'Life Changing' Race Proves Profound For Lakeville Man

Gary Werning doesn’t remember his face hitting the rock on a remote mountainside last August. Considering the near-fatal traumatic brain injury caused by the fall, it could easily be considered improbable that the employee remembers anything at all.

“I wanted to go finish the race,” says Werning who trained relentlessly for the race when recalling his first thoughts after waking up in a Denver hospital after his accident. “And then I realized where I was and I felt fortunate when I looked around and saw some of the cancer patients and other accident victims that were there.”

Werning was among a contingent of Lakeville area riders and support personnel that traveled to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to compete in the Leadville 100 bike race last year. The race is considered one of the toughest endurance tests in the world and attracts top competitors such as Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis in addition to adventurous individuals seeking to conquer the race as a personal challenge.

Dubbed “The Race Across The Sky”, the Leadville 100 is an off-road roller coaster ride amid extreme terrain that varies in elevation from 9,200 feet to more than 12,500 along the Continental Divide.

“The race is really about changing lives,” says Bill Dietrich, who met Werning through Lifetime Fitness and also traveled with him to attempt the challenging race. “It teaches you how to work hard to reach your personal goals and it helps you learn how to better yourself through adversity.”

Werning was dealt some unexpected life-changing adversity 20 miles into the race when he went over his handle bars and was knocked unconscious when his face hit a rock. The spill occurred during a nearly 2,000-foot descent on a portion of the course known as the “Powerline." The steep stretch meanders through treacherous terrain filled with rocks, potholes and other dangerous natural obstacles. A rider behind Werning also crashed and landed on top him further compounding the accident.

Werning sustained broken ribs and a punctured lung as a result of the other riders falling on top of him, as well as the serious head trauma caused by the fall, and, if not for quick assistance from other riders in the race, probably would have perished on the hillside.

Steven Donchey, an orthopedic doctor from Florida, was riding in the race right behind Werning and was in position to administer immediate aid on the scene. “It was extremely serious,” said Donchey in a report following the accident. “I thought he was going to die.”

Doctors were forced to manipulate his airways until they could get him to rescue personnel because his brain could no longer control his basic involuntary functions.

“He didn’t have any vitals when they first checked him,” says Dietrich, who was ahead of Werning at that point and didn’t learn of the accident until after he completed the exhausting race. “It was bittersweet at the time. I had just completed the race and then they told me. All I knew was Gary had been in an accident and they were flying him to Denver. He’s a good friend. We soon came to realize just how serious it was.”

Three other doctors that were riding in the race also quickly stopped to provide on-site medical attention to the best of their abilities considering the lack of equipment and location of the accident. After trying to stabilize him, they were faced with carrying Werning up the steep mountainside past the tree line where a rescue helicopter was waiting.

One doctor later told Werning that, “the race was tough, but that was nothing compared to hauling you up the mountain.”

Despite his near fatal condition, Werning spent only 12 days recovering in the Denver hospital where, luckily, they had some of the top head trauma specialists in the world on staff due in part to a prevalence of ski-related injuries in the area.

Lifetime Fitness, who now owns the Leadville 100 race, sent a private plane and nurse to bring Werning back to Minnesota where he spent a 19-day stint at Sister Kenny’s Rehab Center in Minneapolis before being released on an outpatient basis.

Although still bothered by bouts of short-term memory loss which cause him to “get a little cranky” at times, the physical injuries sustained by Werning have healed and by all accounts his rapid recovery has been astounding.

“The doctors attribute the recovery of everything below the head to being in shape,” says Dietrich. “A few of the doctors have described his recovery as miraculous.”

“I have young children so I felt there was a need to stay in shape for them,” says Werning who began his fitness career after previous stints in farming and computers. “I wanted to make sure they saw the value of being in good shape.”

Werning’s recovery qualifies as an example of lesson that won’t soon be forgotten.

Werning admits to being a little overwhelmed by the support he has received during his long road to recovery and struggles at times with being the focus of such generosity showed by strangers as well as friends.

The public outpouring included a November benefit ride organized by the Lifetime community, friends and family. The event attracted more than 300 people and numerous Lakeville church organizations, and individuals, and members of the biking community at large also donated to the cause. The monies raised through their efforts helped with medical expenses as well as providing for Werning’s family while he was unable to work and his wife was on extended leave to help care for her husband.

“I don’t even know most of the people that were involved,” says Werning of those that came to his aide. “I just want to thank the local community for everything and for being a part of this. A lot of people made great sacrifices to help me on that mountain and the support I received when I got home was just tremendous.”

“I believe life is to be lived in helping other people and this has certainly proved many people do,” he added.

“The community is phenomenal," says Dietrich of the friendships he and Werning have forged through their involvement with Lifetime and dedication to pursuing a fit lifestyle. “It’s really all about the people you meet along the way and sharing your struggles to reach your goals. This community is just amazing in that respect.”

Werning is currently back at work, less than six months since the accident that nearly claimed his life, and is still teaching the popular spinning classes while also acting as a new member liaison for Lakeville’s Lifetime Fitness.

The race he entered to change his life has done so in profound and unexpected ways. According to Werning, it has reinforced his commitment to being fit and to helping others in their struggles with whatever challenges they may face. “It’s all about helping other people,” he says. “That’s my whole goal in life.”

His short-term goal is to travel back to Colorado this August to give the Leadville 100 another run and attempt to conquer the course that nearly killed him last year.

“The day I got out (of the hospital), my 11-year old said ‘you’re going to do it again, aren’t you Dad?’” says Werning. “I thought about it real quick and said, I think I can.”

A lottery is conducted each year to determine eligibility for those wishing to enter the popular race. Winning participants for this year’s race will be announced Feb. 28. Werning has already made his hotel reservations.