We're less than two weeks out from our next tri and things are not going well. In addition to my pre-existing condition of a torn ACL and cartridge damage in my knees I've developed a new condition. Searing arch pain! This has reduced me to putting arch supports in my shoes like a 90 year old.
The new low point for me came during my 3 hour brick (bike/run combo) last weekend. I was happily biking along the Mount Vernon trail, about 2 hours into my workout, (For those of you who don't know, the Mount Vernon trail is like a tiny road, it has lane dividers and it's used often by serious bikers) when I come whizzing down a hill, around a blind curve and to my surprise what is on the other side of the curve-- teenagers on skateboards!!! Skateboarding horizontally across the trail and blocking both lanes!!! I slam on my brakes and scream "LOOK OUT, GET OUT OF THE WAY!! MOVE!!!" but still WHAM I slam right into one of the kids. I, still clipped in to my bike, go flying and smack down on the pavement. By the time I landed in a heap on the asphalt the kid I hit was already there to see if I was okay, and to apologize. I said I was okay, and made sure he was okay too. As I sat on the side of the road and bandaged my wounds (this is why I carry a first aid kit) he kept apologizing. I told him we were lucky we weren't hurt more seriously, and that in the future they should be more careful and we'll all just chalk it up to lesson learned. He promised to be more careful in the future, assured me that he was fine and off I hobbled pushing my poor broken bike.
I'm okay, for the most part, my left side is bruised and scraped but nothing serious. My bike is damaged, but I'm not sure how much yet. Now I'm in the awkward position of being injured enough to not train but not so injured that I want to skip the tri. I think if my bike can be ready I'm still going to go for it and hope I can just finish-- even if it takes me 6 hours!
