Well, I had a very interesting doctors appointment recently. But it answered so many questions.
It all goes back to June 2005. In the best shape of my life. Putting in huge mileage, riding 2 a days, hammering friends into the ground that used to drop me. It was like a dream. I was planning a full assault of the endurance circuit. First big race was the 24 hour that June. I had a great month in May putting in over 3000km's of training and in June was beginning my taper about 2 weeks out. Exactly 2 weeks before the race I did a huge group road ride...in the rain.....and I crashed...and I hit my head. Didn't think too much of it, a little woozy for a few minutes but was able to continue on. 2 weeks later started the 24 hour. 1st lap, 40 mins in, totally flying, hit a downhill rock garden and went over the bars taking the full impact on my head and right shoulder. Looking back I was totally out of it wandering around the course. My shoulder was wrecked (which is still a problem to this day, but I can live with it), my race done, and off to the hospital. Actually last weekend I was talking to the safety guy for the 24 hour and he said my story actually made it into a magazine about the worst crashes they've ever seen....I was honoured....if they only knew how bad it was.
I've never been the same since. Migraines became the biggest problem, especially over the last 12 months. That led to difficulty training, some weight gain (or inability to drop winter weight!) etc. 3 catscans later and still nothing to tell (other than only rocks in my head for every wanting to race 24 hours solo!). Finally got in to see a neurologist as the migraines were getting worse. She said the 2 concussions (mostly the 2nd) triggered everything (I never used to get migraines ever). She said most people genetically will have the possibility of getting them or not....and sometimes a trigger is needed to start them up. Mine was the severe crash. She said most of my issues stem from all of this (including neck/shoulder problems). So I am glad to finally have some sort of diagnosis and some medication to hopefully solve the problem. Seems like there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I might get things back to normal. I'm not sure what this season still holds at this point....just taking it one day at a time as the medication can take 3-4 months to really start making a difference. But I hope it is sooner, I can starting riding more, and kick things off with a bang at the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo in February. I'm a bit disappointed with how the season has been going and don't like to let down the people and companies who support me, but I'm doing my best and even if the results don't show it I still get great opportunties to talk up product. So thanks to all of you.
Steve
Friday, June 29, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
24 Hours of Summer Solstice
Raced at the 24 Hours of Summer Solstice this past weekend and had great fun. It felt a little strange doing it on a 5 person team when all I have done is solo's (and one tag) in the past 4 years at this race. Since training has been a little sketchy this year and a bad back (put it out in early May) it was probably best just doing the team thing.
I was 3rd in the rotation and the team had a little internal competition.....slowest average lap (of 4 laps each it turns out) hosts the team BBQ....so we had a little motivation.
My 1st lap I went out hard. Started out in the Dog and tried to keep it there for as long as possible. That lasted until the Sugar Shack climb and popped it into the middle ring for awhile. Shortly after that section we made a left hander to go over a wood bridge. This bridge had some boards that were about 2 inches higher in spots running parallel to the bridge. My tires got hung up on the them and down I went. I managed to save it somewhat and my bike took most of the blow. I regrouped and got going again. There were only a couple of semi-long climbs, but long enough to remind me I'm not good at them. Finished that lap in 59 minutes.
2nd lap I figured would be slower than the first. I went out in the dog again but put it in the middle earlier on and left it there for longer. There were plenty of double track sections with begged for it and I complied. I could feel that I was going slower on the climbs, but felt like I might be doing the singletrack a bit faster than the 1st lap. The last 2 or 3km of the lap are really fast. I looked at my watch and I was making good time so I hammered as hard as I could. Amazingly, I finished that lap in 59 minutes...same as my first. I was really happy to be able to do that.
My next lap was a full night lap. I strapped on the Princeton Tec Switchback lights and got going. It was really dusty for sure. I had several bobbles...mostly missing my line and hitting the deeper sandy bits which slowed me down but all in all turned in a respectable 1:10 for my night lap.
Lap 4 started at 5:45am. I had only slept about 2 hours at this point so was pretty tired. My back had been on the fringe of being problematic for the first 3 laps but I was able to keep it under control. Not this lap. Early on it was very problematic....especially on the climbs. Then I started having pain shooting down my right leg....I started pedaling mostly with my left leg at that point. It was sheer agony. Really slow climbing....taking it easy on the flats and trying to stretch it out. The end of the lap was a welcome sight. Finished the lap in 1:10....same as the night lap...not as bad as I thought.
Now at this point I thought I was done for sure. We knew the whole team would go through 4 rotations, but 3 riders would still need to do a 5th lap. No way it was going to be me. Well....never say never as I was guilted/pressured...whatever you want to call it...into doing a 5th lap. At least I had the honour of the final lap of the race. I did a bunch of stretching and massaging and popped some Advil....all which ended up helping. It was a really slow lap (1:13) but the pain was okay. I chickened out of the mud pit....there was just no way it was going to happen (although one of my teammates did it and won a t shirt).
All in all the race was a good time. Totally different experience that doing it solo. I haven't decided what I prefer but this was a nice change. The August 24 hour is 2 months away. I haven't signed up and won't make a decision until the last minute. Need to see if I can get some quality riding in and get my back pain under control before I commit to that.
Some positives did come out of this race. I wasn't the slowest. I didn't get hurt. My laps were more consistent than I expected. I even did a couple of laps faster than Dave (one of my goals at the beginning of the year). Now I don't think I am faster than Dave....he was sick this past week and had some bad luck....but I'll still count it as a goal reached!
The family is going away next week so I might get in some sort of training camp if all goes well. We'll see.
Until next time...
Steve
I was 3rd in the rotation and the team had a little internal competition.....slowest average lap (of 4 laps each it turns out) hosts the team BBQ....so we had a little motivation.
My 1st lap I went out hard. Started out in the Dog and tried to keep it there for as long as possible. That lasted until the Sugar Shack climb and popped it into the middle ring for awhile. Shortly after that section we made a left hander to go over a wood bridge. This bridge had some boards that were about 2 inches higher in spots running parallel to the bridge. My tires got hung up on the them and down I went. I managed to save it somewhat and my bike took most of the blow. I regrouped and got going again. There were only a couple of semi-long climbs, but long enough to remind me I'm not good at them. Finished that lap in 59 minutes.
2nd lap I figured would be slower than the first. I went out in the dog again but put it in the middle earlier on and left it there for longer. There were plenty of double track sections with begged for it and I complied. I could feel that I was going slower on the climbs, but felt like I might be doing the singletrack a bit faster than the 1st lap. The last 2 or 3km of the lap are really fast. I looked at my watch and I was making good time so I hammered as hard as I could. Amazingly, I finished that lap in 59 minutes...same as my first. I was really happy to be able to do that.
My next lap was a full night lap. I strapped on the Princeton Tec Switchback lights and got going. It was really dusty for sure. I had several bobbles...mostly missing my line and hitting the deeper sandy bits which slowed me down but all in all turned in a respectable 1:10 for my night lap.
Lap 4 started at 5:45am. I had only slept about 2 hours at this point so was pretty tired. My back had been on the fringe of being problematic for the first 3 laps but I was able to keep it under control. Not this lap. Early on it was very problematic....especially on the climbs. Then I started having pain shooting down my right leg....I started pedaling mostly with my left leg at that point. It was sheer agony. Really slow climbing....taking it easy on the flats and trying to stretch it out. The end of the lap was a welcome sight. Finished the lap in 1:10....same as the night lap...not as bad as I thought.
Now at this point I thought I was done for sure. We knew the whole team would go through 4 rotations, but 3 riders would still need to do a 5th lap. No way it was going to be me. Well....never say never as I was guilted/pressured...whatever you want to call it...into doing a 5th lap. At least I had the honour of the final lap of the race. I did a bunch of stretching and massaging and popped some Advil....all which ended up helping. It was a really slow lap (1:13) but the pain was okay. I chickened out of the mud pit....there was just no way it was going to happen (although one of my teammates did it and won a t shirt).
All in all the race was a good time. Totally different experience that doing it solo. I haven't decided what I prefer but this was a nice change. The August 24 hour is 2 months away. I haven't signed up and won't make a decision until the last minute. Need to see if I can get some quality riding in and get my back pain under control before I commit to that.
Some positives did come out of this race. I wasn't the slowest. I didn't get hurt. My laps were more consistent than I expected. I even did a couple of laps faster than Dave (one of my goals at the beginning of the year). Now I don't think I am faster than Dave....he was sick this past week and had some bad luck....but I'll still count it as a goal reached!
The family is going away next week so I might get in some sort of training camp if all goes well. We'll see.
Until next time...
Steve
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