Not your everyday cross training experience. ..

[Teresa1632]

One of the things I do as cross training is to walk long distances to build endurance. There are caminos locally that are great fun, testing and really friendly. They're usually 22-23 miles long, well supported and you get a medal, t shirt and a hot meal at the finish.I signed up for one that was taking place on Saturday, duly registered at 7am and climbed on the bus that was to convey us to the start point.

About 6k from the start, the coach left the road and we hurtled towards the hedge and trees at an angle. The windows broke and the trees came in. I was flung across the aisle, closely followed by another passenger, who fell on top of me and she went into "freeze" mode. Managed to get her to respond and I pushed & she pulled to get her into the aisle. Then I climbed up to lean against the edge of the seat.

Everyone had gone quiet...so I shouted to ask if everyone was OK. We all were! So I shouted, "that's good news, we can all work on how to get out"

We climbed along the edge of the seats, using them as a ladder, then slid down the side of the bus, which was on its side.

Emerged covered in glass, leaves and muck from literally being dragged through a forest. I then walked 6k just to walk the adrenaline out. Then, I stopped, sat in a chair for an hour and stared at a wall.

Today, I'm very battered, bruised, and sore. But glad there was no serious injuries. The angels worked overtime 💚💚💚

Not the cross training I'd planned, but so very grateful.

(And now for those angels......always, always I'm sorry for keeping yez so busy. 💚💚💚💚)

"The forest has always been a place, in fairy tales and in Shakespeare, where you go and discover who you are. You get stripped of everything you thought you were, some type of ordeal takes place, and you come out stronger" David Farr

[Week7 Half Marathon]

Sorry to hear that you had such a frightening event. So pleased that there are no serious injuries. Hooe you have time to rest and recover properly and all the bumps and bruises heal well.

[Jools2020 Half Marathon]

What a terrible and frightening thing to have happened! It’s a miracle that nobody was seriously injured. I’m not surprised you sat and stared at the wall afterwards - but you kept your cool when it mattered although you must have been in shock. I hope you rest and heal well and if you need to talk to someone about it, I hope you do that, too.

[Teresa1632 Marathon in reply to Jools2020]

Thank you, I will talk to someone today. Spoke to my GP this morning & started to shake as I recounted the event. Isn't the mind amazing when it goes into survival mode, then enables everything to be processed afterwards. Just incredible. Thank you x

[Jools2020 Half Marathon in reply to Teresa1632]

I’m so glad you’re talking to someone; yes, survival mode is amazing, but the processing afterwards isn’t always easy x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Oh my, how awful for everyone. So glad you came through OK, all things considered. Take care xxx

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

What an awful incident Teresa1632 . So glad that you and the other passengers did not get seriously hurt but that sounds very frightening. Hope you feel better soon and can return to more normal cross-training!

[Cmoi Marathon]

Well done Teresa1632 , glad there were no serious injuries and hope you don't get any delayed effects. And also that the cause of the accident is found and appropriate action taken to minilmise the chances of recurrence.

[Teresa1632 Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

The road collapsed so the coach lost control. We came to rest against the trees (branches came through the windows). But the trees saved the coach from toppling into a field below.I'm very sore and tired today, but glad to be able to tell the tale.

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Teresa1632]

Good grief! Round here it's usually driver falling ill or asleep, or swerving to avoid an animal, not collapsing roads.

Could've been so much worse. I hope you can rest both physically and mentally, and that it doesn't prey on your mind.

[CBDB]

Oh noooo! What a scare! Hope you are feeling calmer again! A nightmare scenario! So glad nobody was hurt! And take care of yourself over the next days! The mind needs also often some rest and healing.

[Teresa1632 Marathon in reply to CBDB]

Thank you, I feel very tired today, like I've just run a marathon. The mind is amazing isn't it.

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Goodness what a thing to happen

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

So relieved to hear everyone escaped relatively unscathed Teresa1632 . That was a horrendous experience for you all. ☹️

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Miraculous that everyone walked away from that without serious injury Teresa. You were cool, you enquired about everyone else and then calmly got on with the job of getting out safely and helping others. That is a gift; sometimes a reaction comes out later, but your walk and period of reflection will have helped to reduce that. You can never have too many angels around in a crisis.🙂

[Teresa1632 Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thank you, it's interesting to see how people respond - fight, flight or freeze. (I think I went into fight mode). And thankfully there were earth angels on the bus who had very cool heads to help everyone stay calm. Also, as we were all going on a23 mile walk, there was a level of fitness among the passengers that might not otherwise have been the case. The odds were in our favour for sure

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Oh my goodness Teresa, what a horrible experience. It sounds as if you went into survival one whereas others froze. But the after-shock might still hit you so take care and give yourself time and lots of TLC for a while.

That accident could have been so much worse. Thank goodness everyone was ok.

Your angels were indeed working hard that day but they did a wonderful job 🪽🪽

[Teresa1632 Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you. I am very sore and for some reason, tired. Possibly post adrenaline crash. Grateful that we all got out and the bus didn't roll on to its roof. Very scary stuff.

Escaping a bus accident

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Teresa1632]

You’ll probably feel tired for some time. I’ve just seen your reply above explaining what happened. What are the chances? It must have been really scary for the driver as he probably lost control of the whole bus.

[Teresa1632 Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

He did, and he was treated for shock too. He went into "freeze" mode afterwards- (so many passengers did).I can still see the windows coming in, and the skylight breaking as someone flew up and hit it. Everything happened in slow motion.

My GP says to take it easy, keep mobile. And for the mind - have some nice lunches, go to listen to water flowing, allow the adrenaline to slow down. He talks sense ❤️

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Oh my goodness Teresa, what a terrifying experience, and I’m not surprised you were in shock once the immediate urge to get out safely was over. No doubt you are very battered and bruised , but I’m glad it wasn’t worse for you all.

[Teresa1632 Marathon]

Saw GP & he advises that I'll be sore and tired for another few days - as the adrenaline crash kicks in. I'm finding new bruises and sore bits. Grateful to have only minor injuries, and not thinking about other consequences 😱

[drl212]

Yikes! What a frightening experience. I'm so pleased that there were no serious injuries.

[misswobble Marathon]

oh blimey! What a trauma!! Luckily everyone was ok. Not what you’d expect is it but we can never know. Phew 😮‍💨

I hope your equilibrium is now fully restored 🙂