Longhorn500 2026 Race Report (2/3) New spare tubes and CO2 cartridges pl…
Longhorn500 2026 Race Report (2/3) New spare tubes and CO2 cartridges plus new front wheel. And into loop 2. Made it almost 2 hours later to finish loop 1 than planned due to time for checking flat front issues. Refilled and all good to go. Did ok on loop 2. No stop at time station 1 around mile 61 since I had enough drinking supply. Went slower in the dark than originally planned but the flats in loop one and loss of one head light reduced my visibility and as stated goal was to arrive healthy at the end. Some may say it’s nonsense that I used a 500-mile race as test race. Why test race? I wanted to see what I need to work on and if my left tight muscle is holding up ok. Had pain from the crash at beginning but that was easy manageable so muscle seemed to hold ok. Loop two was finished around 9am and therefore almost 3 hours after what I had in mind initially. Did my refills at my car and went off again. Was at that time thinking about calling it a DNF due to the late finish of loop 2 but I decided to keep going. Sometimes our mind is playing tricks and wants us to finish. Funny in this race … would have been better I had listened to my inner voice. Loop 3 was uneventful. Did not really stop in loop 3 since it was only a 87-mile loop. After loop 3 I used bathroom at start/finish and went off again for final loop. That was kind of a crazy loop. All cool and had a brief stop at time station one to report my time and kept moving. Water supply was ok, but I was confused with my navigation. OK it was only a mental confusion and nothing specific. Main issue was related to not missing a turn. About less than 5 miles before finish I Was looking for a turn and was unsure. Got mentally a bit too excited and my brain went a bit hyper. For most people that’s no issue. Based on my brain damage from 2022 it is an issue and I noticed signs for a possible loss of consciousness. I stopped and got off my bicycle for safety. Made a mistake for not sitting down. Misery hit me badly losing consciousness while standing next to my bicycle. I fell - no memory how long I was unconscious and how I hit the ground. Woke up laying on road and noticed a few cars driving by. They did not care asking if I am ok. Until one couple stopped and ask if I need help. For many an easy situation they would have gotten back on bike and finished but I just could no longer move my left leg. I was not tough enough and left leg was hanging not usable. That couple was extremely helpful. They gave me crutches as well and drove me the under 5 miles to the finish line. So now a DNF and not keeping my goal up to stay healthy- sad outcome of the race. I did get in my car under pain and almost wanted to drive off but lucky me the race organizers stopped me immediately and drove me for a checkup to the few blocks away hospital. Finally turned out I had a fracture on left hip (intertrochantric fracture) with leg being displaced and surgery was required to fix it. Thanks so much for all the help I received.
