This latest one may have been the toughest because of questions regarding my health going into Ironman Louisville. My full race report will follow in about a week. But this post will describe the events leading up to race day.
As you may recall or you can read from my last post, I finished Full Vineman Ironman Distance Tri on July 30. A week later I attended my cousin's wedding in San Diego. That's when my problem started. Well perhaps it started the day before the wedding. The week after Vineman Ironman, I was tired physically and mentally. Remember I had also competed in Vineman 70.3, 2 weeks earlier. My swim that week was crappy. I cut the runs short to recuperate from the 26.2 miles I had just ran. That weekend's workout called for a 5:3 Brick! Well Coach gave me a break and told me 3:1 was OK. So the day before the wedding, I did a 4:1. ( I felt 3:1 was too short, Ha Ha...) It was hot...
Perhaps I did not recuperate fully before driving out to San Diego early the next morning. It was an outdoor wedding. The day was already getting hot. When we arrived, the guests were standing in the shade fanning themselves with the fans given out as wedding favors. Well time for the ceremony, time to sit under the hot sun... I was so glad when the ceremony was over and it was time to move indoors for the open bar. I "rehydrated" on Rum and Cokes. I believe I had 3 drinks. Then it was time for lunch and a glass of wine. In between the Rum and Cokes and the wine, my sister ordered me a Bloody Mary and I had about half of that drink as well. Well after the main course and before dessert and the wedding cake, I decided to use the restroom. I remember using the urinal and then the next thing I know I'm looking up at an unfamiliar ceiling with a pain in the back of my head. It took me a few seconds to realize I was on the floor of the Men's restroom and that I had passed out. I somehow managed to get up. ( Perhaps somebody helped me, but I don't recall that.) I remember washing my hands and then making it out to a sofa and apparently I "passed out" or fell asleep.
Well to make a long story short, I was escorted back to the hotel and took a nap. I missed the evening dinner and reception. The next day, I woke up with a headache. I tried to workout at the hotel treadmill, but running made the headache worse. I decided to swim a few laps and that was tolerable. The headache got worse as the day progress and I bought some Tylenol and took a few. Well apparently I got a concussion and as the days went by my symptoms included dizziness, vertigo, headache, light sensitivity. I couldn't go to work all that week. In fact I laid in bed under a pillow to cover the light. I couldn't read, watch TV, or surf the internet because any mental activity worsened the headache. Even most music aggravated the headache. I could only tolerate mellow music and some classical music.
I got checked out a few days later in the ER. My head CT was fine. I had Post Concussion Syndrome. My main concern at that point was when can I return to my Ironman training / workouts. The answer was when my symptoms go away, but how long they will last was a big question mark. I started to worry that Ironman Louisville was in jeopardy. I informed my Coaches and they all wanted me to back off and take my time. Don't rush it. Apparently returning to strenuous activity too soon after a concussion can prolong the Post Concussion syndrome. What's worse than that was the fact that if I had a second concussion immediately after a recent concussion, I could suffer from severe brain swelling which could lead to "DEATH".
Well this is what I was dealing with as I headed into Ironman Louisville. My initial goal was to PR, but I modified it to just "Survival". If I can get in a 2 hour swim, 8 hour bike, 6 hour marathon, I would be happy. Over the next 3 weeks leading up to race day, my symptoms did improve. I got in a few bike rides, a few open water swims, and a few runs. Running and swimming were the last activities to come back. Initially running really jarred the brain too much and made the headache worse. And I was afraid of getting into trouble during the swim, so I took my time with that as well. I probably lost some fitness, but since this was taper time, I figured my body needed the rest. When I departed for Louisville on Thursday August 25, I was 99% better. I still had occasional headache and dizziness, especially when I went from a supine or lying down position to a sitting or standing position. When I did that I found that if I closed my eyes for a few seconds the dizziness subsided. The flight did worsen the headache slightly and I took some Tylenol and Motrin. I figured I will take some during the race as well.
My final dilemma as I picked up my race packet at the Expo, was whether or not to list Post Concussion Syndrome on the medical release forms. I decided not to. I knew that no medical professional would jeopardize his medical license and clear a participant with Post Concussion Syndrome for one of the most physically strenuous endurance events in the world, the Ironman Triathlon. I was taking a risk by competing in Ironman so soon after a concussion, but this was like the Superbowl or the Conference Championship game, I couldn't miss it.
Stay tuned for the Race Report.
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