Lumberjack 100 - crashed out
The Lumberjack 100 is a 100 mile mountain bike race in the woods of Northern Michigan. It's the 3rd stop on the National Ultra Endurance race series. These races are starting to becoming my favorite races. It's almost 9 hours on the mountain bike and it's a great replacement for Ironman.
Last year I raced it and it took me 8:40 to finish the 100 miles. I could of gone faster but I raced on a single speed. Which is the most fun to way to race. Especially on a course like the Lumberjack.
The day started out great. I lined up in the front with all the fast guys and those with gears that quickly dropped me on the paved 1 mile run-up to the trail. With a 100 miles of racing I knew that if I raced MY RACE and managed pacing and nutrition it was just going to be a matter of time before guys came back to me. Same principals as Ironman just applied to mountain bike racing.
About 20 minutes into the race I was alone. Top 50 for sure with about 300+ guys behind me. I just settled into my pace and cruised.
Here is a 5 minute stretch of trail from the race. It super beautiful and peaceful. Pretty much 100 miles of this. Heaven.
https://player.vimeo.com/video/12783657
Unfortunately at the 47 mile mark as I was starting to pick up places I flipped a stick/branch into my front wheel stopping my wheel instantly and throwing me over the bars and straight into the ground. I was down and really hurt. My clavicle/shoulder was crushed. As riders came up they asked if I needed help - I did. The aid station was 3 miles up the trail so I gathered myself and hike-a-biked up the trail to get in a car to drive me back to the start. Totally sucked to hear the race officials call in my end of the race. I was having a great day. A total breakthrough day on the bike and on pace to break last years time by almost an hour. Oh well that's racing.
I ended up in the ER for x-rays. Nothing broken or separated. However I have little to no mobility or strength in the shoulder and my trapezius on the right side is in a ball and cramping. 3 days later is mellowing out but I'm sore. PT starts tomorrow and hopefully I can back on the bike but I'm not planning on it for while. I'm a wreck.
Comments
Dan, what a bummer! So sorry to hear that, but glad you're ok overall.
Dave
Dan, that pic of you in the hospital sums it up. Glad your okay and hope you heal quickly.
Such a bummer Dan, you've been having an awesome year of cycling! Thank goodness it wasn't any worse. Sending you lots of healing vibes and EN Chica Podium Girl love [insert EN 3.0 girl smiley giving the boy smiley a kiss and then backing away bashfully]
I'll be next back next year.
While bummed to crash out it could of been SO MUCH worse. The course is 33 miles with only 1 aid station at mile 17. I could of easily knocked myself out with no really easy way to get me out without a helicopter.
Might want to get you one of these, carry it on the OUTSIDE of your camelback or whatever for others to see it
We used it once to helo-extract a guy on a dirt bike ride. We had a fixed wing aircraft over us within' 15' of pushing the button, helo in the ground in about 25'
Sending anti-inflammatory and healing vibes your way!
Dan, so sorry about the accident. Heal up quickly, sir. You are my non IM hero!
Crashing sucks. Heal fast.
@Rich that's a great idea. Especially as I'm looking at some of these races that are a 1 single 100 mile loop.
@Kitima that's really good advice to bring an ace bandage. That would of been helpful on Saturday.
@Gina Thanks.
BAD way to go down - when a stick gets trapped in a wheel or chain, it's like a giant hand comes out of the ground and glues your bike to the spot. No warning; you keep going like a missle. So glad your clavicle is in one piece, Dan. What about your wheels - Taco'd?
Sending healing thoughts.
Boo:-(. Injuries are a bummer.
CC