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Monday, December 17, 2007
Yes!
After six months of work (and workouts!), I acheived my season's goal to win the 30-34 cyclocross National Championship! It was so intense, and such a gnarly race, it's going to be hard to describe it completely, but here goes:
The last time CX Natz were held in KC it was 2000, I was in my last year as U23, I was still in college, and it was so damn cold that I vowed to never go back there. I guess seven years is long enough to dull the heinous memories. USA Cycling's rules have always dicked me around when it comes to age groups. I had to move out of the Juniors and the U23 basically a year early because of their inventive math, but this year it worked in my favor (for once!). I just turned 29 in late September, but because of the rules I can race 30+ Masters Nationals. It doesn't make much sense, but I'll take it.
On Friday I watched JoJo race her 30+ event, and come away with a killer 2nd place. That day it was very heavy mud, very slippery, and the ladies were turning about 12 minute laps. They only completed 3 laps for JoJo's race! I rode the course, but knew everything would change by the next day because of the weather outlook. It doesn't help to memorize lines that won't exist once we start. All the racers from Friday left big ruts in the mud, and once the snowstorm hit overnight, the course (including those ruts) was locked into place. Frozen solid.
It was like riding bumpy, wavey concrete. The ground was so hard and so icey that any moment of inattention would throw you onto the ground instantly. It was very stressful, and required an intense mental effort.
I lined up with race number 666. Possibly an indication that things would fare poorly for some of my competitors? My race number was also my callup, so I was seventh row, mid pack in the 120-man field! I had my work cut out for me from the gun. So we start and I moved up pretty quick, maybe top-five within the first half-lap. My only goal for the first lap was to recon the whole course at race speed. I was not going to risk anything, and I wanted to see all the lines before I started going for it. Even though I wasn't railing anything, just making it around the course presented a big enough challenge!
So I sat top-five for a lap and a half, and the defending champ (Grant Barry) was already off the front and pulling away. I went to work to at least hold his gap steady so that he would be within striking distance later on, but increasing the pace only led to more mistakes and slide-outs, and I actually went slower! I think everyone was bobbling and making mistakes, I just got all of mine out of the way early on in the race! I was a total mess. At one point a competitor passed my through a particularly icey section, and said "Hey Andy, you need to calm down." Very true.
Well, Grant ended up making some mistakes, and this let me ride up to him about half way through our 5-lap event. And just as I caught him and pulled alongside to pass, his wheel catches a rut and flings him into me! He stayed up, I went through the course tape and hit the deck. I ran for a whole straightway trying to pick all the tape out of my bike, and once I got going Grant had a 30-second gap! Damn!
At this point I felt the race slipping away, and lost all mental ability to ride upright. I was really all over the place, and lost a lot of time. I slipped back into 4th position, and was bummed that I wasn't even going to make the podium. Then the weirdest thing happened: I've gotten second winds before, but this was ridiculous. With about two laps to go, everything clicked into place, and I just hit the throttle. I could turn, I could pedal, I could hammer, and most importantly my head was clear. I rallied my failing enthusiasm and started racing my bike again.
The guy right in front of me, Weston Schempf, decided at about the same time to hit the gas, and I followed him for a half lap. He was so smooth, and had some stellar lines through sections that I was really struggling on previously. Holding his wheel got me back in my groove, and gave me some momentum to launch off of. I attacked him with two to go with the goal of securing 2nd place. I figured it would be fitting that both JoJo and I would get the same placing in our age groups. Then, miracle number two: Grant, who'd been OTF for the entire day, was coming backwards. He had several costly mistakes late in the race, and this opened up the door for me. Not really, since everything was so sketchy. A single botched corner would have ruined my chances of catching him. But still, he was losing time and the gap was coming down.
There was no traction to be had anywhere on the course, and it was so hard to keep control mentally in that last lap and a half. He was, literally, right in front of me. But if I got excited, I would overcook a corner or make a mistake that would kill my hopes. And it really seemed that was more likely to happen than me catching him! I turned off my head, and my hopes, and my desire to win, and I focused as hard as I could on the task at hand. It was as if the only thing in the world was the corner I was going through at that time. No sound, so feelings, no thoughts, just ice and ruts, and my tires threading through scary little gaps. Very intense, but I had to ignore the possibility of winning if I was even going to have a chance. After the race, teh announcers were interviewing me, and they asked if I could hear them going apeshit on the mic. All I said was "I never heard or saw a damn thing that wasn't racecourse."
At the very last section of the course, over a stair runup, I catch on to Grant and pass him. I was totally winded and wanted to control the pace a little and recover for the four seconds we would have until the sprint happened. He was having none of that, and kamikaze'd past me through the last off-camber section to get the lead back. I followed him out onto the pavement, and it was a pure sprint: you just pedaled as hard as you could for as long as you could, and whoever had the tiniest bit left would win. My legs were shot when I passed him with 75 meters to go, and I expected him to come back at me. When I looked back, the gap was there. All that control that had kept everything bottled up for the last two laps broke down. The overwhelming sense of relief, and disbelief, and exhileration just flooded me. I had been flat on my back and one-armed for two months, and to accomplish everything I did in the same year... That hit me like a ton of bricks.
Mad props are due for Grant Barry. He led from the first corner to the last, and single-mindedly went out to win in very tough conditions. That took skill, dedication, and a lot of bravery. To have the insanely strong ride he did and not win is heartbreaking, and I really feel for him.
I've seen some backlash about me sandbagging my way to the National Title. Whatever. I won by 2 seconds, not 4 minutes, and it was way more about mental toughness and control than strong legs and superior fitness. Any one of the racers in that field could have won that day, and if the race was run over, for sure someone else would have triumphed. I was lucky enough to come out on top, but it was by the slimmest of margins and in the most tenuous style.
The last time CX Natz were held in KC it was 2000, I was in my last year as U23, I was still in college, and it was so damn cold that I vowed to never go back there. I guess seven years is long enough to dull the heinous memories. USA Cycling's rules have always dicked me around when it comes to age groups. I had to move out of the Juniors and the U23 basically a year early because of their inventive math, but this year it worked in my favor (for once!). I just turned 29 in late September, but because of the rules I can race 30+ Masters Nationals. It doesn't make much sense, but I'll take it.
On Friday I watched JoJo race her 30+ event, and come away with a killer 2nd place. That day it was very heavy mud, very slippery, and the ladies were turning about 12 minute laps. They only completed 3 laps for JoJo's race! I rode the course, but knew everything would change by the next day because of the weather outlook. It doesn't help to memorize lines that won't exist once we start. All the racers from Friday left big ruts in the mud, and once the snowstorm hit overnight, the course (including those ruts) was locked into place. Frozen solid.
It was like riding bumpy, wavey concrete. The ground was so hard and so icey that any moment of inattention would throw you onto the ground instantly. It was very stressful, and required an intense mental effort.
I lined up with race number 666. Possibly an indication that things would fare poorly for some of my competitors? My race number was also my callup, so I was seventh row, mid pack in the 120-man field! I had my work cut out for me from the gun. So we start and I moved up pretty quick, maybe top-five within the first half-lap. My only goal for the first lap was to recon the whole course at race speed. I was not going to risk anything, and I wanted to see all the lines before I started going for it. Even though I wasn't railing anything, just making it around the course presented a big enough challenge!
So I sat top-five for a lap and a half, and the defending champ (Grant Barry) was already off the front and pulling away. I went to work to at least hold his gap steady so that he would be within striking distance later on, but increasing the pace only led to more mistakes and slide-outs, and I actually went slower! I think everyone was bobbling and making mistakes, I just got all of mine out of the way early on in the race! I was a total mess. At one point a competitor passed my through a particularly icey section, and said "Hey Andy, you need to calm down." Very true.
Well, Grant ended up making some mistakes, and this let me ride up to him about half way through our 5-lap event. And just as I caught him and pulled alongside to pass, his wheel catches a rut and flings him into me! He stayed up, I went through the course tape and hit the deck. I ran for a whole straightway trying to pick all the tape out of my bike, and once I got going Grant had a 30-second gap! Damn!
At this point I felt the race slipping away, and lost all mental ability to ride upright. I was really all over the place, and lost a lot of time. I slipped back into 4th position, and was bummed that I wasn't even going to make the podium. Then the weirdest thing happened: I've gotten second winds before, but this was ridiculous. With about two laps to go, everything clicked into place, and I just hit the throttle. I could turn, I could pedal, I could hammer, and most importantly my head was clear. I rallied my failing enthusiasm and started racing my bike again.
The guy right in front of me, Weston Schempf, decided at about the same time to hit the gas, and I followed him for a half lap. He was so smooth, and had some stellar lines through sections that I was really struggling on previously. Holding his wheel got me back in my groove, and gave me some momentum to launch off of. I attacked him with two to go with the goal of securing 2nd place. I figured it would be fitting that both JoJo and I would get the same placing in our age groups. Then, miracle number two: Grant, who'd been OTF for the entire day, was coming backwards. He had several costly mistakes late in the race, and this opened up the door for me. Not really, since everything was so sketchy. A single botched corner would have ruined my chances of catching him. But still, he was losing time and the gap was coming down.
There was no traction to be had anywhere on the course, and it was so hard to keep control mentally in that last lap and a half. He was, literally, right in front of me. But if I got excited, I would overcook a corner or make a mistake that would kill my hopes. And it really seemed that was more likely to happen than me catching him! I turned off my head, and my hopes, and my desire to win, and I focused as hard as I could on the task at hand. It was as if the only thing in the world was the corner I was going through at that time. No sound, so feelings, no thoughts, just ice and ruts, and my tires threading through scary little gaps. Very intense, but I had to ignore the possibility of winning if I was even going to have a chance. After the race, teh announcers were interviewing me, and they asked if I could hear them going apeshit on the mic. All I said was "I never heard or saw a damn thing that wasn't racecourse."
At the very last section of the course, over a stair runup, I catch on to Grant and pass him. I was totally winded and wanted to control the pace a little and recover for the four seconds we would have until the sprint happened. He was having none of that, and kamikaze'd past me through the last off-camber section to get the lead back. I followed him out onto the pavement, and it was a pure sprint: you just pedaled as hard as you could for as long as you could, and whoever had the tiniest bit left would win. My legs were shot when I passed him with 75 meters to go, and I expected him to come back at me. When I looked back, the gap was there. All that control that had kept everything bottled up for the last two laps broke down. The overwhelming sense of relief, and disbelief, and exhileration just flooded me. I had been flat on my back and one-armed for two months, and to accomplish everything I did in the same year... That hit me like a ton of bricks.
Mad props are due for Grant Barry. He led from the first corner to the last, and single-mindedly went out to win in very tough conditions. That took skill, dedication, and a lot of bravery. To have the insanely strong ride he did and not win is heartbreaking, and I really feel for him.
I've seen some backlash about me sandbagging my way to the National Title. Whatever. I won by 2 seconds, not 4 minutes, and it was way more about mental toughness and control than strong legs and superior fitness. Any one of the racers in that field could have won that day, and if the race was run over, for sure someone else would have triumphed. I was lucky enough to come out on top, but it was by the slimmest of margins and in the most tenuous style.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Solid!
Three weeks and counting since I got the c-bone tied down good. It's way better, to say the least! I can actually move my arm... I even rode the beach cruiser around the course at Surf City.
I still need to get out of the house.
I've been at the gym every day for the last two weeks, leaving large puddles of sweat under me. The docs say I can only ride a recumbent stationary bike, so I get at least two hours in each day. At 1000+ calories per hour, that's a lot of heat produced indoors. My record is a puddle about five feet in diameter.
I've also been lifting, getting strong. I'm ready to snap some crankarms in my first sprint. My thighs are huge, they measure in at 563mm in circumference, which is massive as long as you're not Beth. Beth, if you measure in mm, it sounds a lot bigger than cm...
Anyway, if anyone has a 24 Hour membership, go down to the Santa Cruz branch and look for the sweaty guy in a Giant Strawberry jersey, that's me. I'm there EVERY DAY. Bored out of my skull.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Shoulder Porn, take 2
So I saw on Pabcid's site about his healing shoulder. He had a sweet pic of his tiny scar and un-deformed shoulder. He called it "shoulder porn." Here's my own offering, after almost getting cut in two:
I have a lightning bolt instead of a collarbone! Does that mean I will go really fast??
Check the left vs. right sides of the shoulderblades. The left sticks out like a wing, it's easily visible under a jersey while riding.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Out Riding
Well, I got my back brace off a week ago, and now I can ride outside. All you people who have been riding all summer, thank your lucky stars. It's so nice to get outside in the sun and the wind and just pedal down the road.
Now I've gotta start training for CX Natz. I've got a long way to go, but it's a ways off. I have time.
Now I've gotta start training for CX Natz. I've got a long way to go, but it's a ways off. I have time.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Ahhhhhhh! (sigh of relief)
Yes!
My arm brace comes off tomorow. Here's me not wearing it, and I won't have to ever put it back on again. Freedom!
Oh, wait. I still have my damn back brace on for another month. Crap!
But the doc said it was like wearing a helmet when you go biking (his literal analogy, which was VERY appropriate):
You don't usually need a helmet, in fact you use it (hopefully) very little. But you don't know exactly when you need it, so you wear it all the time, right? Same with my brace: if I were to trip and fall, get hit by a car, be in a car accident, whatever, I would definitely want to have the thing on (to avoid that whole paralysis thing).
Oh yeah, if I hadn't been wearing a helmet during my crash, I'd be dead for sure. Be sure to wear a helmet EVERY TIME! And tell everyone you see without one to put it on. They may look at you like you're raining on their parade, but you're saving their life.
Yell at them. Really. After a few long rides of people constantly shouting at them, they'll put one on just to get some peace and quiet.
Ouch, that hurts
When I was in the ICU, any trouble I had was instantly referred to the Diagnostic Imaging, which meant X-Rays, Cat Scans, and MRIs up the wazoo. I was complaining that my left hand hurt, so they X-Rayed it... four different times! Since they couldn't see anything (actually, they found I chipped another finger a while back, but that didn't help my current problem), and since I wasn't spurting blood everywhere, the trauma docs basically said, "you're fine!" and called it a day.
I found the CD with all my scans on it. I should glow in the dark, there are so many... Here's a MRI of my spine (side shot), which shows the two vertebrae that I broke:
I was at the neurosurgeon's a few days ago, he said that T12 fracture is usually what leaves you parapalegic. That was a swift blow to the head (figuratively, not literally). It was pretty sobering to hear about the bullet you just dodged. I'm stoked to not be paralyzed, to say the least. All of a sudden, I don't mind wearing my stupid brace for another month.
The other scan I found is a little more obvious: I circled the breaks I could find anyway...
I found the CD with all my scans on it. I should glow in the dark, there are so many... Here's a MRI of my spine (side shot), which shows the two vertebrae that I broke:
I was at the neurosurgeon's a few days ago, he said that T12 fracture is usually what leaves you parapalegic. That was a swift blow to the head (figuratively, not literally). It was pretty sobering to hear about the bullet you just dodged. I'm stoked to not be paralyzed, to say the least. All of a sudden, I don't mind wearing my stupid brace for another month.
The other scan I found is a little more obvious: I circled the breaks I could find anyway...
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Benefit drawing is a go!
the benefit drawing is open for all comers, please visit www.getwellandydrawing.blogspot.com/ for all the info and updates.
We opened our account this weekend at the Carrera De San Rafael by introducing the benefit drawing to the public. the response was awesome, we sold dozens of tickets and passed out hundreds of fliers to get people interested in the cause.
A huge thanks to Emily Dale and the Cal Cycling crew who showed up on time (ie before us) and hustled their butts off working the crowd and generating interest. We really could not have done it without you guys. Also, big props goes to Wil Mathews, who took time out from organizing an awesome event to get The Sports Basement to donate a cruiser to the cause.
We opened our account this weekend at the Carrera De San Rafael by introducing the benefit drawing to the public. the response was awesome, we sold dozens of tickets and passed out hundreds of fliers to get people interested in the cause.
A huge thanks to Emily Dale and the Cal Cycling crew who showed up on time (ie before us) and hustled their butts off working the crowd and generating interest. We really could not have done it without you guys. Also, big props goes to Wil Mathews, who took time out from organizing an awesome event to get The Sports Basement to donate a cruiser to the cause.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Bike Ridin' Fool
I've been wanting to get on the bike for awhile and finally I couldn't resist. The doctors said I could ride a stationary bike, nice and easy, only if I ride straight upright, and not bend at the hips. I got over to work, kidnapped my Langster London 001, and turned it into this corntraption. It's fixed gear, with no brakes, and a BMX handle bar to get my hands high enough. I can now ride it on the trainer for about 15-20 minutes until my ass hurts so bad that I have to climb off.
It's been 5 weeks since the crash and my legs feel plenty strong, but my lungs are so tweeked that I gasp for breath and anything more than a walking pace. I guess my lungs were hurt just as bad as anything else, it kind of make sense. I wouldn't try lifting weights with my left shoulder right now, how can I expect my lungs to work at all.
This is all part of my secret training plan to come back stronger than ever. Other components of the plan include growing out a lumber jack beard to intimidate my competitors, and smooching with JoJo to keep the morale high. And the other components of the plan are top secret, to be revealed at the after-party at CX Natz.
Chase VS SpongeBob
It was an epic battle, Chase started off with a volley of train cars...
SpongeBob attempted to eat Chase's head.
CJM did prevail, SpongeBob's mangled carcass is now in the garbage can.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Going to the races
So I attended my first race in a month, which is strange. The last time I willingly took a whole month off from racing must have been in college, when beer and girls meant more than podiums (where, incidentally, there is champagne and girls). Then I caught the CX bug and have been hauling ass full-time ever since.
Tom Simpson asked me there to represent, being the defending champ and all. Not much chance for a repeat. You can see my #1 number plate in the pic above.
I was nervous. I was supposed to fire off the starting cannon for the elite races, which a HUGE responsibility. The thing was enormous, it looked like it would blow me backwards 20 ft when it went off. You know the cannons that launch people like 1/4-mile in the circus?
It wasn't one of those. If you look really hard and squint, you might pick it out in this picture. It's hiding behind my flip-flop.
But it did make one huge motherf***ing bang. I actually started a CX race to this same cannon a few years ago. You know: you're on the start line, sweating. You had a killer warm up, you're ready to tear some legs off. It's all about the holeshot, and everyone wants to get to get to that corner first. I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm... BLAM! HOLY SHIT! Oh, right, we're racing! The thing is loud enough to distract me from my start-line 100 meter stare? Yeah, I was surprised some Burlingame storefront didn't lose its front window!
And there was this 90-year-old lady standing right next to it. And she looked at ME like she was busy having a heart attack and that it was all my fault.
So I got to see all my teammates, they kicked some ass and came away with second by a matter of inches. I guess the rails came off with a half lap to go, oh well.
It was great to see everyone at the race. From when I first arrived to while we were walking around to finally leaving, someone would be saying "get well soon" or " good to see you up and about." It was awesome. I have to apologize, since I just couldn't give everyone a lot of time, and I honestly don't know EVERYONE'S name, but it pepped me up so much to get all the words of encouragement.
Thanks a lot, it made this day the best one I've had in a long time.
I Swear I'm Not Pregnant...
I've got some weird cravings going on. No pickles and ice cream (yet) but definitely some strong desires to eat a LOT of a certain thing.
I was hungry tonight and got an overwhelming urge for macaroni and cheese. I stopped at three stores to cure my jones, and ended up buying 10 boxes of M&C (so I wouldn't run out by tomorrow?). While at Snob Hill, I innocently headed for the checkstand down the frozen food aisle... Totally ended up picking out TWO flavors of Dreyers, each in the half-gallon size.
One pint was SO not going to cut it.
And the other day I ordered a pizza, my usual large olives and sausage from Pizza My Heart. But it came totally covered with olives, like really thick. JoJo couldn't even stomach it, there were so many. I ate the whole damn thing, just because of the olives.
I know it sounds like I'm pigging out all the time, but really I've lost over 15lbs. from this ordeal. I look like a diet commercial, since all my pants hang loose.
Some of these cravings make a lot of sense, since they involve high levels of calcium and protein. Others, like the olives, are mystifying.
*************
On a completely different note, and entirely related to this post's subject:
I may not be pregnant, but it sure seems like everyone else is! I know three women fresh off the CX Natz podium who will be delivering just in time for Kansas this year. GJM just had her baby shower and there were reports of lots of other preggos in attendance. What is this, an epidemic?!
Ladies, stay away from your man, he's carrying some sort of disease. It appears to be highly infectious.
I was hungry tonight and got an overwhelming urge for macaroni and cheese. I stopped at three stores to cure my jones, and ended up buying 10 boxes of M&C (so I wouldn't run out by tomorrow?). While at Snob Hill, I innocently headed for the checkstand down the frozen food aisle... Totally ended up picking out TWO flavors of Dreyers, each in the half-gallon size.
One pint was SO not going to cut it.
And the other day I ordered a pizza, my usual large olives and sausage from Pizza My Heart. But it came totally covered with olives, like really thick. JoJo couldn't even stomach it, there were so many. I ate the whole damn thing, just because of the olives.
I know it sounds like I'm pigging out all the time, but really I've lost over 15lbs. from this ordeal. I look like a diet commercial, since all my pants hang loose.
Some of these cravings make a lot of sense, since they involve high levels of calcium and protein. Others, like the olives, are mystifying.
*************
On a completely different note, and entirely related to this post's subject:
I may not be pregnant, but it sure seems like everyone else is! I know three women fresh off the CX Natz podium who will be delivering just in time for Kansas this year. GJM just had her baby shower and there were reports of lots of other preggos in attendance. What is this, an epidemic?!
Ladies, stay away from your man, he's carrying some sort of disease. It appears to be highly infectious.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Goddamn SpongeBob
So during the mayhem of the crash, I guess I tried to get the light pole back a little by sucker-punching it on my way down.
All it did was sever a tendon in my hand, which I had surgically repaired on Monday.
Now my mobilityis even more limited, since my left hand is wrapped up in a giant lobster-claw of a bandage for the next ten days.
I'm totally useless.
Anyway, after the surgery the nice nurses gave me some weird corntraption which was supposed to make my recovery more comfortable. Instead, it is now the bane of my existence. It's a giant block of foam to support my hand and to help me elevate it for easy resting. It is also bright yellow, impossible to take on or off (thanks to all my other broken bits), and was universally known by the staff as "SpongeBob".
It's an apt name, being incredibly annoying and grating at my every nerve all the time. Here is how it is to worn:
All it did was sever a tendon in my hand, which I had surgically repaired on Monday.
Now my mobilityis even more limited, since my left hand is wrapped up in a giant lobster-claw of a bandage for the next ten days.
I'm totally useless.
Anyway, after the surgery the nice nurses gave me some weird corntraption which was supposed to make my recovery more comfortable. Instead, it is now the bane of my existence. It's a giant block of foam to support my hand and to help me elevate it for easy resting. It is also bright yellow, impossible to take on or off (thanks to all my other broken bits), and was universally known by the staff as "SpongeBob".
It's an apt name, being incredibly annoying and grating at my every nerve all the time. Here is how it is to worn:
This does render the wearer stuck like a turtle on it's back, unable to move or escape.
JoJo has been completely taken over by the SpongeBob, all hope is now gone.
Slow but Steady
I've been making some progress, but it is agonizingly slow... Since the last update, I've been able to do things that were unthinkable even a week ago. I can walk about a mile, or type one-handed on the computer for about 45 minutes. I can shower by myself - no more JoJo sponge baths :( But each of these activities just work me over, and I go sleep for several hours afterwards trying to recover from the effort.
It's a long way to go to even think about racing a bike again.
On the list of things I CAN'T do:
-tie my shoes (I've been wearing exclusively flip-flops since the crash.
-drive a stick shift. JoJo had to shift for me from the passenger seat.
-stand or sit upright for more than two hours
-sneeze! it's the worst pain I've experienced in a long time, everything spasms for about 3 minutes.
-sleep enough. Even with 12-15 hours of sleep, I'm wiped out at all times
But I think back a couple weeks, when I was just leaving the hospital, and compare the difference. I'm a LOT better than I was, just not better enough.
I have to send out huge thank yous to everyone who's sent messages of support. It's been totally overwhelming, and I've been shocked by how many people have heard of my crash and offered their help, time, and love.
Thanks to all, it's really made all the difference.
It's a long way to go to even think about racing a bike again.
On the list of things I CAN'T do:
-tie my shoes (I've been wearing exclusively flip-flops since the crash.
-drive a stick shift. JoJo had to shift for me from the passenger seat.
-stand or sit upright for more than two hours
-sneeze! it's the worst pain I've experienced in a long time, everything spasms for about 3 minutes.
-sleep enough. Even with 12-15 hours of sleep, I'm wiped out at all times
But I think back a couple weeks, when I was just leaving the hospital, and compare the difference. I'm a LOT better than I was, just not better enough.
I have to send out huge thank yous to everyone who's sent messages of support. It's been totally overwhelming, and I've been shocked by how many people have heard of my crash and offered their help, time, and love.
Thanks to all, it's really made all the difference.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Andy is expected to start the Tour De Nez!
from velonews.com:
"...with one last chance for a stage win at the Tour de Nez, expect to see challenges from Scott Moninger (BMC), Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing), Andy Jacques-Maynes (California Giant-Specialized), and other great riders..."
talk about a lightning recovery, if it were true.
"...with one last chance for a stage win at the Tour de Nez, expect to see challenges from Scott Moninger (BMC), Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing), Andy Jacques-Maynes (California Giant-Specialized), and other great riders..."
talk about a lightning recovery, if it were true.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
How much does a helicopter ride cost?
Post your guess below under comments. Andy got the bill today...
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Its been a long week already
Andy's gone through a few highs and lows this week.
when I first saw him Sunday night he had a racking cough which grated every broken bone in his body, causing and extraordinary amount of pain.
And last night when we finally got him home you could see he was tired but very relieved to be done with the hospital. If he wasn't hurting he might have cracked a smile, you know he wanted to.
There are flashes when he has slept well or is bored with the mindless routine of the hospital, where he seems almost normal. He cracks jokes, talks about work, talks a big game about how good he feels. But mostly he's quiet, pensive, almost like there's a big nasty dog asleep on the bed with him and if he makes too much noise or moves too much he'll wake it up.
I just spoke to Andy and Josie at home, they had a quiet day and just settled in. I'm sure its a bit wierd being back there, like you went on a trip and just got back home: the bed sure is comfy but you wonder what that strange smell is...
More later, I just got to the East coast and need to hit the sack. I feel like I haven't slept properly for a week now, and I've been too busy with things to really take care of myself. Maybe the race in Reading tomorrow will seem easy by comparison...
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when I first saw him Sunday night he had a racking cough which grated every broken bone in his body, causing and extraordinary amount of pain.
And last night when we finally got him home you could see he was tired but very relieved to be done with the hospital. If he wasn't hurting he might have cracked a smile, you know he wanted to.
There are flashes when he has slept well or is bored with the mindless routine of the hospital, where he seems almost normal. He cracks jokes, talks about work, talks a big game about how good he feels. But mostly he's quiet, pensive, almost like there's a big nasty dog asleep on the bed with him and if he makes too much noise or moves too much he'll wake it up.
I just spoke to Andy and Josie at home, they had a quiet day and just settled in. I'm sure its a bit wierd being back there, like you went on a trip and just got back home: the bed sure is comfy but you wonder what that strange smell is...
More later, I just got to the East coast and need to hit the sack. I feel like I haven't slept properly for a week now, and I've been too busy with things to really take care of myself. Maybe the race in Reading tomorrow will seem easy by comparison...
Sent via BlackBerry
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