Article written by Annie L.

So the doctor said to me at the beginning of the summer, "I'll give you the second round of cortisone shots in your hips, but you have to stop your triathlon training at the end of the summer to let those muscles heal properly. If not, you will continue to aggravate the Piriformis Muscles and possibly damage them." I rolled over, exposed my left hip and thought about how much of a bummer it would be to sit around and let muscles heal. I knew it would be a long winter and I wanted to make the last three triathlons count!

I continued training and the first two triathlons went very well. I started getting myself used to the idea that I only had one more triathlon before my season ended. I was prepared to go out with a bang! I just didn't realize how much of a bang was in store for me at the time.

The evening before my last triathlon was like every other. I prepared my bag with my swimming, biking and running equipment, I made sure my bike tires were filled and I headed to bed at eight o'clock. I laid there for an hour thinking about the race, the items that should be in my bag and the closure this particular event would bring to a great season. I started feeling a bit sad and affirmed that I would make this triathlon be a triathlon I would never forget by really putting in the extra effort and enjoying myself. I fell asleep with the excitement every triathlon gives me.

4 a.m. The alarm radio went off, I put on my bathing suit, sweatshirt, sweatpants and headed downstairs for breakfast. I went through my bag to make sure that I was prepared for the race and hadn't forgotten anything. Everything was accounted for and I brought my bike out to the car. I assembled the bike rack, attached it to the car, attached the bike to the rack and gave it a quick safety check. The tires were filled, the brakes were responding and there didn't seem to be any visible problems. I looked through my bag again to make sure that nothing was missing and got into the car. Directions in hand, I headed for the highway. The music was pumping, the blood was beginning to flow and I was starting to get really excited about going out with a bang when it happened--BANG! My tire shot out.

I pulled into the breakdown lane thinking that it was way too dark to get out onto the highway. My car wasn't that old and I had just gotten new tires last year. I climbed out of the passenger side door to avoid being struck, removed the hub cap and found that the tire was in bad shape. So I headed for the trunk, took my bike off the rack, the rack off the car and found the spare. I rolled the tire over to the spot when I came to a major realization. I had prepared for every part of the triathlon: the year round training, the problems with injuries, the O.C.D-ish bag packing ritual, and the mental preparation regarding the finality of the event. I even found some great driving directions, but there was one thing I never prepared for: I didn't know how to change a car tire. Not only did I not know how to change a flat tire, I didn't have a cell phone to call anybody! I thought I was in big trouble until an off duty AAA guy pulled over and stayed with me until an on duty AAA guy could tow my car.

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Can you say that you are completely prepared for your next triathlon? We prepare our bodies, our minds and remember all the right gear, but are we really prepared for the things that happen along the way? The information below gives you tips on how to stay safe in case of a road side emergency.

• Put on your hazard lights.
• Climb out from the non-traffic side of the car.
• Lift the front hood of your car and keep it up.
• Light a flare and place it behind your car.
• Stand in the grass behind the guard rail. Should another driver not see your car in the break down lane, you will not be hurt if your car is hit.
• Be sure to have a cell phone with you. You could be stranded on the side of the road for a long time if a police car or tow truck doesn't notice you there.
• Call AAA and/or 911 on your cell phone. A police officer can keep you safe while the tow truck is on the way and AAA can make a big difference in the outcome of the day. Occasionally they are able to fix small routine problems without towing and allow you to continue on to your race. If your car has a more serious problem, the AAA driver can tow you to the nearest station or within the amount of miles stated in your membership.
• If a driver stops to help you before AAA or the police arrive, thank him and tell him he does not need to stay because you've already called the police.
• Money: Be prepared to give the AAA guy a tip and money for miles not covered in your AAA plan (should you exceed the miles) and have a credit card ready to pay for any services rendered by the mechanic.

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