Racing into a Concussion

I decided toward the end of 2012 that I wanted to be more serious about cycling in 2013. I realized I hadn't raced since 2011, and that year I had only done a couple of races in the Weekly Race Series. So I set some goals, and rode my bike - a lot more consistently than ever before. I even registered for an early season race - the AFC Sugar Hill XC at Patapsco State Park in MD. 

Pasty legs!

Patapsco went well. I ended up racing Cat 2 (or Sport, but Cat 2 sounds faster), and took second place. I was happy and motivated by that result. The next race I could do was the Marysville Relay (official name too long to remember). Only problem was that I was slated to be at Brookhaven National Lab that weekend, so it didn't look likely that I would make it. But a some fast guys asked me to be on their team and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to ride on their coat tails so-to-speak, so I pulled some strings and bought a train ticket home from Long Island the Friday afternoon before the race.

    

{side note: big cities intimidate me. I didn't think they did, but they do. I had about 90 minutes to spare at Penn Station in NYC on the way home and was frozen with fear on the steps of Madison Square Garden for a good 20 minutes. But I mustered up all the courage I could find and walked around a few blocks, got some pizza, and actually enjoyed myself. I'll get over that fear yet, you watch.}

H_RT at Marysville

So the Saturday of the race came and Henry's Bicycle Shop race team (about 30 racers for this event!) all got together and caravanned to the race site 2 hours north in PA. To be brief, Rich, Eric, Scott and I were turning in some good times, and ended up 11th of 149 teams. There were a lot of log overs, and some people loved it (like Scott). I did not. 

Selfie post-faceplant

I wrecked on my third lap, landed on my face (I think) and got a concussion, so the details are still fuzzy. I do remember knowing that I had fallen and checking my bars to make sure everything was still straight on my bike. My teammate Kevin (who raced with his son Nate in a father-son duo - pretty cool) said he saw me standing on the side of the trail and asked if I was okay and I said "yeah, but I hit my head." He rode on past and I guess I followed him, eventually passing him and successfully making it to the transition zone. There is about an 1.5 hrs there that I don't remember. I hear that I didn't know where I was, or what year it was, or who anyone was. Luckily there were some doctors on the team so they kept an eye on me. Before too long I became cognizant and sent a text to my wife that said "Hey I wrecked and have a concussion. Haha." Everyone on the team was very supportive and concerned, and that meant a lot to me. 

So I took 2 weeks off and I think I am ready to get back into it now. This time no landing on my face.

Notice the new helmet, thanks to Henry's & Giro