Dear Friends/Supporters,

Michael continues along the not unexpectedly rocky path of recovery following his accident last Saturday. He remains in the ICU (intensive care unit) at the Austin Hospital, where Mon remains by his bedside for as long she is physically able.

Physical Update:

He is in a serious but stable condition. The surgeons have fixated his neck fractures with some metal screws and rods, and have further re-inforced their internal work with a a halo-thoracic brace. This contraption keeps the neck completely still (in a neutral position) with a framework of metal and plastic between the chest and head. This is not comfortable for Mike, but it is important to prevent any further neurological damage, as there are some suspected fractures high in the neck.

He has some collapse and consolidation at the bases of his lungs, which is essentially normal for someone who is unable to deep breathe, cough or mobilise. These small infections are being treated with antibiotics, and they should clear once he gets a tracheostomy (tube at the notch at the front of the neck, which will go into his breathing tube- the trachea) and can sit up and be rolled about more easily. This is planned for today or early next week. The medical team have also discovered a fractured jaw and a potentially fracture right wrist. These will be fixed in due course.

Mental Update

Despite the magnitude of injuries, Mike remains mostly up-beat and his intellect and personality remain 100% intact. He is asking plenty of questions of both the team looking after him and Mon/Ash as his tiredness allows. ICU is a difficult place to sleep and he remains on enough pain killers that they also act to sedate his physical and mental condition. He is certainly aware and thankful that there is a huge number of people with interest in his recovery.

Visitors

ICU only allows 2 visitors at a time. His condition only allows short visits, and he is not yet through vital parts of his short term recovery. Indeed Mike’s recovery will be months in the making, so there will be plenty of time for everyone to visit through the coming months. He needs all the love and support of his family and friends at this time and into the future. Mike’s extended family will be visiting this weekend, so if you’re not sure about going out, call Mon first- she’s in the loop about who’s where and what’s going on with day-to-day care.

Accident

Details about the exact cause of Mike’s accident remain sketchy, but it seems that there was a driver responsible for this accident. Mike has not given a formal statement yet for obvious reasons, but if anyone has witnessed or has information regarding Mike’s accident (which happened around 11.30am Saturday 28th June near the Brighton Savoy) please contact your local police station or get in touch with Mon. There is going to be a public appeal for information.

Www.michaelforbes.org

Finally, a website is being set up where you can access information and provide support through email contact. The purpose of this website will be not only to inform, but also raise financial support for Mike and his family going into the (expensive) future.

Regards

Mitch

Dear Triathlon/Cycling Community,

As many of you may know, Michael Forbes was involved in a serious bike accident on 28 June whilst riding by himself in Brighton East. At this stage, the details of the accident remain unclear. He has not been able to fully disclose an account of the accident, due to the nature of his injuries which require support with a breathing tube and ventilator.

Michael has suffered a severe and likely irreversible damage to his cervical spine (neck) which has left him paralysed in both the arms and legs. He underwent surgery on 30 June to help stabilise the region of the injury. As is normally the case with this procedure and situation, he remains in a serious condition in the intensive care unit. Despite his injuries he remains fully conscious, and is communicating through non-verbal means- and even managing to crack the odd gag and a smile.

He and his wife Monica wanted to let everyone know of his progress and thank everyone who has called, texted or visited during the past few days. It’s understandable that we all have questions regarding the ultimate outcome for Michael but, at this early stage, his prognosis is unclear and difficult to accurately predict.

Plans are underway to utilise a webpage to provide ongoing updates and as soon as this is available we will provide a link from this website so that you may follow his progress. He and his family will require much support in the short and long term. If you have any queries or messages for Michael and his family, they can be directed direct to Monica or through CBD (anth@cbdcycles.com.au) or to Sam (schume@yahoo.com) or Mitch (mitch.anderson@optusnet.com.au)

Regards

Sam and Mitch

Hi Crew,

 It’s been a while between hanging out and just recovering from the travel and racing. So early July is scheduled to be a cruisy time for me to catch up on sleep and pull the body back to 100% before hitting the rigours of preparation for IM Hawaii and IM WA. I think I’ll hit a long course race in September to sharpen up, and try to do some running races as part of the old boys cross country here in Melbourne plus visit Buddy for squads for a three month stint to bring my swimming up a level.

I have learnt from what was a solid, yet ultimately sub-par race for me in Japan. I need to tighten up my transitions where I wasted some valuable time. I think the gains I made in my swimming suffered from being away from squads for the three weeks leading into the race. I have decided at this stage (pending some seriously crap Melbourne weather!) to prepare for Kona in Melbourne, so I can persist with Buddy’s squads and make up some ground for keeps. My bike was no problems, but I would like to put some speed work in if I get the energy. As for my run, I need to rid myself of these seriously pesky little tib post niggles, which have been annoying me since April. I get a good month done, then they rear their ugly little heads again. In order to do the speed work on the run, which I need to run to potential, I have to have a block of good training Aug-Oct. I’m also getting in the gym for the next month to HTFU.

I’ve pulled up easily the best from any ironman after Japan, and that could be easily explained by not really running out the last ten kilometres…not the way I’d like to race again. I ran a couple of times around the lake in Daylesford with Brett (my older brother) on the weekend, and froze half to death! We had a terrific weekend celebrating Mum’s 60th though. 

See you on the road

Mitch 

Thanks again to Hajime and Tomoko for showing us a great time in Tokyo (Dinner in Tokyo) 

Hi Gang,

The Bird and I will leave Tokyo tonight and get back to Melbourne in the morning. In the meantime, I have an admission to make. I have been so starved of coffee that Starbucks tastes good to me…I’m truly disgusted that my standards could have slipped so far, so quickly. I don’t know how, but it just seemed to happen- Goto is not espresso mecca by any stretch so that certainly didn’t help!

Thanks to Hajime and Tomoko Nakiyama who showed us around yesterday in Tokyo. They took us up and down the waterways, through a famous temple and dined with us at some traditional eateries. The tempura prawns were perfect, but the traditional foods we had last night were just amazing. Hajime has been working 15 hours a day, so we were glad he had the energy to take us on some excellent adventures through his home town. (Dazz and Bird on the train in Tokyo)

I want to thank those who’ve taken the time to email me with encouragement and support for me and the result in Japan. I’m certainly happy to be consistently hitting the podium, it’s just I’m in the sport to try and win at every outing! I know that a podium is ceratinly a win of sorts, and putting in strong performances are what being professional is about. Keep presenting and the opportunity will arrive to take the win. I especially want to thank Michael Scragg who sent me a great reality check email, which I have pasted below. I hope he doesn’t mind. 

We’re off to Daylesford for my Mum’s 60th Birthday this Friday afternoon, so will see you on the road next weekend.

Mitch

Mitch,

Congratulations for the result in Japan and completing 20 ironmans and Bridie for lasting through yet another ironman.

To be honest I don’t see what the problem with coming second is. Granted you probably had higher hopes in relation to this race but what I think you need is a little reality check or some perspective on the situation. I offer this to you as an athlete at the higher end you probably only hang around other athletes of a similar calaber, look at your partner Bridie. Only a breath away from olympic selction.

Let me paint the picture for you. This year at Port Mac it was my first ironman. Was feeling OK til you came flying past me to lap me on the bike, that’s always going boost a person confidence. So there you are fast enough on the bike to lap people! Next I had been out on the run for about 15min before I hear in the distance over the speakers that you had crossed the line, I only had 40 more k’s to cover before i could do the same. So while you where showering and enjoying a nice meal I was walking, yeas walking. My legs left me with 25k to cover to get home. So 14:48 and change after starting the day I crossed the line in 1303. So what is the moral of the story? Second isn’t so bad. I would give an arm and a leg to be able to even come close to finishing an ironman in the time you can. Granted I have not being training as long as you but still.

Second can’t really be that bad considering that you could have come last or not finished. Look at the big picture. I do I finished ahead of 130 odd people and many millions of others who never even started.

I hope this helped your view of second.

Happy training

Cheers

Michael Scragg 

Hi Crew, 

Bloody Hell! My third second for the year (Geelong, Port, now here). Just got the legs up ready to head out for some food and a couple of beers post IM Japan. Not really the result I was after, especially in the context of the winnability of the race, but Luke had a blinder. He set a new course record for the swim, and overall in a scorching 8:29. I was second in 8:38. I set a new course record for the bike by 8 minutes, and in the process knocked off my WA nemisis Matt Illingworth. 

So here’s the skinny, the fat will come later.

swim: 52:44 (10th overall), solid without being special. Missed the second bunch by a bees wang, which would have been perfect for me.

bike: 4:37 (Course record), new position felt good, but I still need some more long rides to see the benefit of the extra glut/ham.

run: 3:08 (?15th), solid first 30km even though I lost 60-90 sec through a misdirection. Let my emotions get the better of me in the last 10.

overall 2nd 8:38:34: this time would have won any other edition of this race!!! 

check on First off the Bike for an interview and photo’s in the next few hours.

we’re off to Tokyo on tuesday but see you at the coffee shop the week after,

Mitch 

PS big thanks to Bridie for putting herself through the mental anguish of watching her 11th IM race, and for big Dazz from Shotz for making the trip over here for the race