'complete' is a duplicate attribute name. Line 1, position 307. On September 4th, 2006, while out trail running Sunrise Trail in the McDowell Mountain area in Scottsdale, Az. , I suffered a serious accident....
It turned out I wasn't as ok as the media had reported. I hadnt tripped and fallen, but I had completely blacked out and fell face first onto the rocky trail.
I had been adventure racing for about a year and a half, and was training for an upcoming race in Prescott, Az put on by Gilmore Adventure Race. It was Labor Day afternoon, I was running the hilly trails in the McDowell Mountains. I was taking it easy as it would be my last run before going on vacation, my return planned 3 days before the race. I recall being on my way back to the parking lot, about a mile or mile and half out. The next thing I knew, I woke up 5 days later in the hospital being asked if I knew where I was, which I didnt.
I spent sixteen days in the hospital, eight of those days in intensive care, and over a week of having kidney dialysis as a result of my body having shut down due to the trauma of the accident. My family and friends were told my chances of survival were slim those first couple days, and if I did survive, I would most likely be blind. My face was a mess, stitches in four different places and part of my nostril was gone, cut off by a rock in the fall. There wasn't much of my body that wasn't bruised and battered. It was two weeks before I was able to think clearly and rationally again without hallucinating. Two days after that I went home.....20 pounds lighter and very weak.
I spent the next few months recovering from bacterial infections and trying to regain some strength. After a barrage of tests and monitors, it was determined that the most probable cause was the result of my heart rate dropping to low. I was told this would cause an immediate blackout with no warning. The treatment for this....a pacemaker. Quite a blow to my ego, but if it happened once it could happen again at any time.
In the last year and half since the accident, I have had seven surgeries. In January of 2007, the pacemaker was implanted. Then followed six surgeries on my nose to repair the damage. Four surgeries in Tucson to rebuild my nostril, and two in Scottsdale to repair my sinus obstructions, the most recent in February of 2008.
With all the surgeries out of the way, its time for me now to work on getting myself back into shape. Believe me, a year and half off has left me way behind. I also have a lower back condition, which I had spent countless hours working to strengthen, concentrating on my core conditioning, all of which is back to square one now.
I have set as my goal, and my validation to myself that I have overcome it, the November 2009 Arizona Ironman in Tempe, Arizona. I am hoping to get sponsorships to help me be able to accomplish this. In return, I will put a link to all sponsors from my site here, and also wear a sponsors logo or gear during my race and training, if available. If you can assist me in any way, please donate below or contact me.
I have had quite a few people ask me what the costs are to do this. To enter the Ironman, the entry was $500 plus a $25 registration fee. The USAT membership which is required is $39 a year. In addition to this, of course, there are the costs of tires and bike maintenance, as well as a wetsuit, if I am not able to borrow one, to use not just for the race, but also to train in. I will need to make a few modifications to my bike also, such as a set of aerobars. Running shoes are another expense that isnt getting any cheaper,either. Everything just adds up. As events come up, which are starting in June, I also have entry fees for these, not directly associated with the Ironman, but they contribute greatly to seeing how I fare in a competitive situation. Please feel free to as any other questions.
I would like to thank all my family and friends for the support I have been given in this trying and challenging time. Id like to thank the adventure racing community, specifically Sierra Adventure Sports, and also Genesis Church.
