Monday, April 21, 2008

Why am I a Challenged Athlete?

On Sunday, I was asked why is it that I may be competing in the disabled/AWAD (athlete with a disability)/PC (physically challenged) category at ITU World's in June. Its not the first time I have been asked about my injury and I know it wont be the last but I dont mind when I get this question. I dont look like someone with a disability. I certainly try and go out of my way to not show it, but every so often, I limp, and someone will ask about it so I thought I would share.



For those of you that have heard this story, guess this is where you should stop reading.


On November 1, 2002, I went into OHSU (Oregon Health Sciences University) for a routine procedure to embolize a soft tissue tumor on my back. The tumor is called a hemangioma, a benign mass, but nonetheless, HUGE. I still have it by the way, its 7cm x 8cm x 15cm, on my left posterior flank, just under my scapula..... Too much medical jargon, its on the left side of my back just under my shoulder blade. Back to the procedure. They were looking at the mass via angiography and trying to put these little microspheres (I call them ball bearings) into the blood vessels that were feeding the tumor in hopes of killing it off. I guess, when they were pushing the scope up through the aorta, against the flow of blood, a clot was formed which tumbled downstream and into the artery that feeds the spinal cord at the level of the 8th thoracic vertebra. The clot caused an infarct (same as a stroke) basically meaning the front left part of my spinal cord was left without blood/O2 supply for who knows how long. The result was a loss of motor function of everything from T8 down (around my belly button) but only on the left side, and a loss of sensation on the right, same level. This condition is known as Brown Sequard Syndrome.


After three days in OHSU, 11 days at RIO (Rehab Institute of Oregon), I was kicked out (Kaiser didnt want to pay anymore) because I was able to dress myself. I still couldnt walk, Kaiser wouldnt buy me a wheelchair because crutches were available, and I had to figure out how to drive my manual transmission truck to out patient PT. Because Im a male, full of testosterone, etc, yada yada yada, I figured out that locking out my knee when standing or limping along would make me not have to use my crutches. I also figured out that locking my knee makes for a bad trip down the stairs, but thats another story. I had foot drop too but if I wore cowboy boots, I didnt have to use the AFO brace (ankle foot orthosis) which was huge, and didnt fit into any of my shoes.


In the six months following my injury, most of my muscle function returned, some of the muscles reached a plateau and to this day are still weak. I still have some diminished sensation on the right side as well. My 5 year old loves to ask which leg I cant feel, I point to it, then he kicks me and asks me if I felt it.

Right after I was transferred to RIO, I began searching for wheelchair sports I could compete in. I didnt think I would walk again without crutches and being involved in sports all my life, I had a need to compete in ANYTHING. During my search, I found the Challenged Athletes Foundation, a non profit orgainization that grants money to PC athletes for equipment, specialized training, or travel to PC events. I began raising money for them and training for my first half iron distance triathlon. Prior to my injury, I had done 5 sprint tri's and a bunch of mountain bike races but nothing longer than 2-3 hours.


On October 31, 2004, two years less a day from my original injury, I finished my first 70.3 in 7:40. It was a long day but I fully enjoyed it. Since then, I have done three 70.3's and Ironman FL. IMNA doesnt have a PC category unless you are missing limbs or are in a wheelchair so I have to participate, not compete in IM distance events. The ITU, on the other hand, has revamped their AWAD categories and I hope to be classed as a TRI3.

I have adapted to many things since November 1, 2002. Some of it good, some bad. I have a lot of bad habits that need correcting posturally, gait wise, and other things that have given me a lot of imbalance in my lower half. I trained for the 2006 Ironman FL to walk the entire course except for the last 200m or so where I shuffle jogged. Last year, my coach, Scott McMillan, helped me get running a little. Enough so I shuffled most of Blue Lake Oly, and over half of Lake Stevens 70.3. In June, I plan on running, yep, running, the whole thing. I have an ankle brace I wear to stop me from breaking my ankle and limits my foot drop. As a result of the foot drop I still have, my left calf is very tight as I land on my forefoot all the time. Because of the compensatory changes, my right hip is constantly sore and my left medial knee get some periodic pain. I used to hate distance running when I was able to (I was a sprinter in high school) and I dont love it now but I REALLY want to be taken back to when I was able bodied and see how much I could improve..... but I digress.

I recently had an impairment exam to determine my overall disability percentage. I needed that to be done so I can compete in the ITU "les autres" category which says I have to have >15% impairment to be called AWAD (athlete with a disability)/PC (physically challenged). If I have less than 15%, I have to compete as an age grouper or my favourite class, Clydesdale. Any way you slice it, I couldnt have made it this far, physically or mentally, without my family, friends, and my coach.

Anyway, thats me in a nutshell. Feel free to ask any questions about me or the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Im an open book. Once you spend 2 weeks in a hospital, things are no longer that embarassing or off limits.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Weekly recap

What a great week of training. I got my coach back Monday and by Wednesday, he had the rest of the month mapped out for me. Its a welcome relief to have a set schedule again. I was nervous not having a specific training schedule for an Olympic distance but I was on the right track so i am not quite as far behind in training as I suspected.

I had to ride indoors again this week. The trainer and my fat butt are becoming good friends. The rest of my body, however, doesnt like it as much. I did get my new crankset, SRAM Red Compact with 50-34 chain rings. I enjoyed riding the 50 and being able to spin. I also got a new front deraileur, also SRAM Red, but havent yet installed it. I have had my Bianchi up for sale for a few weeks. I was half heartedly trying to get rid of it but it has some special meaning for me. My friend Peter had me pick it out when I was still in the hospital unable to walk. It is very sentimental as it is the first bike I rode outside after I figured out how to walk again. My favorite mechanic, Dean, did a little tune up getting rid of all the creaks and groans and put a new chain on it. I was thinking about keeping it after all but he reminded me of a conversation we had two years ago where he told me that the frame is so thin and light weight, that I probably shouldnt be riding it as I may break it. That night I got a call from someone interested in buying it from me so, tomorrow, it might be gone from my garage.

Today, I did a swim clinic with a Masters swim coach, Dennis Baker. He was very informative and pointed out a few things I could do to improve my stroke and position in the water. Overall, it was worth the time and money. I might enlist him to do a private lesson for Stacey and I.

Next Saturday will be my first tri of the season. It will also be STacey's first ever triathlon. Im looking forward to it and also to seeing Stacey do it. She has been training hard, especially for the swim.

So, my totals for the week:

Swim: 8330 yds, 2:30 hrs
Bike: 67 miles, 4 hrs
Run: 13.75 miles, 2:50 hrs

Monday, April 14, 2008

Last week, CAF, World's

I did better swimming last week. I swam twice, ran twice, and biked 4 times. About 14 of my Ironhead team mates went to Tempe AZ and did Ironman Arizona. We had three women in the 30-34 AG in the top 10, one guy in the 40-44 AG come in second, and of those, three qualified for Kona. Im very proud to be on a team with so much talent.

I received my grant from CAF last week and I just got word from them that I can use my grant to go to the ITU World Championships in Vancouver, June 6-8. All I need now is for Triathlon Canada to give me the "official" word. I spoke to the chairperson for the AWAD committee last Wednesday and he all but assured me that I would be invited to be on the team so Im training as though I am doing the race. Even if something comes up, I will still be training for IMC so it doesnt much matter what the outcome is but Im hoping for the best.

My weekly totals are as follows:

Swim: 2 swims, 2800m, 55min
Run: 2 runs, 7 miles, 1.3 hrs
Bike: 4 rides, (2 indoor, 2 outside) 93.5 miles, 6 hrs

Im ahead of the game in swimming already this week, I did 2500m this morning.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Weekly totals

I felt pretty good all week. STILL didnt get into the pool, I have no excuse this week, just lazy.... oh, alright, I had a sick kid three of five days, but thats my only excuse. I have good intentions this week. I better get in the pool soon, I have a technique class on the 20th.

Today I got a cheque in the mail. My grant from CAF. I wasnt sure I would get it so I scheduled another event at the same time the event that the grant money was for. The event is Defi Sportif, a disabled games in Montreal PQ. I already have an obligation to a pro cycling team to be in New Mexico for Tour of the Gila bike race that week. Tomorrow I am going to email CAF and see if I can change the terms of the grant and use it to go to another race.

This weeks totals
Swimming: a big goose egg, 0m
Bike: 81 miles, 4.5hr, all on trainer
Run: 9 miles, 2 hr, all on trail

It seems like I ran more than that but it was a long week with the sick kid and sick dog.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Tough week

This week began with Taguen being sick and by Thursday we figured out he had a pretty bad ear infection. Mostly, for me, this just meant I had to train indoors. On Tuesday, Koda, the husky, ate something he shouldnt have and we took him to the vet. She admitted him right away and PRESTO! $350 and he was cured. Stupid husky.....
So, training has been going OK. I still didnt manage to swim this week. I am going to try and go tomorrow but if nothing else, I will get a run in. I have been very happy with my running the past few weeks. I have been stretching a little more than normal and my hip doesnt hurt as much after running. I have also been getting a little faster which is encouraging. I ran without the husky on Wednesday and did a 5K in 32:55 and I did the first mile in 10:05. I wanted to do the Spring Du next weekend but I dont think I can do that again, AFTER I ride my bike at close to LT for 15 miles. Not to mention the ridiculous $65 entry fee that AA sports charges.
I got an email from my contact at TriBC, he is on vacation in Hawaii (so jealous of him right now), but he said he was in touch with the ITU people and would forward his emails when he got back to Vancouver. Im kind of excited but at the same time, I am not sure I deserve the honour of competing for Canada at this time. My training is not where it should be with only two months left before the event. I dont have a coach right now so I am following my HIM program from last year (the one I used for Lake Stevens).
This morning Stacey is going to yoga, then out with a friend for some shopping. This means I will be riding my 2:15 inside today. Its ok though, it has been pouring on/off since yesterday.