Rick Greif of Huntsville is recovering from surgery for multiple broken bones sustained in a bike crash during the Visit Panama City Beach Ironman 70.3 Gulf Coast triathlon on May 10.
Greif sustained a fractured pelvis, broken shoulder socket and collarbone, five broken ribs and other scrapes. The 56-mile bike portion of the triathlon went on after the initial swim portion was canceled due to rough water. During the ride, Greif hit an unmarked 4-inch “up lip” of asphalt. He immediately went down and landed on his left side. Greif was not the only rider to crash on the course. Severe weather moved in and the event eventually was halted with only part of the field finishing.
Greif was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment. Surgery was done May 12. He has begun physical therapy, with a long recovery ahead.
Grief is a longtime member of the Team Rocket Tri Club in Huntsville, and has participated in numerous triathlons. He also has coached many athletes young and old, and always has an encouraging word on the course. Greif also has more than a dozen Mountain Mist 50K finishes to his credit, along with others.
“Unfortunately it can be a tough sport sometimes,” Greif said via message. ” We knew on race morning that the event should have been cancelled based simply on danger to the athletes. They did cancel the swim portion (SMART)! Radar showed massive storms heading into the area. I was pushing reasonably hard on the 56-mile bike portion. I wanted to get off the bike and on the run before the violent bands of weather moved in.
“I didn’t see a nasty crack in the pavement and when I hit that at 20 mph my bike just shot sideways. I was down and out! I knew I was badly busted up as I couldn’t move an inch. Along came the ambulance, (which) loaded me up and headed off.”
Long Surgery
Greif’s fractured pelvis required 35 staples, one plate, a rod, screws and two big bolts to repair. He also had 12 stitches in his shoulder. His collarbone and shoulder joints were repaired, and the doctors “left the five broken ribs to heal on their own.”
As is his nature, Greif is remaining upbeat and has his eyes on recovery. His wife, Becci, is in Florida with him.
“The really impressive thing is my daughter and her husband came over from west Texas to race with Dad, for which I am eternally grateful,” he said. “On the bad side of things, I have been a race director in the past and it was my imperative duty to notify officials of ANY accident requiring hospitalization. Unfortunately, I’m not so sure this race director really cares at all. Meanwhile I’m out of my favorite sport for well over three months.”
Greif has been able to sit in a wheelchair and begin PT. He’s prohibited from putting weight on his left leg for three months. Movement for his left arm and shoulter also is limited and weight-restricted.
