Ironman is an epic event that tests the depths of physical and
mental strength. Taking the leap
of faith to sign up will forever burn in my memory. I was excited, proud, anxious, fearful, and giddy with
the thought of completing this ambitious endeavor. I’ve organized my personal journal into 3 posts that will
take you through my not so conventional road to finishing my first
Ironman.
1 year to go.
I was a spectator at Coeur d’Alene Ironman and was inspired by the
thousands of participants that seemed so ‘ordinary’. My husband included.
After 2 sleepless nights I was officially signed up for CDA IM 2012!!
10 months to go.
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| I finished Lake Stevens 70.3 in 6 hours 3 minutes and felt invincible |
9 1/2 months to go. I had all these great ideas about keeping in shape in the off-season,
but my body would just not cooperate.
A friend talked me into doing a sprint tri with her. I was somewhat reluctant and didn’t
push hard, as I knew I was at prime risk for injury doing Lake Stevens just 2
weeks before. Nevertheless 2 miles
into the run my calf cramped and I limped, defeated, across the finish
line. As a PT, I wasn’t so worried
about a calf cramp. No big deal,
just do some stretching, light exercise, and problem solved. Not the case. It lingered.
9 months to go. Massage therapy was helping get my calf back into
shape, but my overachieving self decided to do yoga the next morning. Turns out that deep tissue massage to
my hip muscles inhibited their function and allowed me to stretch just a bit
too far. About an hour after I
finished I started getting excruciating pain in my left groin. No! Not again. This
can’t be happening. I need to
start training soon. Turns
out that I had a torn labrum in my hip.
It could have been there for years and just flared up during yoga or I
may have torn it that day. Again,
I sought advice, this time from a PT.
He did a full gait analysis and
gave me appropriate exercises. I think you
can tell by now that when it comes to my body recovering from injury I’m not
very patient. After a few
therapy sessions and cutting back on my training my hip was feeling
better.
7 months to go.
You have got to be kidding me.
On November 10, 2011 riding my bike home from work on the Burke Gilman
trail in Seattle a 40 something guy walked out in front of me, I swerved but
was unable to miss him. I hit the
front of my right shoulder on the outside of his left shoulder. Pain, oh so much pain. I cried all the way to the ER to
confirm my immediate suspicion of a broken collarbone. I wasn’t crying from the pain, but my
dreams of Ironman slipping away.
Now if you’re not from Seattle you need to know that the Burke Gilman
Trail is Seattle’s “bike super highway’”.
Especially at 4:30 pm. This
guy was just walking along the right side of the trail. Just walking in a straight line giving
me no reason to believe he was going to do anything differently than all the
other people I was passing, but abruptly without any warning he turned 90
degrees and walked right in front of me.
I had 3 feet to react.
I wasn’t going fast. Maybe
15 mph…maybe. It was a freak
accident. I am a reserved person
showing my deepest emotions only to those that I am closest to. This gentleman however had a much
different personality.
We had a brief meeting in life, probably less than 5
minutes, but he has left a lasting impression on my body and soul. I hit my shoulder to his and I believe
my right brake and drop part of my handlebar hit his arm and hip. It all happened so fast. From what I remember, he was flung
around in a circle landing on the grass hillside just off the trail. I was miraculously able to keep my bike
under control and steer it to a stop on the opposite side of the trail. As I got off my bike, my first thought
was to make sure this man was ok.
I’m not sure what his first thought was, but all I heard was screaming. He was so angry. I don’t blame him for being angry, but
lets be adults here.
I was supposed to attend a friends wedding in Puerto Rico in
four days and was so scared that I would need surgery, miss out on my vacation
and my Ironman dreams. The orthopedic surgeon gave me the best news possible in
that moment “The bone is in good alignment and will heal with rest”. Yes! Great news! I
get to go on my trip and will be back to work by the New Year. At this point, I seriously contemplated
the reality of being able to train for an Ironman in 6 months. If I can go back to work in January
that means I should start swimming then too. Swimming is already my weakness and this little ‘set back’
is going to be an uphill battle, but I was tentatively confident that Ironman
was still a possibility. My
friends and family on the other hand just assumed I would throw in the
towel. Hmm, I think not.
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| Icing in the airport on my way to the Caribbean!!! |
Stay posted for part 2. “Surgery Loomed”
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