Robin Dutton started mountain biking when he was fourteen, turned pro at nineteen, and began competing in elite triathlons a few years after that.

Last May, having just recovered from knee surgery, he was training to compete in the Victoria Half Iron Man when he was riding south on Jingle Pot Road and hit a truck that had been driving north and turned in front of him to go up Westwood Lake Road.

He totalled the truck.

Given the condition of the truck, you won't be surprised to hear that he had six broken ribs, a fractured neck, a head injury (leaving him with post percussive syndrome), and major fractures in his left leg. All three bones were broken leaving that leg shorter than the other and slightly pigeon toed - Actually you're probably surprised to hear that he lived to tell the tale.

Robin remembers leaving home that day after telling his girlfriend that he wanted to go for a ride rather that attend a Pilates class with her. Other than that he has no memory of the ride or the accident and only fuzzy images of his two-week stay in hospital.

So how does an elite athlete recover from such a devastating accident?

"By having a long-range vision and taking baby steps," Robin told me.

His first goal was to graduate from his walker to crutches, from there to a cane, then to get out of his neck brace,and finally to start riding again.

His fitness program started with just five minutes on a stationary bike, which he slowly increased to thirty minutes. Next he started riding to the pool - on trails most of the way - to begin swimming again.

I mention that the ride to the pool was mainly on trails because the Post Percussive Syndrome has left him uncomfortable in crowds and definitely uncomfortable riding or driving in traffic. It also took him some time to start remembering his friend's names.

While he was still in his neck brace more or less locked in front of his television set, Robin got a call from his friend Kebble Sheaff who owns Arrowsmith Bikes in Parksville. Kebble wanted to know if he would like to open a store in Nanaimo.

Once more or less back on his feet, the planning began and the store opened last November.

As I mentioned earlier, Robin's road map to success in life involves taking baby steps toward a long-range vision.

Given that his accident left him uncomfortable in traffic, his previous job as BC Rep for New Balance running shoes was no longer an option. The store gives him a long-range vision for business success.

So what about his athletic career?

Robin's vision is to compete in Iron Man races.

He's registered for the Idaho Iron Man in June, although he admits that's a bit of a long shot since his leg hasn't yet healed to the point that he can begin running; however, he is swimming and mountain biking, so he is planning to compete in the World Masters Mountain Biking Championships in Kamloops later this year.

Neighbourhood Heroes constantly remind us of lessons most of us have already learned but all too often forget to apply in our own lives.

Robin's lesson about baby steps toward a long-range vision is one we most often forget as we make our new years resolutions. Most of us want to lose twenty pounds in just a few short weeks, get fit even more quickly, or instantly achieve other goals we have been procrastinating about for years.

As Robin reminds us, our chances of success are hugely increased when we give ourselves plenty of time to reach our goals and then celebrate each of the baby steps along the way.