Seven Inspiring Kona Age Groupers

Bouncing back from a bike crash
Athlete: Travis Earley
Age group: M25-29
Bib number: 1763

I raced Ironman Lake Placid in 2009. It was my fourth Ironman. I was not a newbie, but I DNF’ed the race after crashing on a descent and flipping over the handlebars.  I woke up in the ambulance and, after arguing with the medics about how they needed to let me out because I had to run a marathon, I realized that I wasn’t going to continue so I sat back and let them do their job. I ended up with a broken clavicle, road rash, stitches above my eye and various bruises. My bike top tube was cracked in half and my aero helmet saved my life

I came back to Ironman Lake Placid in 2011 and, on that same course, forced myself to race and ride down the hill where I crashed. I ended up placing fourth in the M25-29 age group and qualifying for Kona for the first time. The race was a heck of a way to return to Ironman racing, and it was evident that a little bit of luck can drastically change the outcome of a race.

I feel awfully lucky and blessed to be able to compete this year and just thankful that I’m still alive after the ordeal two years ago. It’s a dream come true to race on the Big Island. I’ve been fantasizing about racing here for the last seven years, and I want to just soak up everything about it.

FILED UNDER: Features / Kona 2011 TAGS: Ironman 70.3 Panama / kona 2011

Aaron Hersh

Aaron Hersh is the Senior Tech Editor of Triathlete magazine. Aaron writes a column every Thursday for Triathlete.com called "Ask Aaron". To submit a question, write Aaron at Askaaron@competitorgroup.com.

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