Bettsyswims4heroes: Midnight Man - 16th August 2014

TEAM DOE were back in action today for the 2nd year running. We decided to up our game this year and enter Midnight Man 1/2 Iron Man distance. We had the same team as last year. Colin Doe on the Bike, Kerry Marsh on the run and myself, the swimmer.

Having had such a great time in last years Clacton team triathlon, it's now officially an annual event. The sun was shining and the weather conditions were perfect.

There were only 4 teams entered in the 1/2 iron man distance so our goal was to get in medal position! We are easily pleased!. The safety briefing was called and at no point did the organiser say, "I know this is a race, but please do not run!! It is common practise for swimmers exiting the water to run to the bike racks. Well, anyone who knows me knows that I am a useless runner anyway, so to say I came out of the lake with all guns firing and sprinting is slightly over exaggerated. A gentle jog more like it for me.

Little known to me, my fellow supporters, Janet Doe and Kerry Marsh had already been discussing how the timing mat was appearing to be a safety hazard. Although there were very few swimmers in front of me, the mat had already become a slippery ice-rink. An accident waiting to happen said Janet to Kerry. And yes, you guessed it, I was the accident! The mat is only about 4ft wide but you had to step on it in order for the chip to register. My right leg went from underneath me as I slipped and landed on my bottom. Then to my horror I realised my foot was facing the wrong way!

The pain was excruciating as I glanced down at the dislocation. I shuffled off the timing mat on my bum, hands and one foot to get out of the way of the other swimmers and in true competitive style, before I let rip and scream out in agony, I ripped the timing chip off my left leg and threw it at Kerry saying "get the chip to Colin quick". The organisers were OK with this since I had already completed my swim and therefore agreed we would not be disqualified. So, once I had that in order, I could go back to quietly screaming.

All I can is remember is saying to the St John Ambulance chaps, please don't do that pulley thing that I see them do on telly - please don't pull it to pop my foot back in place. I kept on repeating myself but was soon shut up by the first aider telling me that if we don't re-align your foot asap, the circulation will stop and the consequences will be a lot worse.

Oh crikey, this obviously means that they are gonna have to do that pulley thing they do on telly - now this is really gonna hurt. Some gas and air arrived and Janet Doe came over, sat beside me, held my hand and told me not to look at the first-aider - just keep sucking the entonox and staring at me. I do remember sucking a few, then still repeating, "please don't let them pull it, please", suck suck, please don't...... It seemed like forever that I was repeating this process. I must have drifted off into a blissful pain free dream for a millisecond because I just then remember Janet telling me that my foot was now back pointing the right way.

My new HUUB wetsuit was now completely sliced up my right leg and it wasn't long before I started to get cramp and suffer the cold so I had to ask them to slice up my other leg too. Poor HUUB - queue Christmas prezzie!

The ambulance crew couldn't reach me due to traffic and the 100's of cyclists bombing up and down each side of the dual carriageway but paramedics soon arrived and quickly administered the morphine so although cold, I was now pain free.

It took the ambulance over an hour to get to me but eventually I was on my way to Darent Valley hospital. Kerry had already phoned Chris when I went down and it took him over 3hrs to cover the usual 1/2 hour journey to hospital.

Naively I thought it was just a dislocation. That I would get to Turkey next week to race Hellespont and then the week after, attempt to complete the length of Windermere. These had been my main focus events all season. My Xray came back showing a broken fibula. So that's it, gutted. My season was over in a flash, I was now in plaster cast for at least six weeks.

I hold Bridge Triathlon solely responsible for my accident. The lack of care taken when witnessing the first few slips clearly should have triggered a change of mat. Instead the timing mat was changed immediately after my fall as seen in the photograph. The red mat was placed over the black mat after I fell.
5 weeks into recovery now, they haven't even rung me to see how I am, so when their email came through saying how much of a success the event was and asking if there was anything we would recommend to make it better next year, I couldn't help myself, I hastily hit the 'send' button advising them that 'a non-slip mat' would be an advantage. I also mentioned how disappointed I was at not having any contact. Sure enough I received a reply email and a voice mail within hours. "Apologies but I was so busy after the event, then went on holiday, then was preparing for my own race". oh please.......
Nuff said. Oh and some mention of we've always used this timing chip company and its never happened before. Oh so its my fault then is it???

So, I had my insurance and my claim is in. Loss of earnings, equipment, entry fees, holidays missed and a few other bits and bobs so lets wait and see.

I am one frustrated swimmer at the moment. Leg swells every day and I have not been allowed to even place my foot on the ground for four weeks. The dog thinks its all a game with me on all fours all the time trying to get from A to B. The simplest of tasks like making a cup of tea or having a wash - well you try them all standing on one leg.

My new career move of swim coaching and Herbalife distributor is now on hold as my enquiries are stacking up but I cannot commit to anything until I know what the recovery/physio process is likely to be. So I'm updating my blogs, writing sessions for my 2015 channel swimmer and trying to manage my Herbalife clients on crutches.

The dog keeps escaping but I can't grab hold of her, Ive got a bed pan under the bed coz apparently I make too much noise on the zimmerframe in the night and I'm putting on weight and becoming miserable.

BUT. yes I know. I'm alive, I will come back stronger, healthier, fitter and there are a lot of folk worse off.

Yesterday I saw some postings re organising a swim from Fambridge to Burnham on 2nd October.

Oooohhhhh. I wonder. I could feel my excitement at getting back in the water begin to kick in again. This will be less than one week after my plaster is off and I have no idea whether or not I will be able to walk, but I am damn sure I am gonna try to swim.