Another Horrible IMC RR

Triathlon Forum
1

I figured I would add my IMC RR to the long list of crappy RR’s… the short and sweet version.

Woke up on Saturday and threw my back out while bending over to pick something off the bed. Nothing dramatic, just bent over to grab my salt tabs and it ceased on me. It sent me directly to the floor and I wasn’t able to walk for quite a while. I got a 1 hour massage, ART and as much Advil as I could handle. Nothing worked. It continued to cease throughout the day and I ended up falling over a few times when I couldn’t find anything to grab on to.

Come race morning, I could barely walk, couldn’t bend over and wasn’t even sure I could swim. I was able to complete the swim (1:00:08) and needed the volunteers to help put on my cycling shoes and support me while I hobbled out of the changing tent. Once on the bike, I had to stop at every aid station to stretch. Sadly, I felt great and still managed a 5:40 split. By the end of the bike, I couldn’t walk and needed more help to get off my bike and make my way to the med tent to get a massage (massage tent was closed). My day was done. It just wasn’t my weekend. I hung around and watched my wife finish. Went wine tasting the next morning and enjoyed every minute of the Okanagan Valley.

Fast forward to today… I still can’t walk properly, can’t sleep because of the pain and finally gave in and started taking the meds my doc prescribed.

Lesson Learned: It’s just a race, just another day. There is/was nothing I could have done to stop it from happening. My next IM is IMCDA and I am already looking forward to training with my wife and friends.

  • Crichton
2

WTF? How do you throw down a 1 hour swim with your back thrown out? I was in perfect health and was happy with 1:14! And your bike split? Damn you!
Seriously though, sorry to hear about the misfortune. I always cringe when I hear stories like this where something simple like this that could have happened any day of the year has to happen on a day when you really don’t want it to!

3

So overall, would you say you liked or disliked the experience?

Seriously though, how much of a bummer is that----tweak your back doing nothing but something normal, and bam, there goes race day. Wow…you seem as though you’ve got a pretty good attitude about it, which is admirable in light of the circumstances…especially with decent swim and bike times!

4

Double WTF?! I only stopped at one aid station on the bike to go potty and managed a measley 5:44 bike! Nice to see you have a good attitude about the race. Cheers, S.