epic ride loses to epic failure

60+ mile ride planned today with lots and lots of climbing.
Mile 10.4 stupidly not paying attention and talking to another rider.  The road narrowed and I didn't.
My front wheel went off the road, into a ditch and I went sliding until I hit the big ditch, which pitched me forward and over the handlebars back into the road where I broke my fall by using my head and my shoulder.  I heard something crack when I hit the ground, and I thought it might have been my colarbone, but I saw a crack in the helm where it had hit a rock or something, so I assumed that was it.

Time for a new riding helmet.  I"m glad it wasn't my aero helm. 

With almost 50 miles to go I decided to try and grit it out.  About 3 miles later, I went down again when my arm collapsed under me during a climb.  I couldn't support my weight, my shoulder just wouldn't do it.  So I decided that I was going t walk the climbs and I would ride the flats and downhills.  About mile 26 I wussed out and called my wife.  I told her I was going to try and make it down out of the hills and asked her to meet me at the coast.  So I walked and rode the next 10-12 miles. 

When she picked me up my shoulder hurt so bad she insisted I go to the hospital,  I figured it was just bruised and didn't want to go.  Well the doc in the E.R. is a triathlete, and I have been to a couple of his speeking seminars.  The staff in the E.R. also knows my wife, she used to work there.  It was nice to see some friendly faces.  They fast tracked me back to x-ray.  Sure enough I broke my collarbone out at the very end near the shoulder.

I'm bumming now.  I have a sprint tri on the 18th and WildFlower on May 2nd.  I can't even begin to imagine moving my shoulder in a swimming motion right now, it just hurts way to freaking much.

Anyhow I'm done crying for now.  Just thought I'd share.

Scott

Oh, Scott, that's too bad... except for not cracking your new aero helmet (at least one thing went right), it's a triathlete's worst nightmare!

Did they say when you'd be able to train again?

He said as I can tolerate the discomfort.

I think swimming is going to be very iffy.
He told me to take a few days/weeks off of riding
I could probably run again fairly soon.  It might be funky though, I have my shoulder in a sling.

This ****** me off, I'm going to get way behind on my running if I can't run.  I don't want to be playing catch up with my New Years Resolution already.


Scott

I was thinking more about Wildflower. It's a LOT of money to lose if you can't race what with the camping fees and all.

Wow! Thank goodness for your helmet!!!
Sorry about the collarbone. I can only imagine how disappointed you are! Just take care of yourself and your injury so you heal up the best you possibly can! You will be swimming/running/biking again in no time. (The swim will be pretty stiff....but it will come!)

Take care!
Kathy

Scott, I am so sorry!  I read your posts daily and enjoy and learn from them !  Get well soon! ~Ann

Yikes, sorry to hear that! Maybe when you do get back in the pool you could start with the breaststroke as that would probably be easier than the crawl motion. I know it's gonna be hard for you, but don't ru****!

Jenny

Yikes! Hope you feel better soon.

Oh man!

If it's not one thing, it's another.  Broken collarbone.  Yikes!

At this point, it's whatever you can do.  You do have a bike trainer, right?  You could probably do that or spinning classes without too much pressure on the broken side and it would help maintain the fitness level.  Don't know what to tell you about the swimming/running because I think it's just going to be painful for a while and you'll  just have to do what you can.

So sorry to hear about this.  Your training has been going so well.  Chin up, though, and you can only do what you can do.

Linn 

Dude, that friggin sucks man!!! I feel for ypu on multiple fronts... The possibility of not racing Vineman, having to replace gear, having to repair the ego, and having to nurse a broken bone. This just sucks, I feel for you bro. Kuddos for trying to grit it out dude, You are da man! Hang in there and recover well...