The past couple of weeks have been a bit of a blur. You would think that with school out for the summer life would have slowed down a bit, not the case. Between district commitments, meetings, some job related stresses, preparing for a graduation party, having painting done at my house……. let’s just say I haven’t been sitting around eating bon bons in between training sessions. Add to the mix a VERY SERIOUS bike accident and my emotional energy has been tapped as well.
A week ago Saturday Rob, Paul, and I were doing the 100 mile route for the Minds In Motion bike and I was not in a good state of mind at the start. We had done an open water swim prior the bike and when we hit the Sheffelbine climb 10 miles into the ride I knew this was going to be a long ride. I felt like a girl with no gas tank at all. Rob was very sweet to go up the next climb with me as I ranted…. “I am sick of my (*&&^* crotch hurting, I am sick of these crappy roads with all the pot holes, I am sick of riding into a *&*&^% head wind, and all I really want to do right now is sit on the side of the road and have a good cry!” All of this with tears streaming down my face. 🙂 Boy what a sight I must have been. Then 42 miles into the ride Rob drifted into the gravel shoulder and I got a good dose of perspective. A superman-like exit off the front of his bike landed him head first into a ditch. What a horrifying site to witness your husband flying into a ditch that way, and then to get upon him sitting with his helmets hanging from his neck in pieces and a bloody nose. Paul came back to help me get the sag wagon to pick him up and we rode a very stressful 30 miles back to the middle school where I had arranged for someone to meet Rob and sit with him until we got back. In retrospect, we should have had an ambulance come and take us right to the hospital. Sometimes we all think we are tougher than we should think…. but at least Paul and I did convince Rob that he was NOT riding his bike back in. I was most concerned about his obvious concussion, as he was repeating the same few phrases every 20 seconds, but as it turns out – I should have been more concerned about his bones. I took him straight to the urgent care and after x-rays, CT scan, and a long wait we left there with Rob in a neck brace with a fracture at the base of his skull, a fracture on the on process of C7, and two cracked ribs. The neurosurgeon P.A. who called us that evening to give collar instructions said that without a helmet, he would be DEAD. So…. to all of you reading this blog, I know we seem invincible- but please, please, please practice safety out there. Wear a helmet and please don’t wear headphones on your bike, anything can happen in a split second!
Rob is such a trooper. His attitude has stayed super positive and he is biking away on his trainer and walking. He has a re-check right before Firehouse 50 bike races to see if he has clearance to participate. Otherwise, his next big event just may be the Ironman. As a side note, he does have a bib for sale for the Door County Half Ironman if anyone is interested (little plug 🙂 )
I have entered this last block of tough training with a renewed outlook as a result of these past couple of weeks. There are so many things that are out of my control (which is a big admission for a type ‘A’ gal like myself), but my attitude is the one thing I have total control of. Coming into our big brick this past Saturday, I mentally prepared by not dreading it but looking forward to what I could do with it, and I did pretty damn well with it! So, from now on I am not going to hope it goes well, or wish I can do a certain thing…. I am going to know I will do it the best I can on that day! Interesting this blog has “Am I nuts…” in the title as I must be, cause darn it all – I am enjoying these mental battles and physical achievements.