The Forrest 10HR was planned as my last lead up event to the world 24HR in Italy being about 4 weeks out from that race. We traveled over on the Spirit for this one and had luckily secured a friends on site caravan at the Forrest caravan park right near the event. We also had a new 3Mx3M marque we got on a super special at SuperCheap Auto just before we left to keep us protected from any weather. I was doing the 10HR and Sharon would support me till she jumped on her bike for the last 3HRs and do the short distance event.

Off the boat quite quickly even though we were down in the bowels of deck 2 with our car. Making good time we had to stop at Sharon’s favorite eating place in Torquay Pond Cafe for breakfast. We arrived in Forrest Friday afternoon and checked into the permanent on site caravan and once all the bikes were setup we headed off for a recon of the course as I was starting in the dark at 6AM a quick loop of the course would be invaluable. Sharon and I had a pleasant ride around after we setup our marque and base for tomorrow to save time in the morning. A meal at the Wonkey Donkey was uneventful this trip as it was well after Easter (see previous blog).

Again up really early to get ready for the 6AM start it was a bit foggy as we headed to race central after a quick bite of breakfast. Setting up our food and bottles we had prepared the night before it was suddenly race briefing and we were off before I knew what was going on. As usual I had a tardy start down the back and I was way out of position stuck behind a big train of riders going way slower than I wanted to. About halfway through the lap we hit a fire road section and I made quick work of passing them all and settled into my own natural pace. it was a bit cool in a few places but pleasant riding with the lights on. After a couple of laps the daylight started to eek through the trees and eventually the lights were ditched at one of my food stops in transition.

My pace was perfect with my last 3 laps within seconds of each other. I had moved into 3rd place overall and the time was flying by it just felt so good I was really enjoying this race. Just past the 4HR mark I was coming off the fire road section and I had just finished eating a bar, while attempting to put the wrapper under my nicks I suddenly came crashing down on my right shoulder and hit the ground HARD. I think I touched the front brake and must have hit something on the track at that exact moment. The bars just snapped around so fast there was no time to react. I sat up and pushed the bike away from me and immediately felt bones grinding on each other on my right side. I rolled onto my left side and pushed myself up and walked over to the nearby trail head. I knew in that instant I was not going to be riding in the World 24HR in Finale.

By chance there was a guy at the trail head who gave me a lift back to the transition area and I rocked into the St Johns Ambulance and told them I had a broken collar bone. They seemed a bit skeptical but once I showed them the bone almost sticking out of my skin they were convinced. They were very surprised by my lack of pain but they forced a couple of Panadol into me. I also managed to get my top off so they didn’t have to cut it off. Sharon was unaware of what had transpired as I was 20 minutes away from coming back through again on that lap. I eventually managed to get a message back to Sharon and she came up to the ambulance totally devastated by what had happened. Kylie came to the rescue with her magnificent organisation and logistic skills she had our marque, equipment and bikes packed up in our car. The fellow mountain bikers just took over and pitched in it was so good.

Sharon was in no state to drive me to the Geelong Hospital and they were quite concerned my bone could pop out through my skin and I would require some strong medication if it did so ambulance transport was requested. The first ambulance got re-tasked so the crew that eventually picked us up came from Lorne and we waited a couple of hours before it arrived. Another hour and a quarter drive to Geelong later and I was waiting for my X-ray and doctors to assess me. First up was a concussion test that I passed no worries as the only part of my body that hit the ground was the front point of my shoulder. We got put out into the public waiting area as a higher priority case needed all the equipment in the cubicle we were occupying. Eventually after another long wait as it was very busy I had the X-ray and the radiographer said there was a piece of bone that could be an issue on the X-ray.

Another another very long wait we were called back in by the doctor who said after consultation with the orthopedic registrar and also the head orthopedic surgeon they were happy with the placement of the bones and a standard 6 week in a sling healing was appropriate and no plate or operation was required but they wanted it checked in 7 days time to ensure the placement of the bones was still OK. Kylie had given us the keys to there house in Torquay so after a $50 taxi ride we ended up at there place but they were still in Forrest and so was our car and all our gear. By chance we had packed some clothes as we had a group meal planned after the event and we were just going to have a quick wipe down and change and head there once done.

So we ended up in Torquay with no food, no car, no plan and it was pouring with rain. Eventually we got me showered and changed out of my riding gear and ordered some pizza but that was another saga as Kylie and Adz’s house was not on Google maps being in a newly developed street. Eventually they found us and we ate and headed to bed totally shattered by the days events. We still had stuff in the caravan at Forrest and Adz organised to get that sorted and Kylie had organised to get our car driven back to Torquay for us. We had cold pizza for breakfast and Kylie arrived back just before lunch and took us out for a bite to eat at Pond Cafe.

Once reunited with all our stuff we could not thank everybody involved enough. Sharon missed out on her race due to the unfolding events so her and Kylie organised for a ride around Torquay on the Monday morning. The weather was a bit rubbish at times but they had a ball on the cliff top trails over looking the ocean. Sharon managed to get the bikes packed into the Outlander with my direction and got everything packed away easily as I knew where everything fitted from the trip over. We fare-welled Kylie, Adz and little Toby after a nice lunch at Swell Cafe and headed off to catch the Spirit. I was navigating of course on this trip and Sharon a little freaked out driving to the boat but it was easy as in the end and we were on and off back to Tassie.

I was coping remarkably well with my broken collar bone (Clavicle) only requiring Panadol to take the edge off the small amount of discomfort I had. Sleeping was the worst part needing a pillow under my right arm to rest it on, walking around also irritated it a lot with the bones moving around in my shoulder. A week after I had a follow up X-ray and consultation with a GP and an orthopedic surgeon and everything was still in place and the opinion of both was a normal sling recovery without surgery for a plate required. The local ortho advised me of the not insignificant risks of surgery and his own issues when he was plated and it failed causing no end of issues for him only 4 weeks out from a world championship Triathlon. It was an interesting coincidence both of us did there collar bones 4 weeks out from a tilt at a world championship.

I had very quickly resigned myself to the fact my world 24HR dream was not going to happen this year and we had to make a decision if to still go to Italy as everything was booked or to cancel everything and not go at all. As I write this 3 weeks after I crashed we definitely made the right decision cancelling the trip as I still have only very limited use of my right arm and the trip would not have been very enjoyable trying to avoid getting knocked on my right side, not being able to carry anything and very limited as to what we could do as I can’t walk around for any length of time yet. All that training and planning won’t go to waste though as I will come back stronger and more determined than ever once I have healed properly. I’m not sure yet if another world 24HR is on the cards but there is one in Scotland next year and Australia in 2019 and I have unfinished business to see how I stack up on the world stage. My paddle coach told me no training is wasted training and I have started some light sessions on my home trainer this week.

I cannot thank everybody who helped us out enough and the support Sharon has given me during these difficult times. The support of friends and family has been amazing. I do get the feeling people are a bit reluctant to contact me directly, maybe they are unsure what to say, Sharon gets asked a lot how I am doing but I have moved on and looking forward to our trip to France in late August now and beyond that HellFire Cup with Pat and from there who knows.