Crashed on my bike yesterday…good case of road rash, cracked helmet and some fairly deep cuts. Sore as sh!t, but luckily, no broken bones.
ER Docs have said the following:
No swimming (chlorinated or open water) until cuts are “healed”, 2)Antibiotics should be taken in case of infection and 3) No training until pain has subsided.
I’m concerned about two things: Not being able to swim (“feel” for the water is easily lost for me) and 2) the effect of antibiotics the week before such a long and important race.
Any thoughts, comments, suggestions?
BTW, I was on a country rode when I crashed…no cars, pedestrians or other cyclists…what a jack@ss. Lost control of my bike on a slight downhill. Some cows came over to the fence and just stared at me - chewing their cud trying to figure the whole situation out.
Friends and family have also been trying to figure this nonsense out for years.
Honestly, I think you’ll be fine. I’ve been on antibiotics before lots of races, and as you stop taking them 4 or 5 days right before the race, I doubt you’ll feel any ill effects. If you are worried about losing some upper body conditioning, you could probably lift.
Do you have stiches? If not, there are some waterproof bandage options.
Stay positive - these last 2 weeks are for staying sharp. You’ll be able to keep your form fine, and start the race rested.
I wouldn’t worry about the swimming. Your form will be just fine.
I just went through this. One of the injuries wasn’t healing very well, so I went on antibiotics.
I usually get run down after a few days on antibiotics. I finished the seven day course, but it took about four to five days after that to start feeling better. Everyone reacts differently.
I recommend getting on them ASAP so that you can get off them well before the race.
One word of advice - the only thing that could ruin your race would be a nasty case of diarrhea from the antibiotics. Eat lots of the Yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. to build up your GI flora as the antibiotics can sometimes kill them off. Won’t hurt any.
Don’t sweat it. Even if your feel for the water is lost, the swim will be over before you know it. With 2 weeks to go, the hay is in the barn. Enjoy the rest and approach the race feeling refreshed and confident. Best of luck!
Hey, hang in ther man…you’ll be OK and will make it!! And, it could be worse. 8 days b/f LP last year I had a bad wreck (also self inflicted) that separated my shoulder - it is still separated. I’m just trying to keep it upright for 2 more weeks.
No worries…you are so ready for IMLP it wont matter a bit. Hold off on swimming till you get there…hit the lake in the mornings with the Gatoraide crew…that will get your swim in line. Your training is done, now all you need to do is relax and heal a bit of road rash.
I crashed 6 days before IMNZ2000 ouch. I broke my pelvis and my skull along with liberal amounts of road rash.
I managed a PB on the day (that just means I was really crap the times before).
Since you are gonna get yourroad rash wet on race day, I recommend healing it by the wet method. On race day. really slather on the sunscreen, before the race, T1, Special needs on the bike, T2 and even special needs on the run too (depending on your finishing time). I didn’t put on enough sunscreen on my forearm and MAAAAAANNNNN did the sunburn hurt! and now I have a strange white shape on my arm, with freckles in the centre.
Just glad to hear you’re ok. Replace the helmet. Take any antibiotics they tell you to, but protect the tummy. Have a great race! Enjoy the fruits of your labors!!!
Im sure that getting the finishers medal will negate any pain you may feel today.
I’m no doc, but the last time I had antibiotics was 1996 and I kept getting sick after that off and on for a year. Beside that period, I have not taken antibiotics since 1983. I think these things are overprescribed “just in case”. I like to let me body do the natural fight and usually it wins out. Toss the antibiotics, and just rest properly and take care of the cuts and bruises. You will be fine in my personal uneducated view. I do believe an Ironman body heals fast than the rest in that you are daily ripping yourself apart and building back. My dentist and doc seem to feel that way about me too.
Dude - glad you’re okay. My swimming coach in college used to say “Injury is nature’s taper”. Well, actually he said God instead of nature but I’m not into the whole divine intervention thing. Either way - you will be fine. Get good rest.
Don’t worry about the swim. Honestly - it’s not about the swim. It’s the 9-13 hours that follow.
If you aren’t using them already get some new style bandages like Duoderm, Second Skin or Tegaderm on the road rash. They are way faster and more comfortable than gauze and polysporin.
I had a fall earlier in the season and the less severe burns took only a week to heal. That’s with new skin, no more dripping, no scab. One took three weeks but I was able to swim with the bandage on.
Minor road rash would take twice that long to heal for me. One area did get septic but it was after a couple of weeks and the antibiotics cleared it up in a week.
Last year, two weeks out of LP, I got a cold. Just as I started to feel better, I cut my foot (heel) very badly on some glass getting out of the local open water swim pond. 7 stitches, anti-biotics and upset as hell.
the ER doc told me if I was serious about racing in 10 days, i should go home, take the antibiotics, get lots of sleep, lay on the friggin couch and only use my crutches to get around. and i did exactly that. no swimming, no biking and absolutely no running, not even til race day. the risk of infection IS NOT WORTH IT!
net result, 14 days of couch surfing. but on race day, with the help of some duct tape and luck, I had an 8 minute PR at Lake Placid (11:44). huge lesson here… never underestimate how rest can be a blessing.
you will be FINE. try not to stress! see you in Mirror Lake next week!