As the picture above describes the Yverdon Triathlon of Sunday August 28th did not go precisely according to plan.
Both Agata and Marcus were quite excited overall because this was a new Triathlon and the cold Saturday night weather correctly convinced us to take Wet Suits including Agata's Super Fab Ironman W Racer purchase.
The first complication came when due to the large number of last minute entrants the start was delayed to 08.30. Also we found out the entrance and exit to the Neuchatel lake was very slippy, several people doing just that!
We were delighted to be there with Bruno, my old work colleague and an excellent cyclist. We had met on the cycle commute from Neuchatel to Boudry many times. He is fast!
So we began at 08.30. Swim finished fine. Took me the usual eternity to transition to bike. Bruno swam slower but transitioned quicker and so I had to catch him up ....
I passed Bruno on the uphill and then there was a steep downhill. The speed is measured by iPhone with Runkeeper.
As you will see after a peak speed of almost 65Km/h Marcus hill descent came to an abrupt end. I think I hit a pothole/grating and CRASHED badly. First bad fall in >25 years.
I say think, because as I write this 24 hours later it is still a blank. I just remember going down the hill, not even crashing, then waking up in an ambulance. The mind is sometime very protective?
These are the ripped clothes that were removed. My sun allergy that makes me always wear long sleeved clothing, this saved me from further skin damage
According to race officials without a helmet I would most probably have been killed. Click to enlarge to see damage
The inside is cracked, one side is shown here
After substantial cleanup and tens of minutes of care, attention and stitching I am looking much better than on entry I can promise you
Into a ward and for 24 hours I am on a no food and no drink regime. All I allowed is saline solution (NaCl), Painkillers drip (which I only had when necessary), and Antibiotics (I took when offered, they sounded good.
By Sunday evening I has asked to go home but they would not let me. Apparently Head Trauma can take some hours to develop and they wanted to make sure I was in hospital and not at home if my condition suddenly deteriorated.
Okay, 10am Monday Morning and I am allowed a Breakfast. If I can't finish it or if I am sick then I can't go home. I managed to pass this test pretty easily as I was very hungry I can tell you :-)
Back at home it was time to admire the damage. It looks better after a cleanup.
And even better now (taken at 17.00 Monday)
So what did I learn?
- Not all roads are as smooth as around Lausanne
- My bicycle is ruined. I will need a new one. So a pretty expensive day
- My brain seems to be okay, no better or worse than before Agata tells me
- On an unknown Triathlon perhaps take the first lap of the bike course slowly.
- Perhaps the ear infection of Thursday / Friday made my balance a little bit off. Even so I don't know if I would have survived the bend at 64Km/h even in good health
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