The final ICup race. The race that determined which team would take home the team cup and who would win the overall for the season. For me there was no chance for any overall win, but it was a chance to put my legs to the test and ride a course I knew I could do well on.
Our start was a group start with the Men 57+, and the 13-15 years old. My plans for this race was to take the first climb at a relaxed pace, the second climb put a little bit more umph to it, and then when I hit the singletrack to just pound. Everything went as planned. By the end of the first climb I was in last--no worries because I knew this was my course. End of the second climb I passed on rider and entered into the singletrack with no one in sight. I began to pound working my way along the course. After a bit I began to worry I had let everyone get too far ahead and I might not catch them, but then I saw it. I puff of dirt. A good sign there were riders close by.
I continued to pound and soon was rewarded. I saw riders. Little by little I began to pass each rider. And my thanks to each rider, this is the first time during an ICup race I didn't have to beg and plead to pass. I began to pass women in my division. Each of them were awesome and let me by. After a moment I had worked my way from last to 3rd place. I couldn't believe it. I was feeling good, my legs were working well and I thought I could definitely hold this pace without blowing up. Of course somewhere in the back of my mind came the thought "it's 2 laps, anything can happen in 2 laps". Actually I have this thought every race, it's what keeps me going.
My race is going well, when I reach a little bit more of a climb than I planned for. I slow down a bit, but still things are going well. Then I hear a rider behind ask to pass--of course she is in my division. I let her go without too much concern, because I knew in the next half mile I would be passing her back and I knew I could totally kill the downhill leaving her and others far behind. We hit a nice flat spot again and my speed increased I decide now is the time to catch the girl that passed me not too long ago. I hit a nice turn with a quick up, so I shift and go to pedal hard and that's it. That's the last thing I remember.
I don't remember flying through the air. Not a thing, no seeing the ground, no flying through the air--I remember nothing. I don't remember Colleen screaming. The only reason I know she screamed is she told me. The first thing I remember is hitting my head on rocks really hard. So hard the first thought that came to my mind was "that's the hardest I've hit my helmet, I bet I broke it" Then the rest of my body hit and it was an instant shock to my spine, leg and hip. My hip had hit a rock so hard that I knew I was not leaving that spot. I lay there as Colleen asked me if I was okay. Normally by this time I would have jumped up, said I was fine and took off. Unfortunately this was not the case. My response was no, I've hurt my hip and can't get up.
I stayed where I was and soon the rest of the women in my division rode up. These women were great. Marian took off to tell the course marshal's there had been and accident, Kory and Kat helped to slow down riders as they came around the blind corner, and Colleen kept the bugs off of me, kept checking to make sure I was doing okay and let the riders know to stop and get off to go around me. Eventually she and Kat stood right over me to keep riders from riding by me and to protect me from getting hurt. For those who were at the race you know I was in a percarious place right by a group of rocks, and the safest way around me was to go around me--not ride around me, but get off and walk around me. Apparently 2 riders thought the race was too important to take the 2 extra seconds to go around me and rode right up the rocks by me. One slip and they would have landed on me and hurt me worse. That is what led to Kat and Colleen standing over me.
While we waited the gals kept me entertained--good and bad, because laughing really hurt. We had to wait a really long time for the EMT's to arrive--by long time, I mean long enough I believe almost every division passed us by before the EMT's got to me. Which was fine, I wasn't going anywhere. While waiting there wasn't one rider that didn't offer to help or show their concern as I laid stretched out across the trail. Each offered theirs words of concern and support. There were many willing to give up their race to help and assist me. We sent them on their way the Sport Women had it covered.
When the EMT's arrived that's when it started to get really interesting. By interesting I mean they started to assess my injuries. It was then I discovered I hurt more than just my hip. Ouch my shoulder hurt and yes my kneck is tender, oh and yeah those ribs don't feel too hot either. Once the assessment was overwe had to wait for the rest of search and rescue to arrive. While waiting the EMT explained to me they were going to backboard me and take me to the ambulance and then the ambulance would take me to the hospital. I didn't like this idea and told them I needed to be dropped off at Snow Basin. Colleen then gave me the motherly "Kendra you need to go to the hospital" talk. She was right, but I really didn't want to leave--of course this thought left my mind the instant they backboarded me.
The crash it hurt, but not near as bad as the rest of the stuff I went through. When they backboarded me I was screaming and crying in pain. You see the whole right side of my body was injured from my shoulder all the way down my leg and there was no way they could get me on without pushing on an area that was injured. Once on the board they secured me so tight there was no way I was going to budge an inch. I was so disappointed I cried, I know that's dumb, but it just made me feel like such a wimp. Collen and the girls made sure I got all of my stuff. They kept search and rescue from cutting my camelbak, helped with my glasses and broken helmet and then made sure my bike was rescued too. You see I kept worrying about my bike.
I won't tell you the rest of the trip was good, because it wasn't. The ride to the ambulance and the ride to the hospital was very painful. And all the tests, cat scans and xrays were not without pain. My initial diagnosis ended up with a mild concussion, whip lash, deep tissue bruising to my hip, bruised ribs and unknown to my shoulder. I saw the sports medicine doctor on Monday and the diagnosis on the shoulder changed to broken scapula. Two weeks later after an MRI and only mild improvement the diagnosis on the shoulder became a torn laberal and seperation of the ACL, no broken scapula. It took almost 2 weeks before I was able to sit up for a good lenght of time, but little by little I have been feeling much better. Surgery is next week and then I will be back on the bike about 6 weeks later--just in time for cross season. A funny side note,there are no pictures. Apparently none of us take our cameras with us during a race.
The part that will always remain with me was the kindness of each rider on the trail and all of the women in my division that gave up their race and placing to help me. I always knew I raced with a cool bunch of women, but that day they proved just how really cool they were. Last year I stopped my race to help another racer, this year it was returned ten fold. I can't tell you how priveledged I feel to know these women as well as all the other riders who showed their concern and caring during and after the race. I always knew the mountain bike community was great, but now it has been proven.
