This film is about my life as a mountain biker, a champion, a friend, a daughter, and a paraplegic. I hate that last word…but it’s the truth, and this is my life at this very moment.
Tara racing Sea Otter in 2007 - Sven Martin
Tara at the 2009 TLC at Northstar - Sven Martin
This will not be my life forever though…I will walk again! This film not only chronicles my issues throughout this journey, but also other athletes who have been affected by spinal cord injuries. Our mission is to show you what our lives were like before our accidents, what we deal with on a daily basis, and what we do to try and make it out the other side. Most importantly though, it gives you all an understanding of what you can do to protect yourselves and what you can do to help! We need your support to raise both money and awareness of SCI’s in hopes that we too will get to ride again! A lot has happened to each one of us since the day of our fateful accidents. So much that you probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you…so…I guess we’ll just have to show you!
This is a pre-trailer to a film with Tara Llanes. The film follows her and other paraplegic athletes overcoming the challenges of their injuries.It was around August 2009 when I started talking to Ricky James and David Bailey about racing the Ironman. Both of them are paraplegics and had finished the Ironman World Champs in Hawaii. David was actually one of the first para-athletes to finish the Ironman in Kona and to show people that it could in fact be done. I had been injured for about two years and in that time I hadn’t done much in the way of exercise. Sure, I had gone to physical therapy and worked hard while there, but not hard enough to work up a sweat - I hadn’t done anything that challenged me! This was a world I had never known because for as long as I can remember I was an athlete and this is how I defined myself.
Physical Therapy to help find the inner athlete again. Goal, the Ironman in Kona, Hawaii.
I had a really hard time mentally and emotionally just getting through my days. All I was focusing on was what I couldn’t do and not so much what I could do. I was feeling soo damn empty inside that I guess I figured if I could just push my body THAT hard then I would physically feel pain, and I wanted that. I also very much needed the validation that I could still compete in an event that would be insanely difficult, even for someone that wasn’t paralyzed. So for me to do it with only my upper body seemed…well, it sort of seemed impossible to me. That’s why I HAD to do it!
The race is a 2.4-mile ocean swim, 112-mile bike ride or hand cycle in my case, and a 26.2-mile run or for me a race chair push. The course was no different for me than it was for anybody else that qualified for it…meaning there was no special treatment! I had a coach and I had some good insight on what I needed to do to qualify from both David and Ricky.
To qualify for the Ironman World Champs in October 2010 I had to finish the Buffalo Springs half-Ironman in June and do it under the allotted time. It was late October early November 2009 when I started my training so I thought I had tons of time. I started swimming a little and I had been in my hand cycle nearly every day, but I couldn’t start pushing my race chair just yet because I didn’t have it.
Telluride Film Festival where Anne Keller displayed pics of me at Craig Hospital
I’d been training for about a month and was starting to ride longer and longer, but the longer I’d go the more problems I’d have. I was riding further, which meant I drank more, which ultimately leads to you having to find a bathroom, right? (Oh...and yes, I’m gonna go there. I know this stuff is personal, but it’s all part of what I’m going through.) Problem is…getting me out of my hand cycle wasn’t all that easy. Someone basically had to lift me up out of my hand cycle that was only inches to the ground, and carry me into the bathroom. My bladder was so small we were stopping every 30 minutes and I was dubbed "Tiny Tanks!" I’d come to the realization that if I wanted to do the Ironman I had to sort something out.
I started checking around and found out that a couple friends had gone to a doctor at USC and had a special surgery doubling the size of their bladder. Who knew you could even do that? I made an appointment with him to talk over exactly what the operation entailed and of course what the recovery time would be. He told me that I’d be back to training within a month, tops! After meeting with the doctor, researching the Internet and going over the procedure with friends, I felt like I had done my homework and it seemed like it was exactly what I needed to do, so I made an appointment, and booked a date for surgery. To be absolutely clear though, yes, this surgery was going to be extremely helpful in pursuing my Ironman goal, but it would also be a huge positive in my quality of life in general.
On January 7th, 2010, we drove to USC where I underwent the most heinous operation of my life…and that’s including when I broke my back! As they wheeled me out of the operating room I woke up in excruciating pain. I tried opening my eyes, but I couldn’t. It felt like they were glued shut. Before surgery I explained to the doctors that they had to put something under my knees so that it would take the pressure off my back. I know that doesn’t sound like a big deal, but if they didn’t the rods in my back would feel like they were snapping in half! Well, guess what? The doctors f#@^&!! up and I was paying the price! I had just had stomach surgery, but my back felt like it was breaking all over again! I was writhing in so much pain that at one point I was stupid enough to say to Elladee and my Mom just to "put me out of my misery!" Yeah...it was THAT bad!
I was only supposed to be in the hospital for 5 days tops, but I was there for ten. I was extremely nauseous from all the medication, I couldn’t eat, and had lost nearly 10lbs from all the vomiting. I felt like death and was in so much pain that I wasn’t going anywhere near a pool, a hand cycle, or race chair. By the time I felt halfway decent enough to begin training it was mid-March, and my dream of qualifying in June and making it to the Ironman was over.
So there you have it…my life during those months in a nutshell. That is what this teaser is all about, but there is more to this story. There is so much more! About a year and a half ago I met Aaron Larocque and that’s when we starting talking about making a film following my life and the lives of other athletes that have been affected by spinal cord injuries. My goal of course was to cross that finish line in Kona, but in the end I never made it because of the surgery that would have allowed me to actually compete in it. It’s crazy how life works isn’t it? Even though I didn’t compete, the process I had to go through will still be a huge part of the story. Maybe not the part that crossed the finish line in Kona, but a part of this journey I call my life.
Whistler Freeriding in 2007 - Sven Martin
First day in Whistler in 2009 - back on dirt, 4 wheels this time.
First day in Whistler - always trying to push things a little harder!
a wheel chair is more expenssive than a neck brace
Both Aaron and I were a bit nervous putting the teaser up just because it means so much to the both of us and we just wanted everyone to like it. Well, so far things are looking pretty damn good! We have got a lot more filming to do, but we promise this will be a film like no other! It's not just going to be about broken backs and wheelchairs...it's going to be about digging deep into the emotions of it all, wicked riding sections, and most of all....sick athletes! So hang in there because it'll be worth it! No, we don't have a release date yet nor do we have a title for the film. Hmmm....that sort of just gave me an idea. Maybe we'll ask all of you what the name of it should be??
Thank you again everyone from both Aaron and I and remember....Never Give Up!!
very moving video as well, thanks
Anyway, good karma ? who knows, but i will still wear it all most of the time and in fact i wont even buy a upper body protector that has a center zipper or if it does, like my Skeletools, i improvise with a home made velcroed chest attachment.
ok, sorry for the overlong rant but, just saying, the only thing useless in any extreme sport is a closed mind about any kind of protection. happy trails. [ ps. since you live in Burnaby i will guess you have done Burnaby Mt. Trails - the switch back i was referring to is the first of two on Nicoles, the steep 90degree one at the bottom of the rubber mat - fun ! :-)
He's up and managing to walk now and this weekend we're trying his first 'very careful' ride.... It's all he's wanted to do. Bikes hurt/bikes heal. Been a long wait and there's a long way to go... but it's all about attitude and he's got it in heaps.
I know he wanted to post on here but doesn't do the typing thing... So thanks on his behalf Tara for giving others hope and strength. Keep on battling we're all behind you.
Tell your brother that there are others out there that have been injured and all they want is to get back on there bike and be able to haul ass and do whips off of 30 foot jumps...me being one of them!! LOL! I just can't wait for the film to be done to show everyone exactly what I'm talking about!!
Take care and tell your brother to keep pushing and staying fit!
www.pinkbike.com/news/tara-llanes-classic-2011-dates.html
mattnevergivesup.blogspot.com
One of my best friends, world class whitewater kayaker, rippin' mt biker, shreddy skier, solid surfer, all-around athlete, oh...and (hand's down) one of THE nicest people I've ever met (even before the accident). Unfortunately, mt biking got the best of him one day, and he's now a quadraplegic. I would love nothing more than to see him up on his own feet/bike/boards again someday. Keep pushing it ya'll...it's for everyone out there strugglin' with these kinds of injuries. Peace.
Your story brought tears to my eyes as I also know what it is like to have so much of what you know taken away from you, but I was lucky enough to be able to get most of what I lost back as it was taken away from in a very different way. 11 years ago I was electrocuted by overhead powerlines, I ended up with burns to about 75-80% of my body, along with a few broken bones including a vertebrae in my neck (no damage to my spinal cord tho and very rarely a day go's by that I don't think about how lucky I was) and lost the sight in my left eye. I was 16 at the time and the only reason I lived was because I was so fit- I was very involved with inline skating both speed skating (skated for Aus the 2 yrs before) and inline hockey (was at nationals the week before).
I was so very lucky to make a full recovery- when I say that I mean I can do all the things I want to do but my body will never be the same- I can skate, ride, work, be independent but most of all enjoy my life with the people I love.
When here stories like yours it motivates me to keep striving to make the most of my life and help others make the most of theirs.
Thank you again Tara, I hope this film really helps raise the money and awareness that is needed. and I cann't wait to see it.
Dru.
Coming from a guy who broke his neck in 2 places (C1, C2) and back in 2 places (T3,T4) in a bicycle crash ending with a T1-T7 fusion, you are an inspiration! I somehow, by the grace of God, managed to walk away from my accident, and can't fathom what you have gone through and accomplished. Shred on Tara!
Coming from a guy who broke his neck (C1, C2) and back (T3,T4) in a bicycle wreck ending with a spinal fusion from T1-T7, you are an inspiration. I somehow, by the grace of God walked away from my accident, and can't fathom what you and others have gone through. Shred on Tara!
THIS NEEDS MORE FUNDING..
Obviously I'm joking (I have black friends etc) LOL.
Good work Tara, looks tough
Good lucky to you Tara!!!
need to be VOD
Gary.