W is for "Withrow"

I’ve told this story before, but it’s worth mentioning again.  I don’t remember the exact date, but I believe it was in the fall of 2009 and I get this phone call from my boy, JW (aka Withrow).

JW:  I want to ask you a question, but I don’t want you to reply without hearing me out first.  Can you do that?

Me:  Ummmm … ok.

JW:  What do you think about doing the NYC Triathlon?  A 0.9 swim down the Hudson, a 26+ mile bike, and a 6.2 mile run

Me:  (silence) Ummmm … (followed by more silence)

Ever the salesman, JW eventually convinced me to join him on his quest to race NYC 2010.  After the race I figured I’d retire the Speedo’s and move on to my regular rotation of playing basketball on a weekly basis.  Little did I know that the guy who could sell ice to an Eskimo also sold me on the idea of racing IMLOU after I told him repeatedly he was a lunatic for trying it himself.

The reason I bring Withrow up in my Happy Thoughts Library, and I should include his wife Jess, is they are two incredible people.  Allowing myself to be a bit cliché here, they will literally give the shirts off their backs to help their friends and racing buddies reach their goals.  They do this time and time again asking for nothing in return.  I joke that when I need something for my bike I either go to my local bike shop, High Gear, or I go to the Withrow’s.  Very few people in life are as driven, competitive, and thoughtful of others well being all at the same time.  It’s an interesting mix and one that pushes me to new levels.  I’m reasonably sure I would have never signed up for something like this without JW’s prodding.  In fact, there is a huge crew of fellow Team ReserveAid members who would probably say the same thing.  The Withrow’s have recruited 20 people to race IMLOU and an astounding 27 to race IMNYC a year from now – simply amazing.  A true testament to their commitment to ReserveAid.

In 53 days I hope to call myself and Ironman and for this I will owe a huge debt of gratitude to JW for pushing me further than I ever thought I could go.

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