Dwarf World Games

The last time I wrote on this blog, I had just been hit by a car. It has been a tough year and I am just thankful to be able to post on this blog. I am slowly working my way back into Ironman fitness, but this post has nothing to do with me, it is about the purpose of my endeavors to begin with.

This past week, Brett an I took off for East Lansing, Michigan so that Brett could compete in the World Drawf Games. Bottom line up front, this was the most amazing weeks that I have ever had the opportunity to be involved in.

I have competed in sports most of my life, but this is the first time that I have had the opportunity to be involved at an International level.  Michigan welcomed approximately 400 athletes representing 17 nations. This was the largest even in history comprised of participants with some sort of dwarfism.

It all started with the opening ceremonies with each nation marching in one at a time while their national anthem was played. It was followed by speeches from very prominent people in the world of dwarfism. Speakers included Amy Andrews, president of the Dwarf Athletic Association of America, Arthur Dean, chairperson of the International Dwarf Athletic Federation and Erin Popovich, most decorated Dwarf athlete, winner of 14 gold medals at Paralympic Games and 2 ESPYs.

After the ceremonies, the week started off with track and field. Brett competed in a few running events and a few throwing events. Brett just turned 7 and was competing for the first time in the junior A division of children aged 7-11, which comprised of 40 athletes from around the world. He was about the youngest competing and running is not one of his strengths. He didn't do very well in the field events, but he was competitive in the track events. He was only able to pull off a single silver medal in the 4X20m relay, but it was a successful  day.

Day 2 was his strong suit, swimming. This was the only event of the week that did not take place at Michigan State University. It took place at a local high school that had better facilities than any I have ever seen and the large facility was packed. Brett's first event was the 25m backstroke, an event that I would consider his weakest. Brett hadn't progressed as well in this event as we hoped, so Annette and I agreed that we would pull him from the event. As we quickly learned, the make-up of a little person's body structure does not do very well for the backstroke and only 3 people signed up for the event.  Brett and I discussed what to do and we decided that he is guaranteed a bronze if he just finishes, which was very doubtful, but he would give it a shot. What followed was my most proud moment of the week. He got the bronze, he didn't quit and when he finished, the decibel level in the stadium sounded louder than many professional sporting events that I have attended. His next event was 25m freestyle. This event had several competitors in it and Brett was able to earn his second bronze medal of the day. Then came his strength, the breaststroke. He jumped in the water and held a commanding lead the entire race, earning him his only gold of the games. I am not sure I have ever seen him smile as much as he did after winning the event.

The next few day started the team events. Brett was able to compete against children of his own height for the first time in his life and he gained exposure to sports that he doesn't get to play as often.  His team won silver in volleyball and floor hockey. They also won bronze in soccer and basketball. Additionally, he was able to compete in kurling, but was unable to progress past the first round.

The week also gave the opportunity for Brett to meet other children affected by dwarfism from around the world (he said the British kids speak a different language) and for me to get to know parents that are raising a child with short stature.

For the first time in his life, Brett was able to spend a week, not as a little person, but as a child the same as everyone else. We look forward to other opportunities in the future.

My efforts competing in Ironman Florida raised around $2000 to help put this event on and I am very thankful to everyone who contributed. Your generosity was put to good use. I am planning to compete in Ironman Arizona this year, despite my setback. The purpose of my fundraiser is over now, but I would encourage anyone who is interested in contributing in an organization like this so that they can hold similar events in the future to consider the DAAA.

You can continue to contribute via my fundraising site at http://www.daaa.org/DAAA_ironman.html

Bike Wreck

Its been a few months since I completed Ironman Florida and I was getting ready to keep the momentum going on my fitness and fundraising for the DAAA when the worst thing that could happen for that goal happened.  I was going on a 3 hour training ride when a car decided to not stop at a stop sign and pulled out in front of me.  I was in a situation with nowhere to go but into the car.  I hit the car, which caused me to total my bike and did some pretty good damage to me.  I came out of it with a big toe that is broken in 3 places, ligament damage in my knee and ankle, a concussion and tons of scrapes and bruises.  Here is a picture of my bike.

The picture does not do it justice.  It is broken completely through in several places and both tires are completely warped.  There is nothing on the bike that is serviceable, or at least that I would trust to put my safety in the hands of for the future.  I never thought this would happen to me and I have forgiven the careless driver that did not even look in my direction before he pulled out, but this has messed up what I have built up for the past 2 years.  I have already put on 10 pounds in a week going from extraneous exercise to nothing overnight and my diet has not been very good as well due to the stress this has caused.

I go to the doctor on Tuesday for a new set of x-rays and if the bones appear to be healing properly, I hope to get in the pool this week.  I had signed up for 2 Ironman events this year, which I had hoped to continue my fundraising for.  The first is Ironman Texas in May.  If things go right, I will be able to get my boot off my leg 6 weeks before that race, so my performance will be far less than my goal if I am even able to start.  I am sure I will still be able to swim 2.4 miles and I may be able to muscle 112 miles on the bike, but I doubt I will be able to run by then.  It is really disappointing because I had put a lot into this race and hoped to be able to break 13 hours.  After my lessons learned from my previous Ironman, I felt like I could get there, but now I am wondering if I will even be able to walk the run.  I will not give up until the last minute, I set a goal and I am going to give it my all, but I am not going to put myself in a position where I hurt myself worse to the point where I can't do IMAZ.  The 17 hour cutoff would be my new goal if I do it, which is disappointing to pay $750 for that.

I have already started working with the great guys at Podium Multisport and am reserving my new bike.  I think I am going to go with a Felt B12, but I don't know when I will be able to ride it.  I want to get it ASAP because the day the doctor gives me the ok to ride, I am going to be back on the bike.  I am not going to let this stop me, but I am nervous that I will have problems getting the full benefit of training because I will pull up slowly to intersections, even when I do not have a stop sign, which was the case when I was hit.

I am looking into some long distance swims to do this year since running will not be great and it will take time to get back into the saddle.  I am open to any suggestions.

I still cannot sleep with out medicine to help and I constantly replay the accident in my head.  I still can't figure out what that driver was thinking.  For those of you who are not cyclists, please take this as a note to check your surroundings when you pull out.  I know that is basic driving knowledge, but obviously some people forget.  We share the road with cars and cyclists.

I would like to thank everyone who has wished me a speedy recovery.  I know I will get better.  My life is changed forever because of this, but I will find a way to rebound and make it better. 

I will keep you informed as I learn more and get closer to some of these events.