Madison, Wisconsin
September 8, 2019
In the days after the crash, the realization that all of my training this past year gearing up for Ironman Canada and Ironman Wisconsin would not see me at those respective start lines. My heart was empty. While still in the ICU, I received a phone call that relit my fire. Mike Reilly, the Voice of Ironman, took a few minutes out of his busy travel day to call and give me some inspiration. Mike had called me home on all four of my finishes to date. Hearing his voice call you across the finish line is an unbelievable feeling that people dream about.
When it came time for the trip to Whistler, BC, my friends and teammates found a way to bring me with. Just before the trip, #stickjosh was created. My face was enlarged and put on a stick. I traveled to Yellowstone, Ironman Canada, Seattle, and anywhere they went in between. Now mind you, there were multiple versions of me, so I traveled by both truck and camper as well as by air. This trip was amazing as I waited to see where #stickjosh would show up next.
On August 15, I was finally discharged from the hospital. I returned home in time to make it to the benefit planned for me over the past almost two months. My families all came together to have what ended up being one heck of a welcome home party. My work family, the Brainerd Lions, the Arboretum, triathletes, nordic skiers, divers, and so many more people. What a community event it turned out to be!
I was home in time to make an appearance at the Lakes Country Triathlon. This was my first triathlon over a decade ago. It was great to be there cheering in my LAMS teammates.
A couple weeks later I returned to the surgeon to see how things were healing. While it was discouraging that I was not healed enough for a pending surgery, it also opened me up to make the trip to Madison for Ironman! On the trip home, I worked to try to find an open hotel room. By the time we arrived at home our room was booked and we were ready to go.
My dad and I headed over on Saturday. When we pulled into town, we were invited over to supper with one of our LAMS families who was racing. What a great evening with friends before his big day.
I did not know how race morning was going to feel. When we got fo the Terrace, I was glad to be there, but knew I was in no condition to race. Heck, I still had to wear a TLSO brace for my broken back! We watched the swim start which is pretty anticlimactic how that they have gone to a rolling start. After watching for a while, I went down to the Ironman Store to see what was there. Leaving the store we met an athlete's husband and young son. They had been displaced due to the hurricane, so had been in town for about a week. In the days after the race, I found out that she did not make it out of the swim before the cutoff. My heart broke for her.
We migrated to the door athletes came out after changing to get to their bikes. Here ws cheered for multiple friends. It was a quick hop over to bike out, so I caught people between both locations. Seeing some of the reactions when they saw me made the trip worth while. I provided some extra encouragement for the ride.
We took a trip out to Rocket Bikes in Verona to watch the bike. We caught people as they were starting their second loop. A friend I made over the years waved as I shouted his name. A minute later, a cyclist was riding the wrong direction. Luis turned around to come back and thank me for being there. There is a mutual respect that we have shared at this race. Last year we had spent miles together trying to get to the finish.
After a break from the racing action so I could get out of the brace, we returned to the run course. I made a trip to the finish line. Of course Mike was there. When there was a large break in athletes, I was able to talk with Mike in person. His response to my being there, "Of course you are here. You are an IRONMAN!"
From there, we positioned ourselves on the backside of the Capitol on State Street. Here we had two way run traffic as some headed in to loop back out on loop number(right past us again) two while others were finishing. Waves, hugs high fives, and knuckle bumps as people I knew went by. Other friends spectating stopped by and chatted. It was so good to be there!
As Tom ran away, I started crying. Up to that point, I had held it together. It was at that point that I was overcome with emotion. The triathlon and Ironman communities are like no other. To make sure that I (symbolically) was able to cross that line shows the comradery we hold amongst each other. That small symbol (and the others throughout the day) were truly overwhelming. A few days after the race, I was sent a picture of the bib. What I did not realize on race day was that it had been signed. A number of teammates and athletes I knew/knew me had signed it. And of course, it wouldn't be complete without Mike Reilly's signature, too! The effort and teamwork to make this happen leave me without words. The number of people involved to make it happen is unbelievable.
When we returned home the next day, I was tired, but I felt fulfilled. I needed to be there to support my family/friends. They needed me there just as much as I needed to be. My journey back has just begun, but I will make it back to that start line again when the time is right.
