In late May we talked to John Carson about his wild and determined journey to recovery after a terrible accident with an SUV. He then revealed his plan to race Ford Ironman Lake Placid and a couple days ago he did exactly achieve that. After 14 hours 56 minutes and 53 seconds he got to hear "John Carson, you are an Ironman."
Slowtwitch: John, you set out to compete at Ironman Lake Placid against some stunning odds and you did it indeed. Congratulations.
John: Thank You! I know my journey to the start line was not conventional, but it made my day that much more amazing. Everyone was quick to remind me before the race that no matter what happened that day I had already won the race of my life. In one year and 9 days time I went from being paralyzed after being struck and suffering a spinal cord injury, to lining up with all the able bodies at Ironman Lake Placid. All that was great but I knew I needed this race to be whole again and I would not stop until I crossed that line in 17 hours or less.
ST: Tell us about your day.
John: My day started around 5:15 when I got to the oval for body marking. My wife helped me get my special needs bags together and before we said goodbye she told me to remember that this injury will not define you! With those powerful words in my head I was off to the swim start. There were so many swimmers there I knew I was in for one hell of a start. Once the canon fired I went on the offense. I figured that if I hung back or was worried about getting hurt that I would be more vulnerable so I just went for it. The swim went by in a flash and I found myself out of the water 1hour and 13 minutes after the start. I made my way to transition and got my gear together. The bike has always been my strongest of the three and I knew that I needed a great ride to give myself as much time to get through the run. I averaged over 23 mph over the first 30 miles of the race. I was flying but I knew I couldn’t go this hard. I had to find a nice comfortable pace and settle in. The climbs were tough but I stayed seated and kept my cadence at 90rpm the whole day. 6 hours and 39 minutes of up and down hills I was back at the oval for transition to the run. This is where my battle would really being.
ST: It sounds like you had quite a few encounters with support comments during the run.
John: The run was what had worried me the most. Since regaining the ability to walk earlier this year running has been such a struggle. I knew going into the day that my longest run/walk was just under 10 miles in training. I was now attempting to more then double that distance after a 2.4 mile swim and 112 mile bike. I padded as much time with the other disciplines as I could but I still had no idea if my body would hold up over the 26.2 miles. As I headed out of transition on my feet the noise of the crowd on Main Street made me want to sprint but I had a plan and needed to stick to it. I started out running for 5 minutes and then walking for 3 minutes. As I was out there so many athletes participating in the event slowed to ask me if I was that guy from the slowtwitch article. Some of them slowed to even walk with me and encourage me. They told me how the article inspired them or how when they felt like their day wasn’t going so great they thought about what I was over coming. Some told me how they had shared it with friends who had suffered an injury either minor or major and it helped them get through it. The first lap seemed to roll by but then the second lap started and I slowed to a 3 min run and a 3 min walk. Each step became more and more difficult. Due to my injury I have to literally think about every step I take. By mile 19 I really started to doubt that I could make it. I knew I had plenty of time but it just hurt so much. It was at this point when I didn’t think I could go any further when my whole life flashed before my eyes. I saw myself lying in the road unable to get up. I saw myself being loaded into the helicopter. I saw the doctors cutting my torn and tattered clothes off my bloodied body. I saw my family standing by my bedside crying and praying that I would make it. As these thoughts started flooding into my head I just kept moving forward. I then started to see myself learning to get out of the bed and into the wheelchair. I saw myself rolling around on the mats in the hospital learning to use my core and learn my how to move my body again. Mile 21, 22, 23 24, 25 all filled with these thoughts. As I headed into the oval I could see myself standing for the first time. I could see myself taking that step away from the wheelchair and the look on my wife and mothers face. As I came into the finisher chute I could tell people were cheering but I couldn’t hear it. I was overcome with what I was about to accomplishment. I could only hear my heart beating as I stepped to the line and then those words I worked so hard and so long to hear John Carson You are an Ironman.
ST: John, you are an Ironman indeed. So where is your finishers medal as we speak?
John: Sitting right next to me. I still can't believe that I did it. Most of my triathlon medals find their way into a drawer but this one is going to get a special home.
ST: How do you think people figured out that you are the guy from slowtwitch? Well, the guy with the amazing story.
John: The race kit I wore at placid was white with the Team Reeve and Christopher Reeve Foundation logo all over it. Most of the people recognized the uniform and just asked me if I was that guy. Others heard from other people on the course that I was out there racing and went out of their way to support me. I had a great team of family and friends wearing Team Reeve shirts on the sideline spreading the word about what I was doing out there. The support was amazing.
ST: So what is next?
John: Well to date I have helped raise $10,000 for the Christopher Reeve Foundation and although this race is over the race to find a cure for spinal cord injuries is ongoing. I will continue to get out there and push my body as far as it will go in the hope that I will continue to inspire others and raise awareness for this amazing foundation. I will certainly be joining the team for NYC marathon this fall and maybe another Ironman in 2011.
ST: How can other people be involved with your cause?
John: Like I said earlier, this race is over but the fight for a cure for paralysis is ongoing. The Christopher Reeve foundation continues to do amazing work long after the passing of their 2 biggest advocates. People can continue to support my efforts at my website but they can also raise money on their own for a great cause and get into a great marathon while they are at it. They provide entries to NYC, Boston, Chicago and the Marine Corps. Marathon. So if you are active or want to get active, what better way to run a great race than by raising some money for a great cause. Thank you all for your support and a special thanks to the guys and girls at slowtwitch for helping me get the word out for such a great cause.
ST: Any other thoughts?
John: There is something that I had on the back of the shirts that my supporters wore around town. It is from a sign that hung in Christopher Reeve's therapy gym.
For everyone who thought I couldn't do it
For everyone who thought I shouldn't do it
For everyone who said I didn't have it in me
See you at the finish line.
