Healing, Hospitals, and Helpful Friends

Ok, ok, let me set the record straight. I'm not dead yet, I don't plan on passing on anytime soon, and yes, I still plan on bobsledding this upcoming season!

Although, I will say this: sometimes bad luck really DOES come in threes!

First it was my hamstring. That happened about two and a half weeks ago. Sure, it was something to worry about and physical. What athlete wouldn't be concerned when as you are sprinting you feel a wet "pop" in your thigh mid-way through your stride? Well, I made a semi-graceful collapse (only a few spots of road-rash) and after a few painful days of limping around, I was back on my feet and off to physical therapy. And I thought I was making progress there, as frustratingly slow as it was.

And then came bad luck number two: food poisoning.

Oh man, I may not have been dying (doctor's may disagree) but I sure had moments where I wanted to! Throw in your worse case of the flu with a fever from hell! For about four days I couldn't get any food or drink into my stomach and whatever I did get in ended up coming right back out. It got so bad that I ended up with a nice trip to the hospital for some fluids via IV (and a moron nurse who couldn't get the IV in right! Thanks for ruining BOTH arms lol).

So, bad enough right? I mean, now we're going on two weeks of no leg workouts due to the hamstring and then over half a week of no food and plenty of fever and throwing up. As an athlete, I was getting pretty worried at this point. Heck, I have trouble putting weight on as it is with my metabolism (remember, I'm in a weight-driven sport), and I can just feel my body melting away!

To add insult to injury, after my trip to the hospital I started feeling much better as far as the food poisoning was concerned. But then I started to develop a pain in my chest right about where the sternum ends. I could tell it was right about at the entrance to my stomach, and it got worse and worse. The only thing I can think to describe it as is like heart-burn from hell. It was usually ok until I ate or drank something and the food hit that painful point and BAM, I was on the floor.

After two days of this (because I was stupid to wait two days) I found myself on a late-night ride to a hospital up near Afton, Wyoming where my family's cabin is. This was last Saturday night. I kept wondering if it was going to be one of those small town hospitals where the doctor goes from working on a sick horse to working on you next. Thankfully it wasn't that bad, but he did come to the conclusion that I had torn a part of my stomach due to all the throwing up I had been doing.

So here I find myself, like ten pounds lighter, with a sore stomach and hungry as all get out. Thankfully the medication is helping and each day I'm able to eat a bit more and more. I can't say that I haven't gotten discouraged or frustrated and thrown my hands in the air and shouted...well, I probably can't write some of the things I've shouted. But I'm on the mend and am trying to put together a good fitness plan to get my body back on track as soon as possible. That's the goal.

So thank you everyone who has been praying for me or who drove me to the hospital (Elissa and Don) or expressed their concern and best wishes over the past week and a half.

Don't worry. I'll be behind the steering ropes one way or another. I may not be able to run as fast or as far at first, but I'll be there.

Bobsled Workout iTunes Playlist 2

So, a little while ago we put together a playlist of some of our favorite workout songs. Well, we had a lot of feedback about how great it was, but since you couldn't really hear the songs it was only "nice" and not "awesome!"

In answer to your requests, here it is, a Bobsled workout playlist that you can actually listen to! Enjoy!

The Sports Injury List

So after 8 years in the sport, I find myself with my first really dumb injury. I wish I could say I had a cool story behind it, but no, just a stupid training incident that has left me with a Grade 2 strained/pulled hamstring.

Yesterday Don, one of our team pushers/brakeman, and I were practicing some squats, power cleans, front squats, and such in order to better prepare ourselves for a fitness test that is being administered at the Utah Olympic Oval on Saturday morning by our regional development coach. So, after going through the squats we wanted to go practice some sprints at the Cottonwood High School track nearby. No big deal, right? We arrived, set up the cones, and ran through a few sprints with no problems.

And then it happened.

Its my own fault really. I should have stretched out even more and then been more careful when sprinting, but my mind wasn't totally focused so my form was off a bit. As I began to lengthen my strides out a bit, I stepped down on my heel instead of the ball of my foot. This put immediate back pressure on my muscles and then as I tried to pull my body over that planted foot in the natural sprinting motion, POP, out goes my hamstring.

And when I say pop, I mean POP. I felt something pop in my leg, I took one more step, and collapsed....rather ungracefully I might ad. But hey, at least I only ended up with a few road-rash marks!

All I can say is that the pain was pretty intense. Well, at least it was when I tried to stretch out my leg. As long as I remained in the "I'm helpless" fetal position with my leg bent and my arms wrapped around it, I was fine. When Don tried to help me back to car, I almost collapsed a couple of times. And then driving home was definitely a chore since I couldn't straighten my leg, I had to move my car seat way up close to the pedals.

A lot of things go through your mind when you're laying there on the ground with an injury like that. Am I going to need surgery? How bad is it? How long will I bet out? How long until I can get back to my sport? Do I need medical assistance? etc etc. It all flashes through your mind in an instant.

I guess, as that all went through my mind, I felt a measure of peace from knowing that I've had a great career, I've got a great team to support, and I'm still young enough to recover and not have permanent damage.

So, with all that in mind, I'm just asking a favor of all those who believe in it to pray for a full and speedy recover so that I can get back out there with my friends and teammates. And thank you to all of you who have been so supportive in the short few hours since the injury occurred.

All I can say is this: stupid hamstring injuries!

Best wishes all!

Why I'm Proud to be an American

I know it may seem a bit ritualistic or sappy, but I don't care. In preparation for this 4th of July holiday weekend, I've been thinking a lot lately about why I'm proud, indeed grateful even, to be an American.

I know there are plenty of people in the world who hate us because we are "arrogant, ignorant Americans." I've faced that particular attitude a few times while traveling around the world.

But I wish those people could see what our country really is about.

Ever since I was a little kid, running around playing G.I.Joe, I learned about the history of the United States. I mean, when you stop and think about the events that brought about the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Revolutionary War, it is pretty incredible. It saddens me that there aren't that many public Pledges of Allegiance to the Flag anymore. In some ways, society has almost made it seem "kooky" or "silly" to be a Patriot.

I remember that as a Boy Scout (yes, I got my Eagle Scout award finally) we were taught to honor and respect the Stars and Stripes. We carefully folded it when needed or carried it with solemnity whenever we had a "flag ceremony" and "posted the colors." It always made me think of all the soldiers like my grandfather and my father who put their lives on the line in order to defend the very freedoms that Old Glory represents. I don't think I'll ever forget my trips to The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetary, Gettysburg, the Vietnam Memorial, or even to an old World War II bomber plane crash here in Utah that we would visit annually where five airmen died during a routine flight.

But it isn't just the bravery and might of our military. No, although much of the world sees us a bullying warmongers, I wish they could look deeper at the people of this nation. I wish they could see the group of teenagers who volunteer at the local childrens' hospital each month or the dentist who flies himself to Honduras to perform free dental work for the poor. I wish they could see the farmer who helps his neighbor finishing plowing the field because it is getting late in the season or the two little kids on the street corner selling badly mixed lemonade because they want to make their own money to buy a toy at the store. I wish our critics could see all the churches full on Sunday or the family bbqs on Saturday. I wish they could see the volunteers who package food for shipments to those left homeless in China by the earthquakes or the teacher who stays after school to help a struggling student. The list just goes on and on. To all those who preach their "hate the Great Satan, the United States" speeches, I say very clearly to you: You don't know us at all.

The greatest part about all those things I just mentioned is that we as Americans are free to choose to do them. No one forces us. We have no king to worship or emperor to obey to the death. We are truly free to become as great and as giving and as memorable as we want our lives to be. Heck, because of that freedom 130 of us athletes signed a petition to the Chinese government asking for an Olympic truce this year!

I love this country. Sure, we've got issues. We've got things we can improve. There's plenty of crime, dishonesty, greed, immorality, and enough frivilous lawsuits to last a lifetime, but there is still so much GOOD. I've been so lucky to meet so many wonderful Americans during my life, whether is was through school, work, church service, social scenes, or athletic pursuits. People who are so caring, so hard working, so compassionate, so friendly, and so genuinely great.

All these things, and more, make me proud to be an American. So, why did I bring all this up on our bobsled team's blog? Because it is for all these reasons that I am proud to be an American athlete.

I'll never forget the first time I stood atop a medal's podium while the National Anthem of the United States was played. It was a cold night in Lake Placid, New York. I admit it, yes, I teared up a bit as the medal was placed around our neck, and then my teammate and I got to place our hands over our hearts as that great song blasted over the loudspeakers. Nothing beats wearing a United States of America uniform. Nothing beats representing this country in one of the greatest sports in the world. But every time I put on something that says "USA" I try to remember what the US Hockey Team coach Herb Brooks once said: "The name on the front is a hell of a lot more important than the name on the back."

God bless America. Have a great 4th of July everyone!