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First crash in 10+ years of racing
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 2015-07-06 11:53 PM |
 Subject: First crash in 10+ years of racingPerhaps I've just been lucky. Last weekend signed up for an Olympic, basically last minute as some friends were doing it and I was trying to Jumpstart a lackadaisical season. I wasn't trained up to pr or anything, just enjoy the course. Hmmmm. Swim seemed to go fine, I don't wear a watch when I swim but there were not many bikes gone from my wave (all males 34-49). Settled into the bike, power was a little down per the plan but speed not bad. It's a 3 loop course, on loop 2 someone I k ow and respect came by me, staying out of the draft zone of the guy ahead if him but keeping pace. I decided to push a little and did the same. I had veered to the right of the lane while he was a bit left (again, a draft legal distance ) I see it before I hear it, he must have gotten distracted and hit one of those little metal a frames they put distances on. My first thought was is thst really "x" that just hit a barricade?" He went down and the bike went sliding. I got up on the horns and tried to brake adlnd go around but the lane was bordered by a lip then a dirt shoulder. I couldn't make the shoulder and thought "wow, that's a nice bike I am going to hit." went over and came full force on my left side. Full ambulance e/backvoard/neck brace treatment to the hospital, where I spent a week almost. 7 fractured ribs, broken clavicle and a punctured lung requiring a chest tube. Luckily my wife has beeN able to take work off because caring for this is a full time job. I have an oly 10/31 but I'm not sure I'll be back for anything this season. I have signed up for oceanside and a marathon 2016, though, so I have some motivation once the (excruciating )pain is gone. |
| 2015-07-07 12:20 AM in reply to: ChrisM |
Master  2759     Los Angeles, CA | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Oh damn Chris! I'm sorry to hear this happened. Ugh.... man, I hope you heal and recover quickly so we can see each other again at Oceanside 2016. |
| 2015-07-07 12:39 AM in reply to: ChrisM |
Extreme Veteran 1175 Langley, BC, 'Wet Coast' Canada | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing |
| 2015-07-07 1:55 AM in reply to: ChrisM |
Extreme Veteran 1332 | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Daaaaamn. Hsving been through a nasty accident myself, I feel your pain!! Just make sure you get back on that bike! |
| 2015-07-07 7:11 AM in reply to: ChrisM |
Champion 7136 Knoxville area | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing sh*t man, you were really trying to make up for those 10+ years huh? Heal up fast, sorry to hear it. |
| 2015-07-07 7:34 AM in reply to: ChrisM |
Extreme Veteran 959 Greenwood, South Carolina | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Hope you have a speedy recovery. Had my first crash after six years of racing but I was lucky compared to what happen to you. More important...how was the bike?  |
| 2015-07-07 8:59 AM in reply to: ChrisM |
Master 4118 Toronto Bronze member | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Wow, that sounds really painful. And it's pretty scary - with your previous PE. Glad to hear you're recovering and hopefully you're feeling at least a little better now but glad to hear some motivation in your post. Looking forward to next year already. |
| 2015-07-07 10:00 PM in reply to: ChrisM |
| 1055 | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Originally posted by ChrisM Perhaps I've just been lucky. Last weekend signed up for an Olympic, basically last minute as some friends were doing it and I was trying to Jumpstart a lackadaisical season. I wasn't trained up to pr or anything, just enjoy the course. Hmmmm. Swim seemed to go fine, I don't wear a watch when I swim but there were not many bikes gone from my wave (all males 34-49). Settled into the bike, power was a little down per the plan but speed not bad. It's a 3 loop course, on loop 2 someone I k ow and respect came by me, staying out of the draft zone of the guy ahead if him but keeping pace. I decided to push a little and did the same. I had veered to the right of the lane while he was a bit left (again, a draft legal distance ) I see it before I hear it, he must have gotten distracted and hit one of those little metal a frames they put distances on. My first thought was is thst really "x" that just hit a barricade?" He went down and the bike went sliding. I got up on the horns and tried to brake adlnd go around but the lane was bordered by a lip then a dirt shoulder. I couldn't make the shoulder and thought "wow, that's a nice bike I am going to hit." went over and came full force on my left side. Full ambulance e/backvoard/neck brace treatment to the hospital, where I spent a week almost. 7 fractured ribs, broken clavicle and a punctured lung requiring a chest tube. Luckily my wife has beeN able to take work off because caring for this is a full time job. I have an oly 10/31 but I'm not sure I'll be back for anything this season. I have signed up for oceanside and a marathon 2016, though, so I have some motivation once the (excruciating )pain is gone. Geez, that's one hell of a first crash. Quite unlucky. Collarbone, ribs, and lung, ugh. |
| 2015-07-07 11:14 PM in reply to: ChrisM |
Master 3888 Overland Park, KS | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Dayum Chris, that's one hell of a crash: I'm glad you're "OK" looks like you'll heal up based on the type of injuries given. I crashed on Sunday myself. No broken bones this time. Take it easy on the comeback, don't rush anything but then again, I rarely follow my own advice  |
| 2015-07-08 3:43 PM in reply to: ChrisM |
Extreme Veteran 566 Southern California | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Very sorry to hear that Chris. I hope you heal up quick, our thoughts are with you. How's the bike? |
| 2015-07-08 4:19 PM in reply to: cjhild |
| Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Originally posted by cjhildVery sorry to hear that Chris. I hope you heal up quick, our thoughts are with you. How's the bike? Honestly I don't know, haven't even seen it since the crash. I had driven up with a friend so she drove everythung home while my wife came up to care for me. She took the bike to the lbs for me to check it all out, should hear soon although with everything thst has gone on in the last two weeks I'm fine not finding out about althst for a while. The guy that crashed me out was nice enough to visit me in the hospital and has offered to help out financially, thst feels a little weird but it's a very nice gesture and guess I'll cross thst bridge when I get to it. Even assuming bike is ok, deductibles Co pays and Co insurance is going to be a freaking bear. That doesn't even include new race kit (which had to be cut off) and helmet replacement. So if the bike comes back bad, not sure what I'll do. |
| 2015-07-08 8:37 PM in reply to: ChrisM |
Champion 7036 Sarasota, FL | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Been out of town for a week and just saw your post. Sorry to read about your accident. Hope you can heal quickly. Mark |
| 2015-07-12 9:12 AM in reply to: RedCorvette |
| 538 Brooklyn, New York | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Sorry to hear Chris. I spent 5 days in Vermont nursing my brother back to mobility with a badly shattered clavicle that needed full blown reconstruction. To think you had 7 ribs fractured to boot. Did the clavicle need reconstruction? I helped my mom a year ago with 1 broken rib. It sucks to hell to have broken bones that can't be put in a cast. Stay strong. You'll heal. Be grateful of those who care for you. Stay positive. I've seen first hand how the 1st month of this is terrible. SO sorry! Light at the end of the tunnel bro |
| 2015-07-12 3:41 PM in reply to: TJHammer |
| Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Thanks much for the words. In the hospital they said no surgery. Follow up ortho was incredulous, so having surgery this Friday to have a plate put in, 3 month recovery time so now season definitely over |
| 2015-07-12 4:16 PM in reply to: ChrisM |
Extreme Veteran 1190 Silicon Valley | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Chris sorry to hear about that. I guess my getting hit by a car and fracturing my hip wasn't so bad after all. I know how frustrating it is to not be able to train and compete but give your body the time it needs to heal up properly. I was lucky to have a great surgeon who I really trust. My wife will tell you I pushed him really hard after my second surgery on getting back at it. I did what I was told but no matter where the line was drawn, I pushed right up to it. I did not ever cross it though. The reward simply wasn't worth the risk of a setback or not being able to compete. Have patience, listen to your doctor and 2016 will be a much better year. Be well. |
| 2015-07-12 5:26 PM in reply to: ChrisM |
Master 3127 Sunny Southern Cal | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Yikes Chris, just saw your post. I'm really sorry to hear this happened to you. Don't know what else to say than relax, heal up, and start thinking about next year. It's amazing how everything can change so fast, isn't it? Sounds like a good time to catch up on any other passive hobbies if you have any, and if not, time to find one for a little while. |
| 2015-07-14 3:16 PM in reply to: SevenZulu |
Master 2485 Atlanta, Georgia | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Just noticed this... Sorry about the wreck and hope you heal soon. All that damage must have meant you were going FAST...! Good luck with the early recuperation... |
| 2015-07-14 7:32 PM in reply to: ChrisM |
Pro 6582 Melbourne FL Gold member | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Wow, just wow! Best wishing on getting well Chris. Just hope you are somewhat comfortable, I recall being miserable with 3 broken ribs (1 displaced fracture) 14 years ago. |
| 2015-07-14 7:37 PM in reply to: Donto |
| Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Originally posted by Donto Yeah it hurts, some times of the day (like right now and 3 am) are worse than others. Thanks for all the well wishes. Surgery is supposed to help with the pain by putting the bones back together. Seeing if I can post a pic here......Wow, just wow! Best wishing on getting well Chris. Just hope you are somewhat comfortable, I recall being miserable with 3 broken ribs (1 displaced fracture) 14 years ago. (20150711_114504.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 20150711_114504.jpg (4901KB - 3 downloads) |
| 2015-07-14 7:55 PM in reply to: ChrisM |
Pro 15655 | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Chris, I'm sorry about your crash......that sucks. I wish you great luck, great speed, and inspiration on your recovery! I was running a practice last week when a 15 year old went down and broke his elbow near the growth plate.......yesterday he finally got his cast when the abrasions scabbed over. It runs from his forearm to his shoulder. Today he was in the pool aqua-jogging.. (some of that inspiration I wished on you) You'll get there. |
| 2015-07-16 12:09 AM in reply to: ChrisM |
Expert 703 Palm Springs, California | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing I'm sending happy thoughts your way, Chris! I just saw the thread, but as you probably have started to notice, people who are in shape heal surprisingly well and fast. Advice item one: be patient and take it easy. Advice item two: get back in the saddle |
| 2015-07-25 1:33 PM in reply to: Pacific John |
| Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing 1 week post surgery and finally mostly off painkillers. Only one to sleep. PT starts in about a week, all I want now is to sleep in my own bed (been in a rented recliner for a month) and to take a shower without saran wrapping my shoulder.... This is what the hospital said didn't need fixing. Doh
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| 2015-07-25 10:05 PM in reply to: ChrisM |
Master 2759 Los Angeles, CA | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Man, that looks scary! >.< |
| 2015-07-27 9:55 AM in reply to: kloofyroland |
| 538 Brooklyn, New York | Subject: RE: First crash in 10+ years of racing Clean break though, no fragments. CANNOT believe the original diagnosis was no plate and screws, what the heck man!? My brothers' was shattered up a bit more (4 pieces) - he's been walking at 16min/mile pace and recumbent bike working for a while now. He got to that at 3 weeks post surgery. He still has to prop himself on an angle to sleep in bed though. Godspeed bro, hang in there |
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