RALEIGH, N.C. — Like a lot of triathletes, Deanna Babcock is starting to train for the 2008 season. She’s swimming a couple of days a week at the YMCA, and she’s gradually upping the miles on the bike. Soon, she plans to start running. Her goal is to be ready, by June 1, for the Kerr Lake Triathlon, a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike ride and 10k run. By November, she plans to do the Beach 2 Battleship Half-Ironman in Wilmington, N.C., which will involve swimming 1.2 miles, biking 56 miles and running 13.1 miles.
First, though, she needs to break in a new piece of equipment.
Her left leg.
“There’s a lot to learn,” says Babcock, a 23-year-old grad student at N.C. State whose plan to do Ironman Florida this past November got derailed the afternoon of July 20 when a routine workout cost her her left leg and nearly her life. “That’s OK. There’s a lot of people out there willing to help you. It’s not like Sarah Reinertsen is out to keep her trade secrets.”
Sarah Reinertsen, for those of you outside the triathlon community, is the reason you shouldn’t scoff at Babcock’s plan to do a half Ironman. In 2005, Reinertsen became the first female with an above-the-knee amputation to finish the Hawaii Ironman, generally regarded as the toughest Ironman going.
Run an Ironman on just one leg? In Babcock’s opinion, it’s just a matter of figuring out the new hardware. The rest — the open water swims at Jordan Lake, the hours of pedaling the back roads of North Carolina’s Wake and Chatham counties, the long training runs through town — that’s a matter of doing what every other triathlete has to do: getting yourself physically and mentally prepped for the challenge ahead.
“It’s pretty sweet to put your body to the limits of what it can do,” Babcock says. “I kinda inadvertently did that this summer.”
When everything changed
By “this summer,” Babcock means July 20.
Her recollection of the day is fuzzy. She remembers rising early and heading to her 10-foot by 30-foot research plot along Davis Drive. For her graduate thesis in soil sciences, she’s testing various materials that may help minimize erosion. She spent the day working in the sun — the temperature peaked that day at 88 degrees — before knocking off about 3 to get in a swim at N.C. State.
The swim was important. Nine months earlier, Babcock, who had run cross-country as an undergrad at Albion College in Michigan, was watching the Ironman world championships in Kona, Hawaii. That looks like fun, she thought. She’d done a couple of sprint triathlons over the summer and performed well, winning her age category in both; an Ironman would just be more — a lot more — of the same. She joined the N.C. State Triathlon Club, picked an Ironman a year out — Ironman Florida, on Nov. 4, 2007 — and started training. That training had included the Myrtle Beach Marathon in February (time: 4 hours, 1 minute), the collegiate nationals triathlon in mid-April and the White Lake Triathlon, an Olympic distance race (just under a mile in the water, 24.8 miles on the bike, a 6.2-mile run) in May. Her next big test was the Duke Half Marathon in September. She needed to swim.
Babcock has to rely on the recollections of others for an account of what happened after she rode her bike to the pool. At some point in her swim her heart stopped. N.C. State lifeguards pulled her from the water and began CPR. Wake County EMS arrived and had to use a defibrillator three times to revive her. No one can say for sure how long her heart was stopped. One estimate puts it as long as seven minutes. “It certainly was at least a few minutes,” says Dr. Marc Silver, her cardiologist.
Certainly, he adds, long enough to do some serious damage.
Bad to worse quickly
When she arrived at WakeMed, it was feared that Babcock had an enlarged heart, a thickening of the heart muscle. Silver says the condition is more common than generally thought; it only becomes apparent when the heart undergoes an intense workout. When that happens, the heart practically explodes and the situation is almost always fatal. About 125 athletes younger than 35 die each year from an enlarged heart; among the more prominent recently was 28-year-old marathoner Ryan Shay, who died five miles into an Olympics qualifying event last fall in New York.
An echocardiogram ruled out an enlarged heart in Babcock’s case. A diagnosis would have to wait until other life-threatening problems could be addressed.
When the heart stops pumping and cells stop getting blood, bad things happen quickly. The immediate concern is brain damage. Brain cells start dying after three to four minutes without oxygen. After the brain, the heart and kidneys start to go. With Babcock’s heart down for perhaps as long as seven minutes, there was plenty of cause for concern.
That concern immediately focused on her kidneys. The blood-deprived muscle tissue in her legs began leaking an enzyme damaging to the kidneys. Both failed. She went on dialysis.
Then there were her legs. The muscles in her left leg were especially bad, the lack of coursing blood causing the veins to collapse. Doctors cut the muscle fascia — the thin layer of tissue encasing all muscle — to re-stimulate circulation. Her right leg stabilized; her left worsened. The next day it was amputated about mid-thigh.
She developed pneumonia and was in an induced coma — to keep her still for healing purposes — for four weeks.
During that time, though, surprisingly positive signs began to emerge. Her kidneys regained full function, there was no evidence of brain damage, and her right leg began to improve.
“She is incredibly lucky to be alive,” Silver says. “She’s a miracle child.”
An aggressive treatment
Babcock is quick to second that “incredibly lucky to be alive” observation. Asked Monday how long it had been since the incident, she replied, “My six-month anniversary of not dying was two days ago. We went out and celebrated with refined sugar.”
She’s quick to second the “miracle” thing as well. The miracle is the technology that saved her life and promises to get it close to where it was before July 20.
Miracle One: The reason Babcock survived as long as she did without a heartbeat is a procedure called induced hypothermia, being used with increased aggressiveness by WakeMed. Induced hypothermia involves dropping body temperature through ice packs and an injection of an icy saline solution via a catheter into balloons placed under the skin.
“The target temperature is 91.4 degrees,” says Eric Reyer, a nurse with WakeMed who’s involved in the hospital’s induced hypothermia program. Cells in a chilled body require significantly less oxygen to survive and thus prevent damage from spreading. The procedure has been in use for several years, but gained widespread attention last fall when Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett suffered a severe blow to his spinal column, the type of injury that often results in paralysis. Doctors credit induced hypothermia with the fact that three months later he exhibits few signs of his injury.
Miracle Two: Silver still isn’t sure what caused Babcock’s heart to stop, but the current thinking is that it was caused by an enlarged right ventricle, something a person is born with. If the ventricle has improved on her next checkup, then Silver will scratch that diagnosis — a genetic condition can’t “improve” — and look elsewhere. Regardless, Babcock will keep the implantable cardiac defibrillator inserted under her left collarbone. It’s a tiny, battery-operated device that, should Babcock’s heart stop again, will deliver an electric jolt to jump-start it.
Miracles One and Two were lifesaving. Miracle Three has more to do with saving Babcock’s spirit.
Deanna Babcock’s goal is to be ready, by June 1, for the Kerr Lake Triathlon, a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike ride and 10k run. By November, she plans to do the Beach 2 Battleship Half-Ironman in Wilmington, N.C. — we’ll be cheering her on. if you’d like to help her in her cause, then check out Dollars for Deanna
Steve Brown has released The Inner Triathlete, a collection of multi-sport articles, interviews and short stories that speak to the human side of the sport of triathlon and to the spirit of the triathlete. The pieces, previously published by the author over several years, have been brought together as a fund raising effort and dedication to the life and mission of Jon “Blazeman” Blais, the first patient with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) to cross the finish line at the legendary Ironman Triathlon World Championship, in Hawaii.Blais won the hearts of millions through the story of his will to live life to the fullest despite the inevitable, nearing end. In May, 2007, he lost his battle with ALS, but Blais’ poetry writing and war against the disease is carried on through The Blazeman Foundation.
A portion of all book proceeds will benefit The Blazeman Foundation which raises money and awareness to find a cure for ALS. Although not a book about Blais’ life, the collection connects with the spirit of the multi-sport athlete, which was evident also in Blais’ writing. The book’s foreword is written by longtime triathlon writer Bob Mina.
Brown, of Philadelphia, has raced, worked and volunteered at hundreds of endurance sports events since 1987, from 5-km to marathon running to Ironman triathlon (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run). Over the years, he’s also used his racing as a platform to raise funds and awareness for charitable causes. Brown is also a USA Triathlon Regional Board member and a coach with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s TEAM IN TRAINING triathlon group.
Married, and a father of twins, Brown also finds time to write for regional and national publications, typically on sport and the human condition. The Blais production is his second book. In Brown’s first, My New Race, he chronicled his journey from leukemia diagnosis to Ironman finish line.
Both books are available through Lulu Publishing, and both benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Founded in 2002, Lulu is the world’s fastest-growing print-on-demand marketplace for digital publishing needs. Visit Lulu.com or www.remissionman.com to preview and order Brown’s books.
Kevin Knieling set off February 8th on his journey of biking, hiking and kayaking across the U.S. and from Canada and to the Gulf of Mexico. This solo, unsupported ultra-triathlon begins with a 5,000-mile bike ride across the U.S., followed by hiking the length of the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail and finally a 3,500 mile kayak trip beginning in Winnipeg, Canada which will end in the Gulf of Mexico.Knieling represents the growing generation of executives turned adventurists, leaving his job on Wall Street after 10 years to pursue his dream of adventure travel. In the last two and a half years, Knieling has traveled over 200,000 miles in 40 plus countries, ridden a bicycle over 4,000 miles across the US, hiked through the Himalayas, stood atop Mt. Kilimanjaro, jumped out of planes and completed scuba dives the world over.
Always inspiring others, Knieling tracks and reports his trip through updates on his website http://www.kevinknieling.com . The account of his quest will take the audience up close and personal as Knieling brings everyone along on this exciting and wild ride.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (January 28, 2008) — USA Triathlon is proud to introduce its new Certified Multisport Shop program. This is a group of retailers around the country targeting those athletes who love to swim, run and bike.
Following is the criteria the listed shops have met to become a part of the program:
· Have a USAT Certified Coach formally affiliated with the shop
· Sponsor at least 1 USAT sanctioned event per year
· Provide at least 2 beginners clinics per year
· Have a certified bike fit specialist on staff for shops that sell bikes
· Provide gait analysis for shops that sell running shoes
· Be an authorized dealer of triathlon specific products
· Provide a discount to USAT members
· Provide USAT membership and educational program information in a prominent place in the shop
If your favorite shop is not listed but you think they should be please have them contact Skye Wagstaff Krhoun.
The program currently includes multisport shops from Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Missouri, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Georgia, Florida, Colorado, and California.
A complete listing of shops in the program can be found at the USAT website.
About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the national governing body for triathlon - the fastest growing sport in the U.S. - as well as duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 2,300 races and connects with more than 100,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USAT provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Championships, Pan American Games, and the Olympic Games.
NEW YORK, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ — Aflac has signed a multi year title sponsorship of Iron Girl. With 10 events nationwide, ranging from 5K/10K, duathlon and triathlons, Aflac Iron Girl empowers women of all ages to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.
To illustrate the collective commitment to this partnership, the iconic Aflac Duck and Iron Girl’s Grace have been combined to create a new logo for the Aflac Iron Girl event series.
“Aflac Iron Girl events promote health and wellness and provide women with opportunities for competition and camaraderie,” said Paul S. Amos II, President, Aflac; COO, U.S. Operations. “We are pleased to partner with Iron Girl to provide a venue to allow women to achieve their personal best.”
The 10 Aflac Iron Girl events for 2008 are:
-- April 5 - Aflac Iron Girl Clearwater, Fla. (10K/5K Run/Walk Event)
-- April 12 - Aflac Iron Girl Lake Las Vegas, Nev. (Triathlon)
-- May 4 - Aflac Iron Girl Denver, Colo. (5K Run/Walk Event)
-- June 22 - Aflac Iron Girl Solana Beach, Calif. (10K/5K Run/Walk Event)
-- June 29 - Aflac Iron Girl Atlanta, Ga. (Triathlon)
-- July 20 - Aflac Iron Girl Irving, Texas (Triathlon)
-- Aug. 24 - Aflac Iron Girl Columbia, Md. (Triathlon)
“Iron Girl is excited to partner with a company that promotes a similar mission; one that supports women’s health and wellness. The partnership with Aflac will provide a new platform and greater opportunities for both brands to empower women toward a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Vice President of Iron Girl, Judy Molnar.
The Aflac Iron Girl experience provides women with a competitive platform and unique event amenities such as: a post-race catered Breakfast Cafe, performance shirts sized just for women, IPICO timing, personalized race bibs, custom finisher’s medals, post-race giveaways and much more.
About Aflac
For more than 50 years, Aflac products have given policyholders the opportunity to direct cash where it is needed most when a life-interrupting medical event causes financial challenges. Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force in Japan. Our insurance products provide protection to more than 40 million people worldwide. Aflac has been included in Fortune magazine’s listing of America’s Most Admired Companies for seven consecutive years and in Fortune magazine’s list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for 10 consecutive years. Aflac has also been recognized three times by both Fortune magazine’s listing of the Top 50 Employers for Minorities and Working Mother magazine’s listing of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com.
About Iron Girl
Iron Girl has grown from two 10K/5K events to ten events nationwide, consisting of run/walk, duathlon and triathlon events. To date, Iron Girl has celebrated with finishers ranging in age from 5 to 78 years of age and from beginner to professional status. The average age of the Iron Girl athlete is 37. Iron Girl’s mission is to empower women toward a healthy lifestyle. The brand is supported by partners such as Gatorade, Luna Bar, Celsius, Polar and Aqua Sphere. Fundraising efforts will benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund to help support young adults living with and recovering from cancer. By logging on to www.IronGirl.com, athletes can enjoy an interactive Web site filled with training tips, guest columnists and nutrition information. Iron Girl has also enhanced its offerings with the addition of the IronGirlShop.com with new items such as hydration and nutrition products, jewelry and sports bags. Additionally, Iron Girl will be launching a new technical apparel line in 2008.
TRIFEST 2008, presented by TriSports.com, invites triathletes from around the world to sunny Tucson, Arizona and its world-class training grounds February 26th through March 6th. This 10-day event features triathlon training camps, a consumer triathlon expo and a triathlon conference featuring industry-leading speakers. The goal of TRIFEST is to promote and celebrate the sport of triathlon while bringing athletes from around the world in contact with industry leaders, product vendors and professional athletes. The 10-day event will allow all participants a chance to kick-off the multisport season in a non-race environment.
This venue looks like the ideal place to check out the hottest gear and latest race techniques for the upcoming season. All that along with mingling with other cool triathletes like the Lovato’s, Andy Potts and more.
couple of days a week at the YMCA, and she’s gradually upping the miles on the bike. Soon, she plans to start running. Her goal is to be ready, by June 1, for the Kerr Lake Triathlon, a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike ride and 10k run. By November, she plans to do the Beach 2 Battleship Half-Ironman in Wilmington, N.C., which will involve swimming 1.2 miles, biking 56 miles and running 13.1 miles.
