We are your everyday average people who enjoy testing our limits in endurance sports. Whether we are swimming, biking or running to push ourselves beyond what our minds thought possible. And while we push and test ourselves we have dedicated our training to helping families and children in our community. Everyone in endurance sports has a story that most anyone can relate to, whether you are an athlete or not, our stories may bring attention to our cause. Check out our bio's and blogs by clicking one of the images below.
Caleb Pike
www.exfatboyironman.blogspot.com
Caleb Pike’s weight hovered near 290 pounds. He ran out of breath each time he bent over to tie his shoes. He also had a 6-month-old daughter. And a gnawing fear. “I didn’t think I could be a very good dad to her if I couldn’t keep up with her,” he says.
Pike’s desire to be there for his daughter and wife helped him dump some bad habits, defeat doubt, test limits and set goals that include the 2012 Wisconsin Ironman. Even the suggestion that Pike could finish a triathlon of any distance would have been laughable only a year ago.
Pike, a Des Moines graphic artist, and wife Nicole decided in late 2008 to “try to lose a few pounds” via a conditioning program advertised at a local martial arts academy. “It was a New Year’s resolution-type thing,” he said.
But the new year began with one huge obstacle: him. The trainers told Pike he was in no shape to start a strenuous exercise regimen. In fact, it could kill him. “I was devastated,” Pike says. “I told everyone I knew that I was going to do this, and now they were going to think I backed out.” That embarrassment only fueled his motivation.
He lost 25 pounds on his own, improved his diet and returned to the gym, determined to be accepted for the program. His first assignment: Run a mile. “I didn’t want anything to do with running,” Pike says. He lumbered to a 13-minute finish.
Rather than quit, he melted off more weight and in few weeks cut four minutes from his time. He remembers thinking: This running thing isn’t so bad after all. “I found that pushing myself was something I could actually do,” Pike says. So he pushed. And he quickly lost another 20 pounds.
His interest in triathlon was sparked when he watched the Ironman World Championship on television. “Just seeing people push themselves to the limit made me know I could do it,” he says. “They showed a woman who was 75 years old. If she could do, I could.” More running. More working out. Better diet. Better father.
Pike’s weight has since dipped to 169 pounds. His body fat dropped from over 50 percent to 15 percent. “Before this, I really didn’t know how unhappy I was and how bad I felt,” he says. “Life is so much better now.”
Carl Noftsger
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce to you Carl "Honey Badger" Noftsger. He is 39 years old who is very passionate about training, racing, and assisting others. Carl works as a career firefighter/paramedic for the City of Des Moines. He also works as a Pediatric Trauma Nurse in the Blank emergency room where he has been for the past 18 years. So as you can see, caring for others is something that he is very passionate about. Carl has been participating in marathons and triathlons for the past 15 years. He has completed 20 marathons and numerous other races.
In 2012 he took on and completed what he calls the "Triple Threat": Ironman’s St George, Wisconsin (PR 11:26)and finished in Cozumel, Mexico with an 11:31 despite very harsh conditions. He is married to Alison JC Noftsger. They have two children - Keegan who is 16 and Olivia who is 10. They are the best support crew one could ever ask for.
He has chosen to team up with IM4RM again this year and race for a cause and make a difference in other people’s lives. This team and our families couldn’t be happier to say we have chosen the charity, Children's Cancer Connection.
He will be racing Ironman Wisconsin on 9/8/13 and Ironman Cozumel on 12/1/13 for this charity and our sponsors we gather along the way.
Please follow him along his journey at my Blog: http://dmfd416.blogspot.com
Austin Vander Linden
29 year old Austin says his life has been changing for the better since July 22nd of 2008 when he and his wife had plans to start a new life with a baby boy. God decided that day he needed baby Reid Matthew in heaven and left them heart broken and wondering what their next step in life was going to be. With an awesome family support group around them they went on to have a healthy baby girl, Brynlee Elaine and most recently a baby boy, Benten Reid.
Early 2010 Austin was realizing he needed to get back in shape like his old high school soccer days if he and his wife were going to raise a healthy happy family, just had to find something of interest that they could do for a lifetime. HyVee Triathlon was in town on a Labor day weekend, he and his cousin leaving for Afghanistan talked that it would be fun to do someday. He didn’t go watch the race but was hooked and joined a local triathlon club and fitness center.
Year one for Austin and triathlon was a LEARNING year. The sport takes drive, dedication and balance. Mid-season he quit training but still did the goal race of HyVee in the fall. He left beaten but also armed with a new drive and knowledge, knowledge of the sport and how he was going to incorporate this sport into his life of family, friends, work and many other hobbies.
Austin started off 2012 with a 10 week fitness program that taught him how important a balanced diet is and what dedication really is…Most important the program had him look at himself, figure out “his story.” Late in his 10 week session he got yet another eye opener from a business coach and motivational speaker he talked with at his job as Installation Manager at Schaal Heating and Cooling Inc. When asked what motivated him and drove him to do a 10 week program to perfection and why he hadn’t done it in his personal life at home and professional life at work Austin took a new look at the life he wants to lead for his family and the type of leader he wants to be in his workplace.
One of Austin’s new personal goals among many for his family is to raise money by participating in charity events or joining a team that raises money for charity and do these endurance races for a cause…to better other peoples lives! IM4RM made perfect sense to him while he was thinking of a place he wanted to make a difference. He knew of a young boy at the time loosing his battle with brain cancer, he didn’t know the family personally but it broke his heart that he wasn’t doing something to help families like this.
Although Austin has no plans of an Ironman race in the near future his race plans include several local running, biking and triathlon events, a half Ironman in Racine Wisconsin along with another crack at the HyVee race that once got the best of him.
Austin wants to encourage others to dig inside themselves, find out what their life story is, set goals for a better life and help others along their way.
Austin’s new beginnings, new life goals and charity work are in memory of and driven by his baby angel Reid.
Troy Morris
My name is Troy Morris and I’m a dad, husband, and triathlete. I’m a 40 something still finding what I might be good at. I have a wonderful wife Lea (age confidential for my safety) who supports my endurance endeavors along with my children. I have three girls, Alexis (16), Lillian (8), and London (2). As any triathlete can attest balancing family, work, and sport is a daily balancing act. Seems one day you are asking for forgiveness from your family for being gone to long or worrying them. On other days I’m asking to forgive myself because I skipped a workout to attend to family or work function. So far so good as I still have been able to keep all three. With the many marathons and triathlons I have done I have learned to not get to bent out of shape over things that in the end are minor. Keep the focus on the big picture. Yes, all the small details do add up to the steps that allow you to accomplish your goals but not EVERY step is of dire importance when it comes to my sport.
I dabbled in shorter races for most of my life 5k up to ½ Marathons. Finally I had an epiphany after Dam to Dam and a marathon was in my future that year. A year later was my first sprint triathlon. A couple of years ago I did my first 70.3 Ironman. Over the course of six years of endurance racing I have learned many lessons on how to train right, train wrong, survive, endure, embrace pain, and embrace the euphoria of finishing and accomplishing BIG goals. What have I really taken away from all of this? I learned that you can get your body and especially your mind to do amazing things if you let it. Why did it take me so long to do any of these? My body was always there, my mind told me I could not do them. One day the door in my head cracked open a smidgen and I poked my finger in the crack, got sucked in, and never came out.
In year six of my endurance racing life I have had another moment of clarity. I admittedly did most/all of these races to prove something to myself. First it was just to finish. Then it was to go faster. Then it was to go farther. Then it was to prove I could still do it after injuries. The circle goes on into infinity. Eventually that loses the same meaning and you look up one day and think…what about adults or kids who will never have the chance to do this. More so the kids. More explicitly kids with cancer.
I am now dedicating my time in my sport to the Children’s Cancer Connection. My friends Carl and Caleb have brought me to this door in my life but a little girl named Makenzie who died at the age of three from a brain tumor set me on the path five years ago. Makenzie was the same age as my daughter Lillian at that time. I followed Makanzie’s story for almost a year while she fought valiantly to live, but also to console her own twin sister, sibling, and parents. Makenzie came into my life at a perfect time back then to force me to reflect on how I was raising my own 3yr old daughter. What Makenzie continually taught me was let little girls be girls and let kids keep their innocence as long as they can. You see when kids have cancer they are forced to grow up and face life’s ultimate outcome. Mortality. When adults get cancer at least we can hope they have had a chance to live life and experience the dreams they had when they where children. A child with cancer never gets to see those dreams come true. Little 3-year-old Makenzie would tell stories of what she would see in her dreams to her parents. There are lots of sad details that I cannot stomach to ever talk about again but her moments of strength are legendary in my mind. Towards the end of her precious life she awoke from dreams and would explain to her mom and dad that her Grandpa talked to her and was waiting for her. The also explained how pretty the angels were that kept coming to see her. You see Makenzie was trying to make this easy for her parents by letting them know she would be ok. She literally told them she would be ok…..don’t worry. Makenzie lost her life battle. To this day Makenzie lives in my heart and mind whispering things in my ear on how to raise my girls.
I think I can safely say the biggest fear of any parent is losing a child or having them suffer through a battle such as cancer. My goal is to raise awareness and funds for Children’s Cancer Connection so kids can get the help and support they need and their family. I am extremely blessed to have three healthy girls and a lovely wife. You can help other families that have kids with cancer win these battles so they can keep their wonderful families together.
This year I will be completing my first Ironman wearing the IM4RM colors to raise funds for Childrens Cancer Connection. I’ll be at Ironman Wisconsin, Okoboji Triathlon, Copper Creek Triathlon, Bluff Creek Triathlon, Ironglute, and several other fill in races.
Mike Morrison
Married to my beautiful Margie for 29 years, we have 3 grown children and 2 grandkids. We reside on 3 acres just outside Altoona Ia. God, family, friends, triathlon, and gardening are but a few of my interests. After a successful military career, I went to work for Union Pacific Rail Road in Littlerock Arkansas. We purchased a 35 acre farm 75 miles north east of Littlerock.
I had always stayed in fairly good shape while on active duty. After a few years of retirement (used loosely), I found myself gaining weight and at my heaviest I tipped the scales north of 300lbs. I began to find it difficult to keep up with family, farm and work. It was at this point my wife suggested that maybe it was time to get rid of the weight, have to agree she was right. Since we lived 25 miles from the nearest fitness center, we purchased some training equipment, and I went to work shedding the weight. After 4 months of diet and exercise I dropped 60lbs and 8 pant sizes. After about 6 years and a move back to Iowa, my wife and I discussed I might try a triathlon. I had always wanted to do one, but was somewhat intimidated by the process. Well, I hunkered down and trained for one. I liked it so much. Here I am 6 years later still doing triathlon. After, succumbing to the TRI bug I lost and additional 15lbs.
While on this journey in triathlon I've met some great folks especially my team mates. I look forward to racing for Children's Cancer Connection and IM4RM this year. I'm honored to be part of team IM4RM and look forward to giving back to the kids, they are an inspiration to me. I hope to do them proud as well as Team IM4RM.
Tyler Van Linden
My name is Tyler Vander Linden born and raised in Pella, Iowa. For many that knew me in my younger years this may come as a surprise to see me involved in such an organization. After marrying my wife, Nicole of 4 years and having two beautiful children Abigail 4 and Wyatt a year and a half. I am happy to say that I am now eager to make a positive impact in this world. After having two premature babies and our little Wyatt frequently visiting the University of Iowa to see specialists I now know just how fortunate we are to have healthy babies. I have learned that you never know just when something may strike you or your family.
After starting triathlons a little over two years ago with my brother I thought what better way to raise money and awareness than join IM4RM. I take pride in joining such an amazing team with others who feel so passionately about children and bettering their lives.
Nicole Pike
My name is Nicole Pike. I’m 29 and mother to a charismatic little 4 year old girl named Cadence, as well as the wife and #1 fan (maybe #2 if you ask our daughter) of IM4RM founder Caleb. Caleb and I will celebrate 15 years together this March, 4+ years as parents, and 3+ years as athletes. After the birth of our daughter we realized changes needed to be made for us to be the parents our little girl deserved, and for me to be the happy wife and person I knew I could be. We started small by changing our diets, slowly quitting smoking, then we joined Farrell’s 10 week program and before we knew it we were regular members of a gym, running in races, and doing triathlons! Last year I got into figure training and competed in my first competition, I also ran my first marathon this past fall…both were incredible experiences. Caleb and I have been blessed to meet many amazing people on our journey, however we’ve also lost a few along the way, one being Caleb’s grandpa RM.
After we lost RM to cancer, Caleb felt a strong pull in his heart to do something in his memory, something to help others battling this terrible disease. Caleb did his research and met with a few organizations, however after sitting down with the great people of the Children’s Cancer Connection, his choice was clear. These were good hearted, giving, down to earth people who weren’t just doing a job, they were doing what they could out of kindness and compassion to help. I immediately jumped on board with him helping in any way I can and the rest is just the magic that has come from it all. I count myself lucky to get to be a part of this team, this fundraiser, and to work with the amazing people and families behind the Children’s Cancer Connection. It also reminds me to cherish the time I have with my daughter, and the joys she gets to experience as a little girl. We want the same for these little boys and girls who have no choice but to live with Cancer…we want to help them enjoy life and just being kids! So we will continue on with our special relationship with the CCC in doing that, and hope you too will help us along the way!
Michael Diamondstein
Michael Diamondstein credits triathlon for changing his life. While Michael was always athletic – playing college and later recreational ice hockey and always being somewhat of a gym “rat” – the only time he would run is “if someone really big was chasing” him. Other than belly boarding and wave jumping, he never swam. The last road bike he owned was when he was 12 years of age.
But, as fate would have it, his daughter Emma Moss Diamondstein died on August 31st, 2007 of Necrotizing Enterocolitis. There are no words that can describe the pain that Michael, his wife Dana and his family went through. As the days and months passed, Michael found himself bitter and angry; unable to come to terms with the loss of his little girl. But in the summer of 2011 – after hearing his brother Lee describe an Olympic triathlon he raced – Michael decided to train for a local Sprint Triathlon.
At 220 pounds, he was far from a physical specimen. Michael started training on an 18 year old mountain bike with a baby seat on the back. He practiced swimming in the mornings and running when he had time. As he trained, Michael found peace in the cadence of his feet on the run, the wind in face on the bike and the progress he made in the pool. And when the race day finally came, nothing felt as sweet as crossing the finish line.
Michael realized that triathlon brought to him a peace and calmness he had been searching for. And so with his new found hobby, Michael decided that he wanted to race and to raise money in his daughter’s name for other children. Michael believes that “if I can help inspire other people find peace in their lives, if I can keep the name of my Emma alive, if I can in some small way make the life of someone else just a bit more bright, then I’ve earned my place in this world.”
And so after finishing multiple Sprints, an Olympic, a half-Ironman and an Ironman, Michael enjoys his training, his racing and his life with his wife Dana, son Alex, daughter Molly and their new addition, Madelyn.
Randy Pickard
My name is "lil vamp" aka Randy Pickard I am a 46 year old father of 2 boys 21-25 and married to my awesome wife of 25 years Michelle. Lil vamp came from Carl since we doing 90% of our training at 3-4 am before most people even get up. I also need to mention I became a grandpa this year to Chloe my awesome granddaughter.
My history in endurance events is very limited. I only started doing endurance events in 2009 based on a bet with some of my close friends and that same year I took an overweight 230 lb body and trimmed it down to 170 lbs which I am still today. In 2009/2010 I competed in several sprint and Olympic distance triathlons along with a few 1/2 marathons and 1-full marathon.
In 2011 I continued doing sprint and Olympic distance races but wanted to see how a Half Ironman felt. I did HIM Kansas and had a great race and fun doing it.
2012 is a year I will never forget. I approached my wife about doing a full Ironman distance race. Shecommitted so we choose Ironman Arizona in November 2012. I had the race of my life in Tempe Arizona with a finishing time of 11:42 which I never would of thought possible. The best part I was able to share this journey with a lot of my family and friends from start to finish.
2013 So this year is a post Ironman season that has been well lets say a bit empty not much really to train for anymore. I got an email from Carl asking me to be on IM4RM race team and a light went off in my head. "This is it, This is my want, This is what I need to push me in 2013" Along with racing for the kids so they can have a chance to win I will also be racing 2013 for a good friend of mine "Josh" that found out about a month ago that his cancer has come back from when he was a young boy and at age 30 its way to soon and I know he will beat this again.
Stephanie Olsen
My name is Stephanie Olsen. My journey has been an ongoing one. I have a great husband named Steve and two beautiful energetic children Soren (9) and Savannah (5). I am also a Corporate Tax Accountant by day. It has been a struggle to say the least to try to juggle work, kids, and training, but I am still hanging in there. I have learned to manage my time very well and thank God for the crock pot!
My journey started 7 years ago when I was at Target and realized that I needed to buy my clothes on the other side of the store. I then heard people walking by making fun of the size of those clothes I was putting in my cart. I put the clothes back on the rack and went home crying that night. I had no idea what I weighed nor did I want to find out. I finally got on the scale and was tipping the dreadful 200 pound mark. I had recently started a new job and they were participating in the Lighten up Iowa challenge. I decided to give it a try with the support of my co-workers. Each week I started walking, eating right, and weighed in each Friday to be held accountable. After a couple of months, I eventually started running. At the end of the 12 week challenge, I had lost around 30 pounds. I decided to run my first 5K that summer. After that, I ran a 5K almost every single weekend just because I could. The next year I set my mind on running a half marathon and eventually did two. At that point I had lost around 60 pounds. After that season was over I was having knee and hip problems and my husband suggested I switch things up a bit and try spinning class. I did and loved it. I then had told him I used to swim on swim team when I was a kid and he suggested I do a triathlon. Last January I hit the pool and completed a few indoor triathlons and loved them! Caleb Pike asked me one morning after swimming if I was going to do a triathlon that year and I had told him I didn’t know if I could do it. He told me if I did one I would love it! Boy was he right. I then did Bluff Creek and Copper Creek triathlon. Whew!
So on to 2013. This year I am going to do Drake Half Marathon, Kansas 70.3, Copper Creek, and Hy-Vee triathlon. I am so blessed for the great people I have met on this journey and the support I get from my family, friends, and co-workers. I would never dream this year’s goals without their support. My husband is my rock and I don’t know if I could have ever accomplished any of these goals without him. He has inspired me to be a better person physically and emotionally.
What I have learned through all of this is that you can’t make excuses. If I could encourage just one person to set a goal, stick with it, and don’t make excuses I would be thrilled. With our busy lives, we can all find them to take up our time. When people ask me how I do what I do, I just say, “I don’t know, I just do it”! No excuses.
Prepare, Plan,
ExecuteJ
I look forward to racing for the Children’s Cancer Connection and IM4RM team. When I get to see what my children get to experience, I will do what I can to make sure other children get to have some of the same experiences themselves. Life is too short! We need to seize the day today!
Wes Lammey
I am 26 years old, born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. In high school, I was 170lb and not very active. After high school I started working out and eating better, I lost 25lb. I fell in love with fitness and became a NASM certified personal trainer, and loved helping people reach there goals. In 2010 I did the jordan creek duathlon, as I was starting to get into cycling, but was not much of a runner. In 2011 I did my first triathlon the Copper creek tri. After the sudden realize that I was not a good swimmer the day before during a practice swim, I bought a wet suit and pressed on. After completing that race I was hooked and started training for triathlon specifically. After a few more races and some swim lessons I placed 3rd in my age group in two races and completed my fist Olympic distance at hy-vee in 2012. Recently I got a different job as a courier for financial reasons, but my love for helping people, fitness, and triathlon continue to be stronger than ever. For 2013 my goals are to finish 1st in my age group at least once and complete my first 70.3 at Rev 3 Wisconsin. I look forward to meeting and working with great people for a great cause.
Shane Grego
My name is Shane, I'm just getting started in the biking world. I'm excited to join this team and help spread the word to fight childrens cancer.
Ruth Sabach
Ruth Ann was obese most of her life. In 2000, she reached the end of her rope, and her weight loss journey began. She joined a gym & Weight Watchers, and weighed in at 246 pounds on her 5’ 5” frame. The pounds dropped and came back over the years, but in 2010 while on a vacation in Key West, she had the opportunity to be a spectator at the Tri Key West triathlon. Inspired, she firmed up her commitment to do a triathlon, something that had been on her list of dreams since 2007. Ruth Ann committed to going back to Key West to do the Olympic distance triathlon. On return from vacation, she re-joined Weight Watchers at 234 pounds, and hasn’t looked back since.
In January 2011, additional inspiration to sign up for a triathlon came from two of her friends Holly and Mary, who were Ironman athletes. Ruth Ann took swimming lessons and completed 2 sprint triathlons in 2011. Ironically, at her first triathlon in June, her bib number, 209 was the same as her weight. After regularly attending the YMCA’s Tri Club, she reached her goal of weighing less than 200 pounds. There, she met her coach, Danny Friend, who guided her through another sprint triathlon, an 8K, a 10K, and completion of Tri Key West Olympic Distance. She came in 2nd in her division, Athena age 40+! Well, 2 out of 2, but who's counting??? By the end of 2012, Ruth had lost a grand total of 56 pounds.
Ruth Ann volunteered at Ironman Wisconsin as a finish line "catcher" in 2012, then, following a 6-month debate with herself, with her coach’s & her family’s blessings, signed up the following day for the Ironman Wisconsin 2013 race. It was during this trip where she kept "running into a mystery man". She later learned was Michael Diamondstein, a local Philly triathlete with a powerful story about the heartbreaking loss of his daughter Emma due to necrotizing enterocolitis.
Motivated by racing for charities, Ruth Ann searched for a meaningful charity to dedicate her training and Ironman Wisconsin race. Through the camaraderie of the triathlon community, and her friend Michael Diamondstein, she chose IM4RM. She’d also been touched by a local family who lost a child to brain cancer in 2011, Gabby Vogel, so IM4RM seemed the perfect choice to honor her and other children who battle this disease.
Ironman Wisconsin is a "stretch goal" for Ruth Ann, but she’s training with purpose and intent, and has a support network of her coaches, sports medicine practitioners, a nutritionist, a very supportive family, and a network of friends and training partners to guide and encourage her through training. Just getting to the start line will be a considerable accomplishment for her. She hopes to get below the Athena minimum weight by race day, and is off to a good start with another 6 pounds gone!
Her mantra this year: “Shut that voice up. Don’t ring the bell.” – Marshall Ulrich, “Running on Empty: An Ultramarathoner's Story of Love, Loss, and a Record-Setting Run Across America”
Ruth Ann feels honored to be a part of the IM4RM team, and is looking forward to bringing childhood cancer awareness to the forefront of her fundraising.
Jonathan Meyer In 2008, fresh off a second knee surgery Jonathan realized that his days of playing basketball and soccer were numbered. Desperate for something new Jonathan jumped into the pool for the first time in his life and set a goal to swim on a team in the Hy-Vee Triathlon. At first swimming 1500 meters seemed daunting but with self-discipline and a goal things started to take shape and he finished his first leg of a triathlon in 2009. With the success of 2009 in the books, a couple of friends encouraged him to get a bike. Buying the cheapest one possible he choose to do a couple more triathlons with friends and completed both the swim portions and bike portions. That summer he acquired a full love of triathlons. 2010 began with an injury and challenge. He set a goal to compete in a sprint triathlon and an Olympic distance one and to do the entire thing, however, the running portion produced injury after injury. Through persistence and a great physical trainer (Dr. Kevin Eichelberger) he pushed through and completed both. With 2011 his goals were much the same, and his year was simple. His goals was to compete in 4 triathlons. That year however, he started getting close to placing in his age group and started to realize that the swim portion was proving to be his best. 2012 was a banner year. Freshly into a new age group (40-44) his goals were ambitious - place in one triathlon. He entered 4 sprint triathlons and 1 Olympic. He ended the year with 2 - 3rd place finishes, 1 - 3rd place team finish at Copper Creek, 1 - first place age division finish at Twin Lakes, and 1 - 3rd place finish at Hy-Vee (team coed). With all of these physical accomplishments, his biggest goal in life is to please his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It gives him more joy to serve other young people. As a full time Youth Pastor and dedicated husband and father of three, both God and Family come first. So don't ask him to workout on Sunday - God gets the first day of every week..
Ironman
