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.