me.
Bloody Hands. Luckily my gloves and skins kept me most safe.
Get this neck piece off of me!!
My Road Rash Arm and Broken Collar Bone!
My Left Hip. So lucky I didn't break it!
Knee! Hurts like hell but not broken. Yes
Better it then me. Gloves and Shirt ruined from accident. Jersey and Arm warmers cut off by medics.
The first outdoors race in Regina is the Icebreaker. This is
appropriately named. Last year I remember my legs cold and burning from the
wind. In 2012, when I got off the bike I wasn’t sure if I could walk
let alone run, but I finished it. This year it had the unfortunate timing of
being the Sunday morning after my sister’s Stagette. As MoH I was the one in
charge of the plans and making sure people made in home safety. This meant that
I had a fairly late night with some drinks but not over consumption. Waking up
in the morning was tough.
I didn’t really ask anyone else to come because I do
enough of these events that it just felt like it was too much to ask. None of
the core group we’re doing it either. I felt kind of alone going but when I got
there I recognized many familiar faces.
The swim was really good. It felt super strong and fast and
I was the first one of the pool from my heat . I was doing well. I got on the
bike, and no one was passing me! This is a feat. Typically in triathlons I get
passed on the bike and feel defeated. The extra training in Penticton was
paying off. At either end of the bike course was a tight u-turn. We did 3 laps
of the course (6 u-turns) I remembered it from last year and every time I
turned it I felt nervous. It just seemed too tight! It’s not something we ever
practice in our rides and I didn't have the foresight to practice beforehand.
It was additionally stressful because of the other bikers making the same turn.
You don’t want to collide but you need to pace yourself around them.
I was about halfway done the bike course when I approached
the u-turn again. This time I was getting close to the curb, when my bike
caught some gravel. My biggest fear was realized when I made contact with the
pavement and landed on my right side. My arm was pinned between myself, the
bike and the ground.
I remember a shot of extreme pain. I was pretty
certain my arm must be broken. I didn't get up right away. The volunteers came
over and un-clipped my feet from the bike. It hurt so bad. I told them I was
done. I was balling like a baby. My arm seemed to be in place and even the
right colour. I felt extra alone as I realized I had no one at the race. We
began the long walk to the first aid station. Everyone biked past me and saw my
tears. It took forever to get just to transition. At that point Mark Gibson saw
us and took my bike for me. Another friendly face, Ian, saw me and walked
me the rest of the way to the first aid tent. They said I was okay and gave me
a proper sling. By that time everyone was done the race. I got in my car to go
home and realized I couldn't drive my standard car. I had to call for rescue.
My arm didn't bend straight for weeks. I had x-rays and they weren't sure but showed me a shadow of a hairline fracture in my elbow. For a
little more than a week I learned what it was like to function without a right
arm. Showers, hair, make-up, sketching, writing, driving etc. When I began
swimming again I ran into the ropes.Finally in July I have full movement again and I’m pretty
close to normal.
I like to think I can handle things alone, but one bad turn
on a bike showed me how weak I really am. People need people.
Icebreaker was a disappointment but it showed me how kind
the community is. Even when I thought I was by myself there were familiar faces
helping me along the way.
Date: April 13 2013 Finish Time: 47:00 (no splits) Place: 3rd Women 29+ Distance: Modified Sprint 750m Swim, 5K Run This race is the first of the Regina Season. It is the first time I've done this race so I wasn't too sure what to expect. It is only a 750m swim followed by a 5km run. It was held indoors at the Lawson Aquatic Centre. Pre-race I felt pretty terrible as my stomach hurt and I wondered if it would hinder me. Shortly after the race I came down with Laryngitis. I had another anxiety factor. A boy who I had been on a few dates with, asked if he could come and watch. I didn't even ask him, he just wanted too. We will call him G-. I couldn't say no because it was such a sweet thing to do and I was incredibly touched. It’s all I ever wanted. My sister, Katie and Tommy came out to cheer. Stephanie and Myra were in the crowd and Jessie was doing the race too. It was such a large cheering section I felt so blessed. The swim started and I felt really strong. It was a large snake swim format broken into 50m lanes. I had a good feeling of momentum and felt myself going forward. I passed quite a few people and knew I was fast. I got caught behind a couple people which was annoying and there was a clusterf*cK moment at one of the turns. When I got out of the pool I heard Tommy and Katie cheering and I went faster. Onto the run. The run was on the track so it was multiple laps.. 25 Laps. It was a lot of going around in circles. Every time I passed my family they cheered and I went a little bit faster. Then I saw G- and I pushed even more. I didn't want to disappoint them and I wanted to make everyone proud. The last laps I pushed really hard. When I crossed the line I knew I had worked it because I could barely breathe. That’s how you should feel when you have truly worked for it. I finished to my group of supporters. It was such an amazing feeling because I knew I did well. It was one of the best finishing feelings I had ever had. Jessie and I went to go change. While we were doing our thing Katie burst into the room frantically. She was so excited! “Sarah!, Sarah! You need to come!!! You won!!!” I was shocked…. “No, I don’t win!!” “you are kidding me!!” I exclaimed. “You did! They are calling your name, come quickly!,” Katie was jumping out of her skin and I was just shocked. So I went with her quickly and sure enough I placed! Bronze. 29 and older. I don’t win these things; Every medal I have ever gotten in Triathlon has been for participation. That feeling at that moment was unbelievable. I outdid my own expectations. I won because of my support system. It was having them there pushing me. That medal belongs to Katie just as much as it belongs to me. The splash & sprint is an ideal race for fans to make the difference because you see them the whole of the way.
Epilogue I had to include G- because I think it contributed a lot to my race. As sweet as he was he did a total 180 in May and committed one of the most terrible acts of Jerk behavior that I have ever experienced. Needless to say he is no longer in my life.
Its been just over 4 months since Alcatraz. Its Mid-July. It’s race season but it’s also Wedding season. Since Alcatraz I’ve been reflecting and thinking what is next? What’s the next challenge? What am I working for? This summer my race season has been squashed by Weddings and Wedding events. There hasn’t been the opportunity to do the races, especially the big ones. I missed the inaugural Subaru Saskatchewan race, and I have been dragging myself to races the morning after stagettes (icebreaker & spoke n hot). This weekend (again) there is a race on a Sunday after the wedding Saturday night. This time I made the hard choice to volunteer, logics and budget weren’t in my favour.
The Frank Dunn weekend I have 3 weddings so it’s also a no go. I have 2 races left of the season. 1) Clear Lake- Olympic. This was a hard choice to make. Once again there is a wedding. I really thought about missing it too but it breaks my heart. Clear lake is my PB race, it’s my benchmark, and it’s where I challenge myself more every year. It’s where I did both my first Sprint and Olympic Distances and it’s the last chance for an Olympic this year. So this triathlon will be something special it will have a 4th & 5th sport; Drive and Wedding. I will cross the finish line, jump in the car drive for 4 hours and make it back in time for the reception. I feel terrible about missing the ceremony but at some point this summer I need to make time to do something for me too. I am pretty certain they won’t even notice my absence. I will dance just a little bit more to make up for it.
2) Banff. I am SO looking forward to this. NO wedding. It will be extra special because I think it may be the last of the friends annual trip to the mountains. With Laura moved and significant life changes ahead of us it is very unlikely we will be able to do this again, and next year I have different plans for this weekend.
Which brings me to the point. My new goals, My new challenge. 2014.
Ironman 70.3 (Half). 2014. It’s the logical next distance to go. I’ve done all the distances separately in the different sports. Next year will be the year of the Ironman. Next year if any of you plan a wedding on the weekend of the IRONMAN I am not re-scheduling. Sorry. Sept 6th2014, Muskoka, Save the Date. You are invited to join me, watch me or just vacation with me. I am excited.
I was really scared about this Tri, and I pushed myself to
do it even though I wasn't really sure if I could.
Pre-Race, San Francisco in advance.Don't call it "Frisco"
RACE DAY
On race day my alarm went off at 330 am. Transition area was
set up between 4-5am then you were shuttled to the pier to get on the boat to
Alcatraz. The boat left at 630am. The
big jump was at 730am. It was my first pre-race meal with the new diet.
The energy and anxiety on the boat was contiguous. Everyone was in full gear and even the
repeaters were freaking out about the swim. There were people puking in the
washrooms. You looked out of the boat on either side and you saw whitecaps and
grey skies. The city seemed far away. It was hard not to get caught up in the
whole thing.
I tried to position
myself as far away from the jump to be at the back and I hoped that would give
me a look at a vantage point and prevent aggressive swimmers from landing on
me. I concreted on my breathing for the 20 minutes before the anthem. I did my
best to block out the chaos and mentally prepare myself for the jump and the
shock of cold. I envisioned the cold like knives and swimming through it. Most
of all I tried to stay calm and collected and keep my heartbeat low.
After the American anthem, they started the race and it was
a wave of people jumping off the boat. It reminded me of a real life
titanic. I stuck to the far side and I
watched a girl grab a pole and swing and jump out of the way. This is exactly
what Stacy Shand had advised me to do. So I went to the pole and swung.. and into the water I went. I was
surprised by how cold it wasn't.
SWIM START
The thoughts in my head were of relief, I
wasn't dying and this was okay. I swam fast and furious to get away from the
boat, this was mostly in a water polo head up sprint, with a group of swimmers. After I was away from the boat and current I
figured out where I was. I looked and was almost surprised to see the towers in
front of me. Until the actual swim I had doubts about the siting. I sited the
landmarks, and got my head in the water to get this done.
I swam and sited pretty effortlessly. At this
point it was just about putting all the pieces together. My stroke was strong,
I was with the group and I wasn't freezing.
It was a moment of bliss.. I was actually doing this! I really felt
amazing to be there and live the moment. I stayed in my zone until the last
1/3.
In the last 1/3 the current built up stronger and it was overwhelming.
There were white caps. I saw swimmers clinging to kayaks in every direction. It
was hard to move and breathe. I swallowed water once or twice. I coughed
underwater. It was nasty. Then the worst possible thing happened. The current
took my swim cap (just 1 of them) and my left earplug. The cold crept in on my left side and I felt
asymmetrical. My head was getting cold, which made my hands feel colder.
WATER CONDITIONS
I lost my groove but I could see the finish and the shore.
I was on route to make it to the actual line, but I followed
the swimmers ahead and started to fight the current. I heard all the tips
repeat in my head. It is better to overshoot the end and run to the line then
fight the whitecaps. I made the choice to miss the line and not fight the
water. The last 500m to the shore were the worst. I could see it but the cold
in my one ear was terrible, I just wanted to cough.
Finally I made it to shore. I stood up and almost
immediately fell down. It was dizzy and cold. I jumped over rocks with some
male racers to get to the actual finish. I couldn't get my booties off. I was
useless, my sneakers felt funny and I felt foggy. We ran 1/2 mile in our wetsuits to the next
transition. I couldn't get my leg out of the left side. A racer pulled it off
for me. He told me to just enjoy and take my time.
I put on a long sleeve base layer and running tights over my
Tri-suit, slowly got out of transition and was off to the bike.
The first couple miles of the bike were recovery from the
swim. No one was pushing hard. Then the course began. Climb & Grind, then
downhill. Up and down, up and down. I do
not have a comfort zone established with
downhills, especially with rough roads and turns. In the whole race I
would say this was my biggest weakness. Plenty of racers passed me on the
downhill. Surprisingly my climbing skills were par. I am very proud to say I
grinded the whole course out and stayed on my bike the whole time.
The most
viscous hill was basically a vertical wall in opinion 75% of the racers were walking it.
There was a crowd at the start (bottom) egging us on. I was the only girl and
they were shouting, "you aren't going to let the girl show you up are
you?" Well... Challenge excepted.. And that's all the encouragement I
needed to get to the top.
That vertical was really the only time on the bike I gave
100%. I was so worried about what was to come I held myself back. Turns out the
climbs were my strength and the downhills my weakness. During the bike we were
given a tour of the city. Every bend had a new sight for the eyes. We went
through golden gate park, past the coast, the cliffs, the homes, the oceans,
and urban parks. I ate exactly the recommended
calories at the exact points the director had recommended and it seemed to give
me the boast needed to forget the swim ever happened.
After the bike we went into transition, and this is the
first time I have ever used a washroom on course, all the water caught up to
me. Oh well.
The run started off flat and I established my rhythm pretty much
off the bat. My hamstrings were more strained because of all the climbing, that
was a new race sensation to me. In the beginning a supporter said I had great form
and that pleased me. The flat ended pretty quickly and we were going up stairs
and ramps. The run was what I would
describe as an urban xterra course. It had us going up hills, paths, through
trees, ramps etc. The run even went through this tunnel were you had to duck.
It was incredibly scenic.
We went through bakers beach. The sand
run wasn't as bad as I expected. I stayed to the harder wetter sand and kept
quick steps on the balls of my feet. Once I miscalculated and a wave hit me.
The sound of the ocean, and view of the coast were amazing. At the turn around
I was hit with the most scenic postcard view. It was a gasp- worthy view. It
was at this point of the race I finally started to get some momentum and drive.
Better late than never I suppose. I passed some people on the sand and then it
was unto the sand ladder. The sand ladder wasn't so bad. I took it slowly like
they told me too but still passed almost everyone. After the sand ladder I was
ready to go.. I took off my base layer shirt and left it at the water station.
I knew there weren't any more scary things and I could finally move. It's too bad I waited till the last 3 miles.
Even though I was moving I never sprinted. In the last mile I was confused my
km/m math and convinced myself that 2 miles were giant and too much to sprint.
I didn't want to come so far to over exert at the end and fail. I should have
pushed it.
The finish line! I was done. I had a supporter in the crowd,
Enobong. It's so good to see a face at the end; somehow it makes it more
meaningful. At the finish they
immediately gave me a Mylar silver sheet. They told me I was going to get
really cold and I had to put it on to prevent illness. I wasn't cold but
Enobong was so she got the blanket until the coldness hit me, which it did.
Friends and Family give me the strength and support to do the impossible.
Overall the race was an amazing experience. I loved it and I would do it again even with
the same conditions. I swam from Alcatraz in March in the worst conditions the
escape race ever had. This race is typically in June. It is doubtful they will ever have it in
March again because of all the hypothermia, pulled swimmers.
The number of
pulled swimmers was more than triple this year. The race started out with over 2000
participants. 1580, people finished the race.
A man from Texas in his 40s suffered a heart attack and died
immediately after the jump. So sad. My thoughts and condolences go to his
family. It is a reminder on how important it is to be prepared for extreme
sport, mentally, physically and with the right tools/gear.
Staying warm
Other than the last part of the swim the temperature wasn't
a huge deal to me. Every other racer I have spoken to this is not the case. I
was more prepared than anyone for the weather. My pre-occupation of being warm
meant I knew all the tricks. Firstly I wore a toque until the last possible
moment in the morning. This was to keep the warmth as long as I could. I boiled
hot water and filled my water bottles with heed and light protein. In the
morning, I drank tea (with electrolytes) to heat myself from the inside out.
For swimming gear, I had booties, wet suit, swimming heat
cap, 2 swim caps, earplugs and googles. The earplugs are the most important
things. Keeping the icy water out of your cannel prevents brain freeze. Brain
freeze= pain. My googles were triathlon
style full googles that cover a large portion of your face, way more than
regular googles.
I moisturized every exposed piece of my body, with a SPF
moisturizer to create a seal. On top of that I body glided everything including
between my fingers and behind my ears and my face.
I didn't end up using Vaseline because it ruins wetsuits.
On top of that I stopped wearing gloves and neck warmer in
my winter runs to prepare my body to working out cold.
For the bike and run, I put my running base layers on top of
my tri suit. I only saw one or two other people wearing pants. The icebreaker
last year taught me how cold and wind can be on a bike. I did not want a
repeat. I saw plenty of bike jackets but
I wanted tight warmth, and thought my winter running gear was a better choice,
and it was!
