Hello! I apologize for my lack of posts lately. In fact, it has been so long just an apology is not enough, I believe an explanation is necessary.

I will start with the simple point that life is polar. One minute you are on an emotional high, the next on an all time low. Life loves to throw those little curve balls, those change ups that keep you guessing and expecting the unexpected. Living in fear is not living at all, so embracing these little bumps along our path is key to a happy and successful life. 

My episode starts on the last weekend of February. I had been racing down near Austin, Texas at an old race called Lago Vista. It's a two day race and promises big fields and good competition. Not only was I itching to race, but my fitness was beginning to come around AND my family was there. Anytime you have an audience you have to perform! The first day did not go too well, but Sunday went tremendously- got into the days long break which was stacked with seasoned vets like Christian House, the current British road race national champion, Pat McCarty ex-Postal, Phonak and Slipstream rider as well as Heath Blackgrove, a very strong and successful New Zealand pro. It was a great experience riding with these guys in the break which also included a few of Texas' strong men. At the end of the day I finished 6th, not an amazing result for a state level race but from that break I was pretty happy. My endurance was exactly where it needed to be and my intensity was getting there. The possibilities for the season seemed endless.

All plans came to a halt on the drive back home that night. As I dozed and enjoyed the endorphins that intoxicate a body after a good day of racing my family and I were rear ended by an eighteen wheeler. We were stopped at a stop light only fifteen minutes from home when the truck slammed into us at full speed, never touched his breaks. I was in the very back of our suburban, so I came off the worst. Luckily everyone else was okay (although I cannot recall the actual accident I like to tell people it was my upper body strength that stopped the truck. The punch line is when they inspect my arms and look at me with a raised, doubtful eyebrow...), but I had both of my lungs bruised, my sternum fractured and serious damage done to my back. My T-12 vertebra had so many spiral fractures it was like mush as well as a compact fracture on one side. All of the tendons and ligaments in that area were torn off and a pretty good blood clot formed. 

I spent a day or two (heavy pain meds) in ICU before my surgery. The surgery went very well. Five of my vertebrae are fused together now. My recovery is going very well right now, I'm able to walk, a lot. I'm up to about 4-5 miles a day (with some hill repeats!) I'm lucky to even be doing that, the surgeon told my mom that when they see fractures at the stage mine was, the person is usually paralyzed. What saved me was the way I broke everything. Instead of the force hitting me horizontally I was launched up and hit my head on the celling of the car because of how the car crumpled. The energy shot through my body, cracking my bones but keeping the pieces in place. 

Needless to say, my season is over! Team Holowesko has been more than supportive and have helped my "comeback" motivation greatly by assuring me I have a contract for next season. Although I hate that this has happened, I am very thankful that it was not worse, that nobody else was hurt and for the wonderful support my family and friends have shown me. When life throws you a change up, it does no good to get down and be defeated. Take what you can from the experience and let it make you stronger! Many things in life take mental strength, whether it's going into a job interview or just racing your bike. All it takes to be strong mentally is to convince yourself that that strength is there. 

While I wont be able to give you updates on interesting race experiences this season, I will be able to start riding soon and will keep you updated on my comeback. Thanks for reading and safe and happy riding/racing! 

Thacker