What's Next?

Thank you for all the support the last couple weeks post accident. I will admit, it has tested me. My sister and some friends have nick-named me "Trevor Tough." As they said, "it's a different type of tough." I don't know if I agree. However, I appreciate the sentiment. Update on all that is medical: I lost one tooth as a result of accident. Two other are still in jeopardy as they were pushed back into socket at the ER. We will see if they regenerate or not. If not, they will be pulled and implants put in their place. I have the best in Portland working on my teeth which is wonderful. That said, it will be 3-6 months of waiting, root canals, etc. Couple dozens stitches, never got final count. Some cool scars for sure.

I have tried to stay positive throughout. I won't lie, it's been a challenge at times. I basically couldn't speak for 1.5 weeks. I had so little energy the past few weeks due to recovery that I haven't been able to train much at all. Emotionally it has been a double whammy. Tired to begin with and not able to train on top of it. Similar to having an injury but with more fatigue. When a major part of your life revolves around fitness, you can see how this could be a challenge to wrap my head around. I've tried to stay focused on the big picture. No major injuries. No debilitating issues. Just some messed up teeth and a messed up face to prove that I ride a bike a lot.

Physically: Workouts have been rare. I received a promotion at work the week before the accident. It is awesome but it meant more responsibility and more time. Not a great combo when you are laying bed on pain pills unable to talk. I had to sacrifice some fitness to focus on health and work. Last Sunday I decided to run in the 15k at the annual Shamrock run in Portland. I had already paid the dues and their was a sweet bottle opener to every finisher. Despite not running in two weeks I toed the line. After 1/2 mile my teeth were aching and starting to bleed a bit (the up and down of running had been discouraged but what do those guys know?). After 8 miles we were going downhill and my quads were on fire as a result of no run miles. However I did of course finish. And it didn't kill me. I was slow, but still in the top 20% of the field. More importantly it felt awesome to hurt like all hell again. During the race and the next day. It truly invigorated me.

The future: Oceanside is out. CDA and Canada are definitely a go. Actually I would say I'm more excited to compete than I have been in a while. Why? For a few days after the accident I wondered what it would have been like to never have been able to put together a solid Ironman race. As well as to potentially not be able to compete again (if it had been more serious). It made me so sad to think about the thrill of toeing the line and giving it your all on race day at an Ironman and the reality that it might be gone someday. So, yes...to the dozens if not more that have asked me, I will ride my bike again. In fact I have. Indoors only at this point. I maintain riding a bike is safer than driving a car if ridden defensively. I have ridden dozens of thousands of miles (if not thousands at this point) without injury until now. If it hadn't been for a grate, that is illegal in Oregon (more to follow on that coming soon), I would still be accident free. You can ride safe. Shit will happen. Same when you are driving to work, flying across the country and riding the elevator. Accidents happen. Such is life.

Live in the present. Train smart and safe. I truly appreciate all the support. And, more than ever, I truly appreciate our sport.

T

Down Goes Yates

Every cyclists worst nightmare...well at least it was always mine. Going down on the bike. I had avoided it for all my miles of cycling. I consider myself a very safe cyclist, always aware of my surroundings. I practice ride as if something terrible can happen at any moment and I obey the traffic laws. Yet, unfortunately sometimes the cards don't fall the way you want them despite your best efforts. Saturday was one of those days for me.

I was heading out for a 75 mile ride. I was getting within the final month of my Oceanside prep and I was really looking forward to testing the legs and the new fit on this ride. I was doing the ride solo so I was carrying two bottles with Malto on the frame and a bottle of electrolyte in my torpedo. A couple miles into the ride I had to cross a bridge which includes 1/8 of a mile on a highway and then I take the exit after crossing the bridge to then get out in the country. I have ridden over this bridge a few times. Nothing too crazy about it. Yet Saturday I was decending on the off ramp with good speed when I went over a significant bump in the road. My torpedo bottle ejected (which is VERY unsual. In fact I have never had it happen). I remember wondering whether I should stop or not to retrieve it. Just as I made my decision to stop, I came around a corner on the off ramp and looked to pull over to the side where there was a grassy area. I suddenly saw a storm drain, but it was too late. I didn't know if it was going to be a drain with a grate to it that I could just roll over or not, but I was about to find out.

Unfortunately for me it wasn't. My front wheel immediately sank a few inches and I went superman into the pavement. Now after typing all that, I'm not entirely sure on those details. Those are the events as to the best of my memory but it is kind of blurry. Once I hit the deck with my face I could immediately feel one of my teeth get pushed back into the jaw bone. I knew that wasn't good. I got up and was spewing blood from my face. I grabbed my bike and started to carry it. I felt around in my teeth with my tongue and realized I was missing one tooth for sure. Others appeared out of place. I was surprisingly calm. I used my beanie to help with the beanie and phoned my wife. I don't really remember exactly what I said but I basically told her to get over to where I was ASAP. I hung up the phone and realized that I was still pouring blood. Nobody had stopped despite dozens of cars going by every 60 seconds. Finally someone stopped and offered me something to stop the blood and to call 911. I thanked him for the towell and pointed to the phone on my ear as I was calling 911 right then.

Everything else is pretty non eventful. I did lose the one tooth and will lose two more. I am having the dental work performed by the best crew in Portland this week. In fact, my oral surgeon is the surgeon for the hockey team in town. I figured he would know a thing or two on implants :) Besides that I have a couple dozed stitches in my face. The road rash is healing surprisingly well. Amazingly I suffered no fractures. Not a single one. My face is a mess, but nothing that can't be fixed. Let this be a reminder to take nothing for granted. Always ride safe. Thanks for taking the time to read. Below is a picture I had the ambulance guys take on the way to the ER.

T