Archive for August, 2010
Two weeks ago today I couldn’t really come to grips with what had just happened, and though I am still having the odd moment like that, today I got out on my bike again for the first time since crunching into the tarmac in Poland.
I went under the knife on Tuesday morning two weeks ago, normally what is quite a straight forward procedure took over 2 hours. I had snapped about 2inches off the outside end of the bone, and that 2inches had split into 2 pieces length ways. So the surgeon had his work cut out for him, and I sure felt it when all the anaesthetic wore off. My whole shoulder and neck was swollen for over a week.
I had two nights in hospital before coming home where I would start my movie marathon for the next week. Over the past two years I have become quite good at this rehab stuff. It’s not really an athlete’s funnest time but it happens so you have to deal with it, physically and most important mentally. You need to detach yourself from what just happened, relax, recover and just let the healing process take place initially. Then when you feel ready little by little take some steps to plotting your come back, day to day goals, a longer term goal and just not be too hard on yourself when things don’t quite go to plan. I’d also recommend lots of Arnica, ice, and anti-flammatories as they always work well.
So today I did 1h20 on the road, felt like I’d done 5 when I got home, but hey only small steps for now eh. After the season I’ve had, I didn’t really have the head for doing too much erg work so decided just coming back fresh would be the best option.
Anyway my hopes of a Vuelta start are very slim now, as FDJ still have a list of 13riders (not including me) so my return to racing will be a little more low key and not for another few weeks at this stage.
Will keep you all posted, thanks for reading and thanks for all the messages I have had, I really appreciate them.
Cheers
Tim
So there I was fit, lean, finally motivated to race and race hard, after a knee injury almost ruined all my training in July. 100km into stage one of Tour of Poland 2010, it had already been fast, and although I felt my legs were a little tight from the journey the day before, that feeling of stamping on the pedals with real power and strength was back and damm it felt good to have it again.
To make sense of what happened next is impossible, while having a chat to Allan Davis who I had spent time training with in Livigno during July. I caught a brief view of someone’s hand + handlebars arriving straight underneath mine. I thought shit this guy is a bit close for comfort, and sure enough he was. Like a winger going for a runaway try in rugby being pegged down by his opposition without a chance to fend. I was scragged to the ground, though just not as lucky as that winger I crunched onto a filthy polish road before being flattened by a few more riders just for good measure.
A sharp point stuck out on my left shoulder an knowing exactly what that feeling meant, I took a seat on the pavement and dropped my head.
Ok so I’m still alive and kicking and I’ve seen or been in worse, though when your taken down like that and all the other riders just remount and ride off you can’t help but think what the f*#k…
After a scary ambulance trip to the hospital where the driver thought I must have been dying or something cause damn he took some risks, and once the radiographer finally figured out how to do an xray I got straight out of there.
A night at the hotel and now here I write to you from the aeroplane on my way to Nice where I will head straight to the Monaco clinic to put the 3 pieces of my collarbone back together.
Thanks to everyone for all the well wishes already. I’m not really sure where to from here but I’ll let you know when I’m in a slightly better head space.
Im off for a wee sleep haha,
Guddy