The unimaginable.......happened.
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jellings9 posted 17 weeks ago.
I'm really sorry about your injury. I can't even imagine how dispointing this is for you. I've broken the 5th metarsal on my left foot twice. I wasn't competing in anything at the time(s), but it is definitely a nuisance. After the second break, the doctor inserted a screw in the bone to hold it together and told me that if I wanted to remain active then I would need to leave it in. I've had it for 5 years now and haven't had any problems with it. Hopefully you'll be able to make a solid recovery and start training again soon.
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Tri_it_out posted 17 weeks ago.
It's ok, you've waited this long for it, what's one more year. You'll be all healed up and back to work in no time and next season will see a 58th birthday IM or maybe two to celebrate. Don't let this little bump discourage you from fulfilling your aspirations of IronMan (or Woman in your case). Have fun healing and try to stay active in the mean time. The injury isn't going to stop you, you're the only one that can do that. Keep your head in it and you'll be fine.
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1324 days
Tamara posted 17 weeks ago.
Oh Maria, I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how disappointed you feel. As you have written in your signature "Far better to dare mighty things...". This is a setback, but not the end of Ironman forever. Be brave, get healthy and strong quickly.
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daveg posted 17 weeks ago.
...yes, this is dissapointing news however it will have to be viewed as a minor setback for now, as hard as it is to do so. It happened already so no wasted energy on being mad about things you cant change. Now just look to rest it, recover and come back strong. Happy 57th regardless!
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diva_mom posted 17 weeks ago.
Holy cow, when I read the heading, I thought something really bad happened. Yes, disappointing it is, no doubt about that - I understand (from me who broke my arm tripping on the dog) All the training and effort you put forth to make your 57th B-day Iron, but in the grander scheme, you will be ok, and you will race again. Heal up strong, and have a great birthday - in spite of the concrete conspiracy.
Don't be so easy on yourself 'cause this one might be all that you have left
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RV posted 17 weeks ago.
Very sorry to hear that - must be so frustrating and disappointing.
Tho take pride in that you did put in the training and were ready to take the start - this is only a set back.
See you at IMWI '09.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
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Joe_H posted 17 weeks ago.
OH CHIT! I am so sorry I had the same exact injury and it is very frustrating. please mend up quickly and take care.
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836 days
mdd posted 17 weeks ago.
Sorry to hear about this and I wish you a speedy recovery. This should remind all of us that you never know when life might throw you a curve ball and your race plans will be put on hold so enjoy EVERY training session, EVERY race, and be thankful for everything that you have!
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314 days
jhudalla posted 17 weeks ago.
Maria. I am very sorry. Know that all is not lost. For the hours you spend on the bike, in your shoes, and in the pool made you a better stronger person, let alone IM-ready triathlete. IMWI I presume? Tell you what. I'm driving there to register for next year. You go too. I'll buy you a beer.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
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TriSooner posted 17 weeks ago.
Wow, that's worthless. "Worthless" because you did it while walking in a parking lot! Not even a cool, multi-bike crash and a broken colar bone or something. That so anticlimactic.
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bluebirdbiker posted 17 weeks ago.
Wow. I am speachless. We really do walk a fine line don't we. I am SO sorry for you, just don't know what to say.
BBB
There are no excuses - so don't look for them. As a product of your own choices, you directly determine your life outcomes.
Don't think, just do.
My Blog
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1204 days
PJT posted 17 weeks ago.
Hi Maria,
I'm so sorry to hear about the accident. You are an inspiration to lots of us. Keep your head up and count all your blessings. I'll be there cheering for you in 09.
"It's not whether you get knocked down. It's whether you get up." --Vince Lombardi
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beads1985 posted 17 weeks ago.
Hey Maria,
I am sorry to hear about your set back, but that is all it is, a set back.
Contact the RD and explain and see if you can defer to next year.
I know you are dissappointed and we are dissapointed for you.
Doing and IronMan is more than just doing the race, it is the journey getting to the race.
Don't let this setback get you too down, and don't let it stop your journey.
Enjoy your 57th birthday, and use the time that you can't run as a time to work on your swimming fitness and maybe cycling if you can.
We will be here to help you as we can, and we will be here to celebrate your 58th birthday and your IronMan finish when you get there.
Nothing to it, but to do it
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548
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jhudalla posted 17 weeks ago.
TriSooner wrote:
Wow, that's worthless. "Worthless" because you did it while walking in a parking lot! Not even a cool, multi-bike crash and a broken colar bone or something. That so anticlimactic.
Agreed. I stopped playing mens softball because it aint worth getting hurt and ending my tri career over a stinkin game of softball. You'll be back and better than ever. There should be some trifuel gear so we can identify each other at races. Itd be aweXome to see who's who. That way Maria I could buy you a beer next year when you beat me :)
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
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Tribro posted 17 weeks ago.
So sorry to hear about the unfortunate accident. These things do happen and it sucks, but don't let it get you too down. There is a 58th birthday.
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TriOnLife posted 17 weeks ago.
That is the sadness we all hope to avoid and I'm sorry it will wreck your birthday dreams.
Try to keep your chin up, though, and keep your perspective. You didn't get hit by a car, you didn't lose the use of your limbs permenantly, you will heal and you will race again - just not this race.
In the plus column your training has made you stronger and more fit and that's something to be thankful for every day.
I"m still so sorry for your lost IM, though. Hugs.
- A 21st Century Mom who is tri-ing to get better instead of just getting older
www.breakingthetape.com/21stcenturymom
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kylie posted 17 weeks ago.
Oh Maria I'm so sorry! But like others said I was waiting for a car to hit you or something, and while this is horrible and crappy and just such a disappointment, it is just another thing life has thrown in the way. You'll get by it and to that finish line next time. And it's ok to cry, and to yell at a wall or the cobbles for it -- let the stress and anger out. But then accept it, take the time to do extra stuff with the grandkids and read those books you never seem to get to, and come back stronger and more determined the next go-round.
Speedy healing!
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jtrimom posted 17 weeks ago.
that SUCKS!!!! I would be so mad and upset- I would need to go for a long swim, bike or run to feel better...that's the worst thing about being injured I find; that my coping mechanism is unavailable- hopefully you will heal up really fast and get back to what you love to do
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deepbluex posted 17 weeks ago.
I'm sorry about the disappointment of not making it to the IM. But rejoice in having the rest of your life to make that goal happen. Bones heal and if you breathe to see another day, you can get closer to your goal. You are unlucky to have broken your foot, but things could always be worse. I wish you a speedy recovery and a return to the sport. Better be sidelined temporarily than buried permanently.
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ChunkyB posted 17 weeks ago.
With all the death threads the last few days, I was expecting much worse. But that doesn't mean it isn't sad. Don't let it get you too down, and try not to think about why it happened to you and stuff. That's what I tend to do when stuff like this happens, and it doesn't help me at all. Just keep your chin up and you'll be back in the game soon enough.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
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cayman posted 17 weeks ago.
There are times when words are of little consolation, but know after the anger, the frustration and the crying you are still the same person that was giving it you're all to get to that IM. Go through all of the emotions of the disappointment that you must be feeling, and then let them go.
Take the healing time to enjoy some of the things you may have been missing during training. Try some new things that you've always wanted to do, but maybe just never had the time for. Know that the gift you have as an (tri)athlete will not disappear. You can and you will do it again. Heal well and have a speedy recovery.
john
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
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groovyjen posted 17 weeks ago.
I'm so sorry to hear about your injury. I'm sure "disappointed" doesn't begin to cover it.
It sounds like you are one badass grandma, so you'll just rock it in '09 instead of '08.
Be well.
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
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trigirltina2 posted 17 weeks ago.
What a bummer! I am sorry, but as others have written there will be time after the healing!
Hang in there!
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Ironmom posted 17 weeks ago.
Maria, I'm so sorry to hear that, but like others have said I am glad it was not something much, much worse. I never made it to the start line of my first IM (derailed by illness in the last week), and I know how hard and disappointing it was to see all my friends go and want so badly to be doing it. But the earth will spin around again for you too, and there will be the Ironman out there waiting for you when you're all healed up and ready for it.
I wish you speedy healing and a happy birthday, all the same!
Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/
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M posted 17 weeks ago.
Hi, I'd like to offer my condolences too. And although as others have said, in the grand scheme of things, this is small, when I broke my foot last summer it loomed very large at the time. I cracked the heads of 3 metatarsals falling over (benign crash) on a motorcycle offroad.
So it's ok to just be mad and angry and upset for a while. I had a good cry when I got home from receiving my "sentence" (6 weeks in the dreaded Donjoy boot...after a week in a plaster cast) and then looked on the bright (or less dark) side: the removable boot meant that I could swim and shower (I hope this is what you have, too, rather than anything permanent). I started swimming within I think a week and a half of the injury...very gently because it felt really weird at first, and obviously no flip turns, and a one-legged push off. Sometimes I used a buoy but sometimes not.
One of the first times I was there, this other woman talked to me who was a therapist who was very supportive and encouraging of the swimming. She said that even being still in chest high water put the equivalent pressure of an ACE bandage on the lower extremities, which helps with blood flow and circulation, and the better that goes (and if you're keeping up good nutrition), the better your healing will be. It also helps psychologically that you don't have to become a potato and because you can take a break from being a limping injured person and be the strong athlete that you are. I also got to pay the disabled rate while I had the crutches, and I worked from home a lot because I could not drive myself anywhere.
The other nice thing about the removable boot is that you can take it off at other times. I kept my foot up as much as possible because otherwise it tended to inflate a bit early on which was painful, so when that got uncomfortable i could let it breathe a bit. Also, if I had it off (once the initial shock wore off), I would try to flex my foot up and down some and later do circles with my toes). I don't think you can avoid the loss of muscle tone in your immobilized lower leg, but anything you can do should help. When I went back for a checkup the guy told me to use the boot for another month. I said no way. We compromised at 2 weeks (for a total of 8). I think it was harder to recover from the muscle atrophy (I had NO calf at the end of this) than from the broken bones, but I started weaning off the boot on Sep 1 last year, got back on my road bike in mid-Sep (having started on a stationary at the gym), and did my first triathlon on Sep 29. It was Olympic and they had an aquabike division; there was no way I could have run that soon. But I started running again in November.
If you do have the boot, remember that it will put you off kilter when walking. This gave me some back and hip pain, so I resolved that by borrowing a slightly tall clog from my neighbor to even myself out. You definitely don't want to introduce new issues from an artificial leg length discrepancy.
Best of luck getting through this. I hope you can defer your IM entry and come back even stronger next year.
Dear friends: Yesterday, at 10:15 am., I arrived at the Y in Valparaiso, to do some serious swimming. I had a day off so I intended to swim for at least 2 hours. I parked the van on the opposite side of the building because it has a row of nice trees and I wanted some shade. This side of the street is very uneven, the pavement is really in bad shape and you have to really watch your step. As I was walking to the corner to cross the street, I reached into my bag to look for my ID and at this very moment, I steped on a loose chunk of concrete, my right foot bent inwards and I fell. At first I was just pisssed and embarrased, you know? but then, the pain came and when I looked at my foot, it dawned on me, the swelling was very ovbious and the pain was horrible.
I thought that maybe I just sprained my foot so, I rubbed it hard in an attempt to get rid of the swelling and, I got up, dusted myself up and attemted to walk but it was impossible. I limped across the street and I couldn't go any further. I leaned on the wall of the Y and started crying, I knew this was it for me and my IM, I knew it was over. A woman came down the ramp and saw me and came to my aid, she ran back into the building and got some help. They saw my foot and ran for some ice packs and a wheel chair to get me inside.
All the staff knows me so well, they see me often and they all know I was going to do this race so they tried to cheer me up the best they could. One of them suggested I should call someone to take me to get some Xrays of my foot to see what happened so I call my daughter and she came right away, she took me to the hospital in Crown Point and after the xrays, the doctor came to tell me that I had a Metatarsal fracture. I leaned on my daughter and just cried, cried in anger, desapointment, frustration and sadness.
The bone I broke is on the rigth side of the foot, not by the arch, she showed me the xrays and there it was, in black and white, no doubt about it.
Now, I have a cast on my foot up to my knee, and I will "walk" around with this thing for at least 6 weeks. No 57th. Birthday Iron Man for me, no finishers medal, nothing, I will get nothing.
I needed to tell you this, for all who sent me encouraging words for this race. Thank you for reading.
Maria.
"Far better is to dare mighty things, to win glorious Triumph, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spiritis who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not Victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt.