Tell us about your Why NotLast year at this time I had just achieved a podium finish, a first, at Ironman Western Massachusetts 70.3. At 65, while still a neophyte to the sport, I was on a trajectory to maybe achieve that goal of a world championship slot. According to the Ironman organization, I had just earned a high national ranking and even a global ranking. Still work to do but the prospects were positive and I was optimistic. Weeks later, I got the news that I might have cancer. Shortly thereafter, it was confirmed that yes, I had a fast-growing cancer. For the next 3 months, following an array of follow-up tests, scans and diagnosis, it was determined that I had advanced state 4 metastatic prostate cancer.
On, October 19, I found myself at Ironman Wilmington 70.3, not competing, but watching and cheering/supporting my Fillnow Coaching teammates. Out of the bike-run transition unexpectedly pops a teammate, friend and lane mate for swim training who looks like the epitome of fitness and health. However, in her early 30s, with two small children, she had been diagnosed with advanced stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. I asked, “Is she in a relay?” The answer was, “No, she is doing the whole thing.” It was an absolute OMG moment. It was her first half ironman. I later found out that through chemo and radiation treatments that year, she had powered her way through her first super sprint, sprint and Olympic triathlons to get ready for her first half Ironman. I now call her Ironman Barby because if a Barby doll were to come to life, that is what she would look like. She also became the inspiration for my “Why Not?” which would be to compete in and finish Ironman Chattanooga 70.3 on May 18, 2025.
December 3, 2024, I started the first of a series of chemo treatments that would conclude on March 17. I set up a training regimen to power through this as much as possible and I continued to compete in swimming and running events with extremely humbling results. Ultimately, I would have less than 9 weeks to flush the chemo out of my system and build up enough strength and endurance to do this. No longer was the goal to earn that world championship slot. Now it was hopefully to get across the finish line before they shut off the course. I have been accused of crossing the finish line of every race I have every competed in with a look that made it appear like I was having an absolute miserable time. I promised myself and others that if I finished this thing, I would smile crossing the finish line. The ironman organization has a motto: “Anything is Possible.” That day, Carson’s “Why Not?” legacy lived on. Anything happened. I finished. I did way better than expected. And yes, I smiled crossing the finish line.
Jim Oddo
