Woody Freese - IM Maryland 2016
Not much or a Race Report... and not much to share that hasn't been shared by others and/or witnessed in person or via social media. The weather was downright crappy! Rain... rain... and more rain! At one point, I saw Noah loading athletes and their transition bags & bikes, two-by-two onto an ark.
Once the swim was cancelled, I had to move fairly quickly thru T1. In addition to being a proud EN teammate, I am also an Ironman Foundation Team Athlete. One of the "perks" generally includes a low race bib #. With #25, I was part of the first group of athletes to exit the park.
The ride was going well (for a fat old guy! 
) - I was within my respective zones/ranges and feeling comfortable despite the rain and wind. As I recall, somewhere around mile 65, I came upon an aide station. Grabbed a bottle of Gatorade and put it in the rear cage, so I could fill the aero bottle down the road (when there were fewer cyclists). I grabbed a banana from a volunteer, when I spotted a cyclist coming out from the port-o-john area. The next thing I know, I am flying thru the air and crashing to the ground. from what I have been able to assemble, it appears that a cyclist who had finished using the port-o-john, returned to the course. I am not sure if we made contact or if I swerved to avoid making contact.
In the end, I suffered a small amount of road rash - and I am very bruised & very sore over the left side of my body, from the hip to the shoulder area. I also fractured the left scapula and two ribs 
Managed to navigate home (Boston) on Sunday - and have spent much of the week managing the pain and sleeping.
After Lake Placid - DNF'ed at mile 60 on the bike due to a concussion (2 brutal kicks to the head) the swim, I am incredibly disappointed in Saturday's outcome. INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED!
It's now time to take a step back and see what is next - lots to think about! This was my 35th Ironman start - and my 4th DNF. Signed up for Lake Placid (what else would one do on the last Sunday in July??). The next couple of weeks, it will be time to heal and recover!
So nice to see so many EN folks: Al & Cheryl, Tim & Heather, Scott, (I do not recall getting a kiss from any of you!) etc... Thanks to those who offered to help and/or reached out to check on how things were going (including a call from Coach P, who is in Hawaii!).
Let's be careful out there!
Comments
Woody,
Sorry to hear about another IM causing more injuries and was a tough season for you. Hopefully you heal up fast. Looking forward to connecting with you in LP again next year.
I cannot wait for LP'17 so I can cross the finish line for the first time and see you waiting there to give me a fist bump!
Marc
As I sent you a message that day, having lost two seasons reasonably close to each other and then healing up and having the season of my life, I know you will get past this, regardless of how shizzy it feels now, and yes it does feel shizzy!!
bottom line 31 and 4 is a pretty awesome record for the prize fighter that you are and it's great to know you will be in LP for the race! We have a great house with the least expensive room still available if Al or Behler don't grab it as threatened...
Heal up, kill it on the Ice Cream TT on Saturday, and get ready to come back as the best woody ever... LP 2017 is going to be epic!!!
Woody - it was good to see you in Cambridge, as always. When I heard about your trip to the hospital, it mad me pretty mad - just not fair, man. But you;ve got a legacy to shine for others in Lake Placid, so here's hoping I'll be seeing you there - I'm seriously thinking about heading Back East to spectate, and get some serious EN and IM mojo there next July.
I thought I had problems! Hoping nothing is sooo bad?! You seem like a guy who WILL get back in it. It was tough without a fall! Hang in there. Hope to see ya at an IM next year.