Injured? Who me? Well, yes, I was injured and, yes, I had a TBI. A pretty good one, too. At least that is what I'm told. You see, I do not remember the early days of my injury immediately following the crash very well. But I do remember the day that it happened. In detail. And I can recall many things about my recovery and convalescance. Really recall things. Not just remember thoughts that were "suggested".
It is coming up on the one-year mark since I went down. Regrets? Heck no! No looking back for me. Sorrow? Just for the pain and uncertainty that I had subject my family to. Concerns? Sure, but no more than I had before my crash: job, career, children, fitness, the economy (I am in the car business, pray for me!). And how long can I remain competitive in cycling?
I have come to accept that I am different in some ways than I was BC (before concussion). I am quick to become frustrated and I know I have been a bear to live with. But not all of it is negative. I am more aware of my surroundings, more concerned with others, more focused, more driven, and more grateful to be waking to another day. Still, it is easy for me to be complacent, to wait for things to "happen" to me instead of taking the initiative and making things happen. I am still a "do-er". I may not have the fitness level that I had before, but I am still more fit than most guys my age. And a few that are younger than I. The fitness will come back. With work and perseverance, that is.
As far as my intellectual ability, I do well. I have always believed that the day you stop learning is the day you start dying. I know now that can still learn new things. I am working out my brain "muscles" just as I am my arm and leg muscles. I am planning to take piano lessons, want to learn another language, becoming a Sudoku black belt, and want to keep up on my writing. I find that I have to compensate now, like using my Palm to create a "to do" list and keeping a journal.
So, yes, I was injured. That was then, this is now. I will keep on contributing and challenging myself. And helping others. And competing.
It is the only way that I know to live life.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Training for the Worlds
Did two nice road rides this weekend.
The first one was with the local Irvine club riders. It was 40 miles at a decent pace. Unfortunately, the riders that morning were a mixed bag as it relates to riding experience. All were pleasant company. We were riding in a paceline and the rider in front of me failed to make me aware of a hunk of debris in the road. I hit it squarely with both my front AND rear tires. I recently built up a new set of rims with DT Swiss RR 1.2 semi-aero rims mated to American Classic hubs with DT Swiss Aerolite spokes. Not uber-light, but tough as all get out! I converted them to tubeless using Stan's yellow sealing tape and the Hutchinson Road Tubeless tires performed flawlessly! The resulting impact caused no rim damage and no flats. But I did lose a Polar insulated water bottle that bounced out. Bummer.
Sunday's ride was a solo outing. Down Irvine Boulevard past the El Toro Marine Base, up Bake, up Glenn Ranch and up the Saddleback Ranch long grind to Santiago Canyon Road. A nice 40 mile loop with some decent climbs. This route had been one of my regular training loops, until last August that is. You see, this ride took me past where I had my run-in with that passing truck. Not that I had a fear, it just brought back a bunch of emotions. As I rode past the spot where I was hit, I decided to make it official: it is now in the past and it's now just another place where I ride. Why fret about what I cannot change? Just keep working on what I can affect: my endurance and my fitness.
This week I am in Jackson MS and in the gym every day (ugh!). Tapering for Saturday's 12-hour race. I can't wait to get home for my first real race in nearly a year.
The first one was with the local Irvine club riders. It was 40 miles at a decent pace. Unfortunately, the riders that morning were a mixed bag as it relates to riding experience. All were pleasant company. We were riding in a paceline and the rider in front of me failed to make me aware of a hunk of debris in the road. I hit it squarely with both my front AND rear tires. I recently built up a new set of rims with DT Swiss RR 1.2 semi-aero rims mated to American Classic hubs with DT Swiss Aerolite spokes. Not uber-light, but tough as all get out! I converted them to tubeless using Stan's yellow sealing tape and the Hutchinson Road Tubeless tires performed flawlessly! The resulting impact caused no rim damage and no flats. But I did lose a Polar insulated water bottle that bounced out. Bummer.
Sunday's ride was a solo outing. Down Irvine Boulevard past the El Toro Marine Base, up Bake, up Glenn Ranch and up the Saddleback Ranch long grind to Santiago Canyon Road. A nice 40 mile loop with some decent climbs. This route had been one of my regular training loops, until last August that is. You see, this ride took me past where I had my run-in with that passing truck. Not that I had a fear, it just brought back a bunch of emotions. As I rode past the spot where I was hit, I decided to make it official: it is now in the past and it's now just another place where I ride. Why fret about what I cannot change? Just keep working on what I can affect: my endurance and my fitness.
This week I am in Jackson MS and in the gym every day (ugh!). Tapering for Saturday's 12-hour race. I can't wait to get home for my first real race in nearly a year.
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