Training Log Archive: Carbons Offset

Feeling pretty good today but ribs on the right side are even more sore today than previous days. Also seeing some bruising come to surface and it is uuugggggllllyyyyy. I really smacked my right shoulder hard, the bruises look like I tore something, but all seems to work okay.

C • Ouch! 6

Felt pretty good today. A minor 1/10 headache (started behind the right eye, then moved to the right temple and then right forehead) when I woke up but it didn't seem like anything significant and went away in the evening. Joined the in-laws for a trip out to Takkakaw Falls and Emerald Lake with some walking around. At one point I did as instructed when Birgita told me to sprint for a bench that had just opened up and then I realized I maybe shouldn't be running yet.

Feeling even better today, feeling like nothing is really bothering me, pretty normal (we will see how it feels to be in a situation where I have to think hard and really change mental gears.... Sometimes these feel like I pause and then just want to say "come back and try me next week"). Fortunately, I am off work this week anyway, so there is no pressure. I may go to a doctor on Friday to get checked out and discuss returning to work on Monday. I will also give my work a heads up, in case I find it difficult and need to ease into it. I'm optimistic that my employer will be as accommodating as I need.

Washed the bike and checked for damage: none, I saved the bike by landing on my head.
Took the bike for a little ride around the complex to test the shifting. All good and I felt okay on the bike but probably not ready to think fast on a technical trail or in traffic. I'm in no rush.

C • Whew 3

Rode in the car with Carbon and her parents to Banff. The car ride was fine. Looked out the window a few times to picture what it would feel Iike to drive and felt like I wouldn't be ready for any complex situations yet. Otherwise, walking around town and being in crowds and shops was fine.
Feeling even a bit better this evening. Not quite 100 percent but getting close

Went out that evening to a big fundraiser party and engaged in a lot of conversations and crowds, testing how I was feeling. Felt fine, stayed late. Would have loved to compete in the tricycle races, but as I predicted, there were plenty of crashes.

Another day of taking it easy. Feeling about 90 percent. Rested a bunch today but spent a bit more time on Facebook and AP, didn't feel like it was at risk of bothering me. Sometimes a headache that was 1/10, often nothing.

The emerg doc last night told me to take it especially easy for the next 24-48 hours with minimal stimulation. No bright lights, no deep conversations, no reading. I figured I would throw some simple movies on in the background and just listen to them to help me pass the time but when she also suggested no music, I figured listening to movies was out too. What?! For 24 hours? Oh man, that's going to be really hard!
As it turned out, I was quite content to do nothing today and just nap lots. Didn't feel especially tired or groggy but was happy to stay in bed and nap a bunch. Stayed in bed, glanced at Facebook occasionally but not much. Felt like I did a good job of doing almost nothing.

Felt noticeably a bit better around 9 pm, almost exactly 24 hours after the accident. Maybe it was because I got up and ate after not eating much today.

Only a small headache today, maybe a 1 or 2 out of 10, at first behind my eyes, then from the top of my head and down. They said to expect a headache and only worry if it was getting worse, or beyond what I could manage with Tylenol. I didn't need any Tylenol.

CONCUSSION

Nordic Centre with Carbon, Erdem and Patric. Up and across EKG East to the Meadow and up Odyssey. Chose to descend Odyssey (blue) instead of Terminator (black).

Next thing I know, I'm sitting on the ground and people are looking at me and talking to me, telling me not to move or turn my head, while they warn approaching riders that we have a man down. Apparently I knocked myself unconscious for about a minute. I'm trying to figure out where I am, and where on the trail that something caused me to crash. Carbon and the others call 911 and an ambulance comes right into the trails just a short walk below us. A paramedic hikes up and checks me out. We agree that I am okay to walk down to the ambulance, where the Nordic Centre's side-by-side ATV is also there, along with an Alberta Parks truck. I get a ride down to the hospital where they check me out in emerg and my mind starts coming back a little, but still I never regain the few seconds before the crash so I will never know what happened. Based on how I must have hit, I must have lost traction on my front wheel. It looks like I went down fast and forward. Cracked the inside of the helmet a little by the right temple, and pressed the inner harness against the styrofoam hard enough to make a solid impression in the one side. Right knee is scraped and the back of the right shoulder, along with a long dirt smear down the right shoulder. The right hand feels like it took a good slam on the bones of the lateral side, I'm guessing I was still holding the grip when the bike slammed down on this side.

Most of the focus in emerg is about deciding whether I need to go into Calgary for a CT scan for a possible brain bleed. We decide that I don't.

C • Yikes! 6