Today I should have been completing my 3rd Ironman Triathlon at Lake Placid. Alas it was not to be.

Back in January I announced my grand plans to celebrate the 10 year anniversary since I lost my hand by climbing 19,341 feet to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, climbing 1,576 stairs to the top of the Empire State Building and finally racing 140.6 miles to complete my 3rd Ironman triathlon at Lake Placid, NY.

I did indeed climb to the top of Kilimanjaro in January (spectacular) and 4 days later climb the stairs to the top of the Empire State Building (lung burning). But, unfortunately I was not destined to race at Lake Placid. Five weeks ago I came of my bike whilst out on a training ride and shattered my collar bone.

Painful, yes. Disappointing that I wouldn’t get to attempt my 3rd Ironman after all the months of hard training, you bet. What I didn’t immediately comprehend though was the loss of use of my right arm/hand…given that it’s the only one I have. Oh boy.

The accident happened on June 18th in Haverstraw, NY. I was kind of run off the road by a white van that cut into my space after passing me, leaving me nothing but the curb and a few potholes to ride into. Being crouched over in my aero bars I came down hard on my right elbow and the impact shattered my right collarbone in multiple places. Whilst the driver of the van was oblivious and continued on I was fortunate there were others who stopped and in no time I was in an ambulance off to emergency…not that there was much they can do except x-ray my shoulder, to confirm the obvious, give me a sling and suggest I get an Uber the 40 miles back to Manhattan!

With my plans in tatters all I could do was focus on the here and now and the immediate needs of my recovery. It’s funny how life happens. In going through this “adversity” it caused me to reflect on my journey ten years ago as I first overcame and then ultimately thrived after hitting those power lines.

We all face adversity in life, for me it seems to manifest physically at times, yet there’s been plenty of emotional, psychological and even spiritual angst along the way. I believe how we face our challenges shapes us and can even define us. That’s certainly been the case in my life.

Looking back, I see that in facing the biggest adversity of my life in 2006 it taught me how to not just overcome and survive, but how to push through and thrive. A system I have unconsciously used time and again since then.

It’s three simple steps:

1. Accept
2. Forgive
3. Let Go

Step 1, I accept what is, without blame or anger or judgement or regret. No matter how bad the situation, if I’m still breathing then it could always have been worse. I found the best antidote to blame, anger, judgement and regret was gratitude.

Step 2, I take responsibility and acknowledge the choices I made that lead to my current predicament, yet forgive myself and others that may have been involved. I find the key is staying in the present moment and not dwelling on the past and the inevitable “what ifs” and “if onlys”.

Step 3, I let go. For some reason it seems that there is always something I need to let go of that is no longer serving me. Back in 2006 it was my hand, in 2016 it was my Ironman ambition. At other times it has been a part of my identity. Invariably I can’t move forward and thrive if I don’t first let go.

I’d still love to raise $10,000 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation this year, whilst my Ironman didn’t work out I did at least get to complete a Half Ironman in May, a marathon in June and come November I’ll be racing in the New York City Marathon for the first time.

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If you’d like to support my efforts and donate you can click the button below.

Help me raise $10,000 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation*

*80 cents of every dollar goes to support those with physical challenges

What better way to take in the sights and sounds of New York City then a trip on the Hudson River, a ride along the West Highway and a walk in the park, Central Park that is. And that’s exactly the draw for some five thousand triathletes from around the world who travel to New York City each year for the iconic New York City Triathlon. What better way to take in the sights and sounds of New York City than swimming a mile in the Hudson River, yes it’s quite safe, biking twenty five miles along the West Highway and running the six miles along 72nd street and into and around Central Park.

It all started 4:30am on Sunday, July 19th 2015 at the 79th Street Boat Basin Marina, not a place many would think to visit, yet there’s a cute little cafe overlooking the river and boats right there. Admittedly it’s dark at this time in the morning, thankfully dry and bustling with athletes setting up their bikes in the transition areas. Two are needed to accommodate a field this large. People of all shapes and sizes in various stages of disrobement. We each get two feet of space between two other athletes, one on either side, to hang our bikes and lay out towels, bike shoes and helmet, run shoes and if they’re a paratriathlete like me, a prosthetic leg or two, an arm maybe, a wheelchair, hand cycle or tandem bike for those that are blind. This particular race attracts quite a crowd of physically challenged athletes who also want to experience New York City from this quite unique perspective. All the hustle and bustle of Times Square concentrated along a mile stretch of the Hudson River, bright lights and all. For most people, diving into the Hudson River is not something that’s on their bucket list, but then they just won’t get to experience all New York City has to offer!

The race begins at 6am with the pros completing the 0.93 mile swim in just under 12 minutes, meanwhile the last athlete doesn’t enter the water until closer to 8am, at which point the pros have already started to cross the finish line in Central Park. The paratriathlete wave heads off at 7am, the swim takes me 25 minutes this year compared to 18 minutes last year. I’ll blame the current, just wasn’t as strong this year…that’s my excuse and I’m sticking with it.

Then cycling along the West Highway, heading North, without a car in sight (one side of the highway is closed to traffic), is the only time you get to ride in the city without the fear of being hit by an errant car…see what an opportunity you are missing. For most the bike takes an hour and a quarter to two hours. Thankfully due to recent resurfacing work it’s no longer the bone shaking, nerve jangling ride it used to be. Those athletes that take the time to look around are treated with vistas of the Hudson River on one side and city skyline on the other as they ride from 79th Street up to and into Van Cortlandt Park to turn around and head back. Spectator cheers and cowbells fill the air as you return to the transition at 79th Street. An hour and nineteen minutes, a whole minute faster than last year and with an additional minute saved on transition that’s only 5 minutes to make up on the run.

Six miles along a closed off 72nd street and into and around Central Park. The prayer for cool temperatures hadn’t paid off and legs begin tire as the heat builds. I’m still the first paratriathlete in the field, I have an official on a bike riding beside me radioing in my position…maybe I’ll get to break the tape at the finish line! Alas at mile five Omar Bermejo surges past me, also an upper limb amputee, yet with legs a good ten years younger than mine. The official on his bike continues on without me.

The park is all trees and rolling roads and on a hot day it’s a game of dodge to stay in the shade as every uphill saps whatever strength is left. The crowd’s energy infuses the athletes as hot, sweaty, exhausted, yet exhilarated we sprint the final yards across the finish line and our own personal victory. The run took nearly 55 minutes, 5 minutes slower than last year for an overall time of 2 hours, 47 minutes. Should have trained harder.

The ironic part, as is often the case with triathlons, for me it was won and lost on the transitions. Omar, who passed me on mile 5 of the run spent only three minutes in T1 versus my six. What I’d have given for an extra three minute lead on that last mile of the run. Still I placed 5th overall for male paratriathletes when all was said and done with the scoring system that levels out the different disabilities. A podium finish and cash purse thanks to Accenture.

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If you’d like to support my efforts and donate you can click the button below, the money I raise goes to help those with disabilities continue to lead even more active lives with the aid of prosthetics and adaptive devices that often aren’t covered by medical insurance.

Help me raise $2000 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation

On Sunday August 3rd 2014 I competed in my first New York City Triathlon (@nyctriathlon) and won!

OK, so I didn’t win the race itself, but then that was never the purpose, instead I won by setting a personal record for an Olympic distance triathlon of 2 hrs 37 mins, versus my previous best of 2 hrs 57 min at the Pacific Grove Triathlon a few years ago. I’d set out to finish in under 3 hrs and blew that away by 23 minutes and since you should never leave the scene of accomplishing a goal without setting a new one my focus is now on 2 hrs 30 mins and then 2hrs 20 mins.

This really was an enjoyable and well put together race, especially as there were 40+ other paratriathletes racing…and boy are they fast. These guys inspire me to push harder given some are clocking in at 2 hrs 4 mins and placing in the top 50 athletes overall…NO EXCUSES!

Accenture sponsors and puts up the only prize purse for paratriathletes in the US and the race organizers in partnership with Accenture really roll out the red carpet for us paratriathletes, love it…I got to be part of the 2014 Accenture Challenged Athletes International Championships (#AccentureCAC).

Up at 4am, got dressed and onto the bus to transition to set everything up. By 5:30am most people are walking the mile along the Hudson River from transition to the swim start. The river is starting to flow pretty fast as the pros set off followed by the first wave of age group athletes. For the paratriathletes, our race starts at 7am. Standing/sitting out onto the pontoon are a bunch of athletes missing upper or lower limbs, that are partially blind/blind or paralyzed…all ready to jump into the Hudson River to start the race. Can you imagine being blind and standing there about to jump into a fast flowing river? Respect!

It’d usually take me about 36 mins to swim the 1.5km…with a little assist from the Hudson I was done in 18 mins! And that was despite the fact I had to catch my breath for a minute after trying (unsuccessfully) to keep up with a 26-year-old upper limb amputee…good lesson learnt, you’ve got to swim at your own pace, not someone elses.

Out of the water and a quick jog 400m to the bike transition. It had started to drizzle as we jumped in for the swim, now it was definitely raining. At least it saved time in transition as there wasn’t much point drying myself off for the bike ride.

The bike course is a rolling course along the West Highway, there’s very little that’s flat. Admittedly compared to the climbs back in Northern California the hills are pretty gentle, but it still meant I had to push hard on the bike. I wanted to try and average 20 mph but couldn’t quite keep that pace with the hills and rain and there just not being enough umph in my legs. So after 1 hr 20 min I finished the 40km ride, averaging 18.6 mph (definite room for improvement).

Which left my least favorite part, the 10km run around Central Park. The atmosphere and the crowd was just electric, this is such a spectator-friendly event and so many people line the run course that you can’t help but keep smiling.

I didn’t know what my overall time was, I just knew I had to push. I’m normally happy if I can manage a 8:45 min / mile pace, but for this race I wanted to get closer to 8 min / mile. It’s also a rolling course with very little flat, you’re either climbing or going downhill all the time, which spikes the heart rate. I ended up running with an Israeli guy who ran Central Park all the time and he paced me and pushed me, describing each hill in advance, my thanks to this man for helping me achieve a 8 min / mile pace and finishing the run in under 50 mins for an overall time of 2 hrs 37 min 55 secs.

What a fun and exhilarating day. I can honestly say I felt as much of a sense of achievement from this 2 hrs 37 mins of effort as I did from the 15 hrs 41 mins it took me to complete  Ironman Lake Tahoe last year! It’s never about the destination, it’s how you show up for the journey that counts and racing with 40 other paratriathletes reminded me why I fundraise each year for the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). Many of my fellow paratriathletes wouldn’t have been there alongside me if it wasn’t for the grants they got from CAF to buy the specialised prosthetics and equipment they were using that day – and in my small way I played a part in that and for those that have supported me through the years so did you too, so thank you, it means a tremendous amount to me.

The race will be aired on Saturday, August 16, 2014 @ 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Fox/WWOR.

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If you’d like to support my efforts and donate you can click the button below, the money I raise goes to help those with disabilities continue to lead even more active lives with the aid of prosthetics and adaptive devices that often aren’t covered by medical insurance.

Help me raise $2000 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation

 

Back in 2008 I signed up for my first Triathlon at Pacific Grove, a 1.5km swim, 40km bike & 10km run. I’d not done any endurance type sports in my life up to that point and whilst I wasn’t exactly unfit it felt a daunting challenge…to complete my first triathlon. This was 2 years after losing my arm in a paragliding accident. After contemplating doing a marathon or cycle event, triathlon seemed the ultimate challenge for someone with one arm…swim, bike & run…what fun!

I remember my first training session with Team In Training, I turned up at the pool with my mountain bike, nobly tires and all. I hadn’t really been swimming since my accident and front crawl had never been my favorite stroke prior. However, in the pool I jumped, struggling to swim 30 lengths (at least I didn’t go around in circles). Then off for a 50 min bike ride. I had to stop after 20 mins and rest for 5 mins before heading back…not a great showing. Later in the season I was so proud I had run 5 miles in an hour, the final “long” run in preparation for race day, I’d never run that far before. And race day was a huge achievement, 3 1/2 months of training and 3 hrs 23 mins to cross the finish line.

Fast forward 5 years, one bike accident, many Half Ironman triathlons, century bike rides, marathons and 2 full Ironmans later and what a difference. After completing Ironman Lake Tahoe end of last year and moving to New York City from California beginning of this year I thought I’d take things a bit easier and entered for the NYC Triathlon this August. Going back to where I started distance-wise, it’s “just” a 1.5km swim in the Hudson River, a 40 km bike along the West Highway & 10km run in Central Park.

And it’s that “just” that caused me to pause and reflect. What had seemed so daunting then I now viewed in a whole new light, in contrast to the time and energy to train for a 140.6 mile Ironman, training for the NYC Triathlon felt like a respite…only a 2 hour bike instead of 6 or 7 hours at the weekend…no problem. Sometimes it’s good to look back and marvel at how far you’ve come, too often we lose track of how we’ve grown, the progress we’ve made.

How far have you come…why not go celebrate a bit?

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If you’d like to support my efforts and donate you can click the button below, the money I raise goes to help those with disabilities continue to lead even more active lives with the aid of prosthetics and adaptive devices that often aren’t covered by medical insurance.

Help me raise $2000 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation