Post-Crash Training Update

Quick Recap

Two weeks ago, I launched myself off of my bike face-first into rocks. This resulted in the loss of my front left tooth, seven stitches in and on my lips, and a couple of very sensitive teeth that might need root canals. I also banged up both hands pretty badly, and my neck sustained some whiplash. However, besides the tooth, I had no broken bones or any brain trauma, thankfully! [Read all about it].

Update on My Healing Progress

The stitches are out, and I've laid off the Tylenol and NSAIDs. I'm learning how to live life without my left front tooth. The "tooth hole," as I've dubbed it, is quite tender at this stage in the healing game. The adjacent injured teeth are extra sensitive to cold and anything remotely resembling chewing.

My teeth left quite the impression on both lips, inside and out. Thus, the seven stitches. The scar tissue has left me with lumpy spots on both lips and my lower interior lip, which I'm guessing took the brunt of the impact and is still sore and swollen.

While navigating the half-numb, tingly, lumpy scar tissue in those three areas is far from pleasant, at least they are not as noticeable to the observer as the two stitches that graced my upper lip. That area is also healing nicely, and I have begun religiously applying scar cream twice a day in hopes that the scar will fade with time.

Add all this together, and eating and drinking are still challenges. I have lost weight, but not in the style I like. I use a plastic, bendy straw to drink (sincerest apologies, dear fish), and I still can't quite drink from a bottle while riding.

But I have learned enough tricks to get close to my regular diet (sans Cheerios, chips, and Snickers). So, as of this writing, I'm adding back some weight. I am also making another attempt at adding creatine to my supplements. That story is for another post, but it will cause extra water retention in the muscles, which is actually a good thing!

Where does this leave my training?

Honestly, it's a mixed bag. I've had five indoor bike sessions since the injury. The first one was five days after the injury, and it was miserable. I barely made it 30 minutes in Zone 2 (easy conversational pace) and had to quit.

But the session wasn't a total loss. I figured out a few things that helped on the bike: liquids in glasses with straws, a nasal strip, and putting the Kickr Snap trainer into standard mode and just pedaling. I found some pipe insulation for the bars but didn't need it. My hands got a little sore, but it was nothing I couldn't deal with.

My next session was a few days later, and I had a blast. I rode for 70 minutes in Zone 2. Then, over the weekend, I had two 90-minute Zone 2/3 rides. These felt great, and lest I get used to drinking Coke all the time, I tried some new drink mix from Carbs Fuel. It was an easy, tasty way to get my carbs. If it were brown, I'd think it was a flat Coke!

However.

Tuesday was my first scheduled set of VO2 max intervals. For those who don't have the pleasure of these in their lives, think of it as a series of "short", close-to-all-out efforts followed by longer periods of rest. And repeat. They can be ugly, even when you're feeling great. I decided to go for it instead of reducing the ride's intensity, which was very easy to do with the new app I'm using, TrainerRoad.

It was a bit of a sweat fest despite turning on the air conditioner and a fan and opening the window to let in the 40-degree air. These sessions are always challenging indoors on a trainer because it feels so much harder than outside. But returning from an injury doesn't help.

One of the main reasons I'm not riding outside right now is the cold air brushing against my exposed gum and injured teeth. The sensitivity creates a nagging pain. Even gasping for air in my 62-degree house was too much on my teeth, and I had no choice but to ride through it.

So, for now, I'll stick to endurance rides inside, and the intervals can wait until I can head outdoors. I've also picked up the kettlebells and am slowly returning to the full weight and reps I was doing before the injury.

So, What about Leadville?

The race is on August 9. That leaves four months to prepare for my third attempt at the sub-12-hour buckle. I usually have at least one significant training setback a year. So, this is nothing new. I should have enough confidence by now to know I can recover and return even stronger. I am more motivated than ever as I reflect on the crash and what "could've been." I don't want to dwell on the negative, but let's say I feel lucky that I just have a missing tooth, some sore lips, and a scrip for physical therapy.

My first rides outside will be on gravel or maybe even a road. I'm heading to the beach with my sister and her family next week, and the ocean is good for my soul. I look forward to some long, high-cadence rides outside. I might have to wear a buff to keep the air warm around my mouth, even though it will be in the 50s and 60s. Moving forward = windchill!

I am not sure about my next race. Racing is fun and good practice, but I can't destroy myself in a race and expect to return to training without a rest. So, each race needs to be of a distance that allows me to "train through it." In other words, I've not penciled in any big tapers or long post-race recovery times. I've spent that bank account with this incident.

The next scheduled race is May 10, the 68-mile course in Buena Vista, Virginia, called Gravista. Last year, ten days after my dog bites, I did the 30-mile course. I had my stitches out the day before, but I wrapped the calf tightly and had a stellar time. I settled for the 30 miles even though I'd signed up for 68. So, I have a date with the 68-mile course and a month to decide!

A Moment of Honesty

I'm bummed about my scars and my missing tooth. I don't love the look, to be honest. I know that, for the most part, that will all be fixed with the right amount of (costly) dental work and time. However, the numbness and lumpy scar tissue mess with my speech and make eating complicated, smiling hard, and who knows when I'll be up for a peck on the lips again! The pain in my neck is, well, a pain in my neck. Physical and massage therapies should go a long way.

If you want to see some kinda gross crash photos, I've made a members-only gallery link. I guess I'm willing to stick my toes into the sharing pool but not jump all the way in.

I haven't come to peace with my current level of mountain biking. I don't know if I can pursue the same tech and terrain after this. It's tough to acknowledge, and I don't want to sound discouraging to anyone. I love this sport. It has given me so much more than it has ever taken. I feel confident I will always have the most fun outside when picking my way through rocks in the forest on two wheels. But right now, I want to focus on healing and getting my fitness back, and I need to mitigate risk as much as possible between now and Leadville.

I was blown away by the response to my post last week and how much support, kindness, and love came from this community. I owe a lot of my primarily positive perspective to your encouragement and belief in me. I have heard so many stories about others losing front teeth, and I feel like I'm in a pretty cool club.

I hope to see you out there soon, smiling and riding in the spring sunshine!

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