Wounded Warriors Recover with TrainingPeaks

Brian Grenier, coach and project manager, and his Wounded Warriors cycling team of Camp Lejeune have wrapped up their 2009 season, and what a season it has been.  The Wounded Warriors contacted TrainingPeaks last winter about providing an aid to help coordinate and follow the training and progress of multiple athletes located at various locations through out the US.  TrainingPeaks provided the necessary vehicle for that need! The success they had in getting out training plans to the various athletes was unmatched by any other program within the Warrior Athletic Rehabilitation Program and the year long success of the athletes was outstanding! Read on for more below from Brian on how the team did.
Photos courtesy of Todd & Shelia Carton

Outstanding actually does not even begin to paint the picture we saw unfold this year with these athletes.  Consider this: of the 6 athletes we were able to train up to be successful bike racers, all of them suffer from various degrees of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).  When we first brought the program online these athletes, all of whom were wounded in combat, had stress and depression scores that were off the charts, and some were highly medicated.  The physical injuries ranged from trauma inflicted orthopedic injuries to violent dismemberment.  None of the athletes had begun the process of re-engagement into social surroundings which is so key to any recovery.  This is where we found ourselves at the beginning of this year.

Some of our first road rides were... challenging I guess that is a good word to pick. Amazingly, as things progressed and speeds climbed we never had a crash, which was simply amazing considering everything we were dealing with. But just look at the final photos taken at Stage 4 of the Tour of Utah, folks: those are bike racers and because of your support through the year we produced amazing results.

• USOC Paralympics Endeavor Games Time Trial: 1 Gold and 1 Silver

• USOC Paralympics State Games of America: 1 Gold, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze

• 1000 Warriors ride Stage 4 of the TdU 96 miles 14,755 Ft of climbing: 3/5 athletes completed the race.

• USO Memorial Day Challenge 6 days DC to VA Beach: 2/2 riders finished

• USOC Paralympics: 3 Athletes qualified for Talent pool status for the 2012 Games

• USAC Down East Cycling ITT: 5th place

These results were a direct result of the use of Training Peaks, my go to tool for training plans.  Also, for the record Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression and Stress scores all dropped off significantly: most were off their medication with the help of a doctor in 4 months, they lost a combined 120lbs of excess body weight and completely reengaged not only within the team but also with society as a whole with many of them being interviewed numerous times over the year!

So as we close out our season, the Cycling Marines of the Wounded Warriors Battalion East just want to extend a heart felt THANK YOU for your support, not only for our personal endeavors but also in support of our brave men and woman in uniform as they work their way through their rehabilitation process!

You can donate to the Wounded Warriors and the Team Semper Fi Fund here.

Note:  The use of the term Marine Corps, Marine or any other terminology reflecting the organization known as the United States Marine Corps does not imply in any shape, form or means of communication known to man exclusive endorsement of this product or service.