Postby bnd » Sun Jul 01, 2012 8:17 am
ICup MTB race at Sherwood Hills near Logan.
I raced Saturday morning, we had 10 guys in 40-49 class, 10 miles, 2 loops. After a few off track excursions I ended up with a very hard fought 3rd. 2:30 seconds from 1st place. I have never been in such a hard mtb race. This one turned me inside out. It had the most brutal granny gear climbs that just never stopped. I need to step up my training ever so slightly to make up those few minutes I'm losing by. This trail had a few bombing downhills that if you didn't pay attention your going to pay. Unfortunalty a racer in the sport or expert class ate it & nearly died. Not sure of how he's doing but here's the write up from a fellow rider on what happened.
"Patrick was seriously injured while racing at Sherwood Hills today. Because he'll most likely be put into a medical coma with hypothermia (cooling the body under barbiturate "overdose" to prevent swelling of the brain and spinal cord), it will be about 48 hours before doctors can begin to predict a degree of recovery.
Crossing the upper meadow at the far end of the race loop at high speed, he hit a rock at trailside and pitched forward about 30 feet. He impacted on the front of the helmet, shattering it against his forehead. He knocked out his front teeth and tore the cheek open into the mouth. It appears his head was forced backward, injuring the spine. Corbin, who was following shortly behind, asked if he was OK, and Pat whispered no, I've knocked my teeth out. Then he immediately fell unconscious.
I stabilized the neck and kept the airway open while awaiting the EMTs. Patrick's breaths became less effective and less frequent, and in a few minutes he stopped breathing. As I gave mouth-to-mouth, another biker noted his pulse had disappeared. Four racers helped with chest compressions, including ICup director Ed Chauner who was racing Men 50-plus and is a skilled EMT. After 10 minutes of CPR we regained a good pulse and spontaneous breathing. Medical help then arrived with backboard, C-collar, oral airway, oxygen, and IVs. They prepped him for helicopter transport to McKay Dee in Ogden, the closest Trauma One hospital.
I hope his friends will keep us informed about how he's doing."
b.
“Sometimes if you want to see a change for the better, you have to take things into your own hands.”
