This was not a great swim for me. I think I may have started out too hard, so it took me awhile to get comfortable. This was another brutal start, and continued to be a physical swim throughout. Had someone nearly take my goggles off my head and almost lost a contact. Tried to draft a few times, but each time, as soon as I got settled in, the person would do a frog kick! At least I was trying!

Mind my pacing early, and work on 200 yd sprints, settling in to a more comfortable pace for distance.

This went pretty smoothly.

Nothing.

Well, I joined the ranks of those who have crashed on the bike leg. I had already passed Old Stage and Lefthand Canyon. I had a hard time staying within the speed limit on Lefthand. Got out to Nelson and really started to fly. I passed a few folks and was getting comfortable. The road was newly paved and the shoulder is not yet graded. I looked down at my HRM and computer, started drifting to the edge, tried to correct, but couldn't, went off the edge (a 6 inch drop), and went down. I must have rolled as I fell, because I have abrasions and road rash on all sides of my body. I got up and tried to get my bike going again, but couldn't get the crank to turn. I was having trouble using my left hand to lift the rear or turn the crank. Finally a volunteer on a motorcycle shoed up, and talked me into giving up the ghost.

He hid my bike among some heavy equipment, and told me to get on the back of his bike. I hate motorcycles. I have had too many friends/family members seriously injured in motorcycle crashes. I don't allow my husband on motorcycles, but it was the only way back to transition. The wind involved in riding on a motorcycle going 30-40 mph is not nice in raw skin.

Don't look down.

Once I got back to transition, the folks at medical were wonderful. Evidently a couple of people had reported my crash, and the race officials had been looking for me. They checked out my wrist, told me it would need an x ray, splinted it, cleaned and dressed my wounds, and called my husband (gave him a good scare).

Hubby was in a coffee shop watching the tour, and did a major TT on his mountain bike to get to me. Apparently the folks at the info table were unaware of where the medical tent was, so the couldn't help him locate me. On his way, he spotted the BT crew, who came to see me.

Huge thanks to Julia and Stacie for helping me get cleaned up and changed into more comfortable duds (my tri shorts were shredded and among other things my right cheek was hanging out). Hubby and I had to go back out on the course to pick up the bike, then went to the ER for x rays and further wound cleaning/dressing. Turns out I have a broken wrist.

Major Thanks to Matt and Jen who came to the hospital and helped us get my car back home, allowing me to take the percocet the docs were offering me ;) . The entire Colorado BT crew was wonderful. I could not ask for better friends. This community is amazing!




5430 puts on a great event, and once I got to the Med tent, my treatment was fantastic. However, after the accidents they experienced last year at the Boulder Peak, I would have expected their accident response system to be better. An injured athlete should not have to ride on the back of a motorcycle to get to treatment.