Little did I know when I wrote WTGU on my forearm early this morning how much I was going to need EN mojo and Trent's example of dedication and perseverance but as it turns out, boy did they ever help!
Planned 2 hour Z3 ride after a tough 3 hour bike yesterday. Roads were a bit wet and about 5 miles out I tried to take a right turn … but front wheel slid right out and I went down really hard. Road rashed my knee, hip, and elbow but the worst part was pretty serious shoulder pain and "crackling". I was sure I'd broken my collarbone. Not good ... I'm only 5 weeks out from my A race (Longhorn 70.3). Damn.
Managed to ride home (slowly) and went to the ER. Turns out no break but either a Grade 1 or 2 AC separation. Need to follow up with orthopedic doc this week. I've been in sling and on oxycodone and Motrin since.
But I didn't want my day to end like that… especially after following everyone at IMMoo! So I fixed bent rear derailleur, filed down sharp metal edges on levers, and got on the trainer for a short but solid Z3 ride. Given that it looks like swimming (and likely running) will be out for a while, it was good to know that I can at least handle that (no aerobars though). My wife Regan said I was nuts but really I just wanted my day to end vertically, not horizontally. Channeling the spirit of EN.
WTGU? Hell NO!! So, if at all possible, I'll toe the line in Austin on October 17th. But either way... and more importantly... Trent, go and kick some a$$!
Paul, that is fooking awesome (and a little crazy!). :-) What WTGU is all about!
I rode my HIM today at .864 on the bike instead of my planned .82ish because Trent pushed me the past couple of weeks to leave it all out there! I got off and had a great run going but I was fading the last 2 miles. I kept looking at my forearm and saying, "This is for you, Trent!" And pushed all the way to the finish, including the last .5 mile on the frigging sand in Santa Cruz!
Here is a pic of my forearm this morning. Had the same on my left calf.
My race report is coming, but I did want to post a quick note here for Trent. I reached a pretty dark place on race day and at one point was sitting on the curb trying to figure out if there was any way I could still continue moving forward. A woman approached me and told me she was a breast cancer survivor and planned to do the race next year to celebrate. That reminded me of Trent, and I reached up, touched the drillbit on my visor, and got my butt up and continued moving again.
Trent- that drillbit isn't coming off my pink visor until you kick this thing. That's a promise!
During the race, when I was feeling so sick, I was wondering if my day was already over. But I had "WTGU?" on my arm. I looked down and thought- "What I am experiencing is nothing compared to what Trent is facing. I need to figure this out."
And from there I made the decision to stop and get my stomach right. This decision enabled me to improve how I felt and eventually finish the day strong.
Comments
Little did I know when I wrote WTGU on my forearm early this morning how much I was going to need EN mojo and Trent's example of dedication and perseverance but as it turns out, boy did they ever help!
Planned 2 hour Z3 ride after a tough 3 hour bike yesterday. Roads were a bit wet and about 5 miles out I tried to take a right turn … but front wheel slid right out and I went down really hard. Road rashed my knee, hip, and elbow but the worst part was pretty serious shoulder pain and "crackling". I was sure I'd broken my collarbone. Not good ... I'm only 5 weeks out from my A race (Longhorn 70.3). Damn.
Managed to ride home (slowly) and went to the ER. Turns out no break but either a Grade 1 or 2 AC separation. Need to follow up with orthopedic doc this week. I've been in sling and on oxycodone and Motrin since.
But I didn't want my day to end like that… especially after following everyone at IMMoo! So I fixed bent rear derailleur, filed down sharp metal edges on levers, and got on the trainer for a short but solid Z3 ride. Given that it looks like swimming (and likely running) will be out for a while, it was good to know that I can at least handle that (no aerobars though). My wife Regan said I was nuts but really I just wanted my day to end vertically, not horizontally. Channeling the spirit of EN.
WTGU? Hell NO!! So, if at all possible, I'll toe the line in Austin on October 17th. But either way... and more importantly... Trent, go and kick some a$$!
In the spirit of pics or it didn't happen:
When I first got home (nice helmet hair eh?)
On the trainer:
Regan liked this one with the hospital ID:
Paul, that is fooking awesome (and a little crazy!). :-) What WTGU is all about!
I rode my HIM today at .864 on the bike instead of my planned .82ish because Trent pushed me the past couple of weeks to leave it all out there! I got off and had a great run going but I was fading the last 2 miles. I kept looking at my forearm and saying, "This is for you, Trent!" And pushed all the way to the finish, including the last .5 mile on the frigging sand in Santa Cruz!
Here is a pic of my forearm this morning. Had the same on my left calf.
WTGU (aka Trent) was with me all day!
I'm counting on the power of Trent/WTGU and EN for the next five weeks! And beyond...
Vince
LIVE FROM MADISON, WISCONSIN: THE EN CHICAS MEET PRE RACE!
Trent- that drillbit isn't coming off my pink visor until you kick this thing. That's a promise!
During the race, when I was feeling so sick, I was wondering if my day was already over. But I had "WTGU?" on my arm. I looked down and thought- "What I am experiencing is nothing compared to what Trent is facing. I need to figure this out."
And from there I made the decision to stop and get my stomach right. This decision enabled me to improve how I felt and eventually finish the day strong.
Thanks Trent.