“Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only way.” Albert Einstein
The intense Arizona sun, dressed in its splendid oranges and pinks, was beginning to set when the realization hit Michael; just six miles remained. Six of 140.6 now stood between him and the finish line. In one more hour of running, less if he finished strong, he would earn the title of Ironman; he would achieve the dream that had started taking shape exactly four years earlier. The dream that had become the goal that had driven him for the past year. Ironman Arizona 2014.
As Michael began to visualize the finish line and the entire scene, including the people who would be there to cheer him on and share in his victorious moment, he was washed in emotion. He felt goose bumps travel over his body. A burst of energy powered him forward as tears, hidden behind his sunglasses, rolled down his cheeks and disappeared into the sweat that drenched his face.
Athletics had always been an important part of Michael’s life. He loved the competition and the camaraderie. He’d played football and basketball for as long as he could remember. He’d participated in fun runs and biking events and countless other recreational athletic endeavors. And Michael wasn’t alone in this love of sports – it was something he shared with his entire family.
One of Michael’s earliest childhood memories of his Dad was sitting on the front step of their home during hot summer days and waiting for him to return from a run. Michael could still remember watching as his Dad finally turned the corner into their little cul de sac – his lean frame and darkly tanned skin soaked in sweat. As soon as he reached their front lawn, he would drop down and do pushups until he was unable to do another.
Michael’s childhood had been an active one. From an early age his parents had encouraged tennis, swimming, biking, hiking, running, soccer, basketball, football – you name it and he had done it. His entire family was active. His Dad had coached him in many of his sports, and his Mom and sister had often joined them in practice and training. A day without a scheduled game or practice or lesson generally involved a family adventure in the beautiful Idaho mountains, rivers, or lakes.
Later in life, both of Michael’s parents had started competing in triathlons. They squeezed training workouts in whenever they could – early in the morning before work, over lunch breaks, after work before dinner, and on the weekends they did long biking, running, and swimming sessions. He was always amazed by their determination and persistence to push their bodies as they prepared for their competitions.
Over the years, Michael had observed his parents’ dedicated efforts, and been awed by them – but his own triathlon obsession hadn’t ignited until November 21st, 2010. On that day, his parents, Steve and Julene, crossed the finish line of Ironman Arizona together, holding hands. It was at that exact moment that Michael had realized that, one day, he too would cross that finish line.
The full Ironman Triathlon consists of a 2.4 mile open water swim, 112 mile bicycle ride and a marathon, 26.2 mile run, raced in that consecutive order without a break. And, the total 140.6 mile race also must be completed under the strict time limit of seventeen hours. Watching countless athletes carried off the course in tears from mental and physical exhaustion had made Michael realize just how special it is to actually complete this race. Seeing his parents keep moving, keep pushing, and keep competing for fifteen consecutive hours was a memory that would drive him to push himself, for the rest of his life.
A couple of months after returning home from their Ironman Arizona 2010 race, Julene had found out that she had a very aggressive Uterine Cancer. Instead of letting cancer win, Michael’s IronMom decided to do the unthinkable. She signed up for ANOTHER Ironman, Ironman Canada. Through months of chemo treatments she pushed herself and trained at whatever level her energy would allow. Ultimately, she defeated the cancer and earned her Ironman Canada finishers medal. Then, just a few short months after this difficult time in his family’s life, Michael’s father was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Stomach Cancer.
The doctors had told his Dad that he had less than a year left to live, but instead of letting that bring him down, he’d decided to do the exact opposite. He continued to swim, bike and run! The summer after his diagnosis, Steve completed the half marathon portion of the Boise 70.3 relay (he competed in all six Boise 70.3 Triathlons – 2008 through 2013.) Later that summer, he went on to complete the Ironman Boulder 70.3 – and he did this while going through chemo treatments!
Michael had learned that positive thinking and believing are the body’s strongest tools. Steve called everyone’s positive thoughts and prayers his “X Factor”. This was what had kept him competing! And he believed it was a big part of the reason that, against the odds, he was still alive. This positive outlook on life was another of the many important lessons from Steve that had inspired Michael. In fact, these were the lessons that had shaped Michael to be the man he was.
When Michael heard the news that his IronDad had Stage 4 Cancer, he knew his opportunity to have both parents watch him become an Ironman was limited. He decided to try and get into Ironman Arizona. This was the same race his parents completed together, and, due to the time of the year and relatively fast course, it was also the quickest filling Ironman in the United States. For weeks, Michael practiced registering for other Ironman events to see all the landing pages and information he would need to fill out to register. When the Ironman Arizona race registration officially opened, he quickly copied his information from his prepared word document and pasted it into the registration site. Somehow, he successfully registered before the race sold out in a record time of fifteen seconds – Michael was in!
Finishing Ironman Arizona would fulfill his own personal goal, and also honor his parents. And, if possible, Michael wanted to turn the focus to his Dad. So, in addition to registering for the triathlon, he added two more personal goals. He decided to finish the race with a smile, just as his Dad always did. And he included a fundraising goal to raise at least $5,000 in contributions for Debbie’s Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer. Debbie’s Dream is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about stomach cancer, advancing funding for research, and providing education and support internationally to patients, families, and caregivers. Steve founded an Idaho Chapter and was very committed to the cause. By race day, Michael had exceeded his $5,000 goal and was one of the race’s top fundraisers!
The registration process hadn’t been easy, but it was after registration that the real challenge began. Michael had one year to train for the longest and most physically and mentally demanding event of his life. Visualizing himself as he crossed the finish line in front of his Ironman parents and joining them in the exclusive 140.6 club gave him the motivation to attempt one of the most formidable challenges he could imagine. He was ready for the journey.
He pictured himself jumping into Tempe Town Lake for the 2.4 mile swim, biking the three loop 112 mile bike course, running the two loop marathon course and continuing to push himself to cross the finish line at Ironman Arizona. He wanted to complete the 140.6 miles for his IronDad. He was prepared to run, walk or crawl across the finish line. And, despite the fact that the prognosis wasn’t in his favor, Steve was determined to be at the finish line to watch his son achieve Ironman status.
Throughout the year, Michael had trained intensely and continuously. Just like his parents, he fit his training sessions into an already full schedule. He squeezed short, intense runs into his busy work days and then devoted his weekends to longer runs, bike training, and time in water.
Steve’s personal motto was “work hard, play hard”. The phase also described Michael’s approach to life. Like his father, Michael had attended the University of Idaho and majored in accounting. He’d kept his eye on his school work, while also taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by his college years: fraternity life, study abroad, and meaningful internships. Upon graduation, Michael’s efforts had been rewarded and he’d been recruited and moved to California’s Silicon Valley. Now, early in his accounting career, he worked long, demanding hours while also enjoying all that life in California offered. And into that mix, he’d managed to meet the challenge of the rigorous Ironman training schedule.
Michael was now nearing the end of the course and the final stretch of this amazing journey. With each stride, his confidence grew. He knew that he would succeed. He remembered hearing about athletes going into a “dark place” during the last leg of the Ironman. The “dark place” refers to the body hitting a wall from being physically and mentally exhausted. This was something that had worried him and he remembered his parents telling him “Trust your training, you have put in the hard work and the race day is supposed to be the fun and rewarding part!” During the marathon portion of Ironman Arizona he had tried to break down his race into smaller 2-mile segments, focus on those small bites of the formidable 26.2 miles, and just keep moving forward. Another life lesson from his amazing parents that he would forever carry with him.
As his feet pounded the ground, carrying him closer to the finish, Michael’s mind drifted towards the scene that awaited him. His family was there. And many friends had also travelled to Arizona to cheer him on and celebrate with him.
At the finish line, there was indeed quite a scene. Amidst the regular race hype – the cheering crowds, blaring music, and general pandemonium – his Dad was waiting in the VIP Circle. The family’s dear friend Margi had made it her mission to make that happen. Upon hearing that Michael had registered for Ironman Arizona, Margi got to work. Although at the time, the event had been a full year away, and Steve’s medical diagnosis wasn’t good, Margi had known in her heart that, against all odds, Steve would be there. He would summon the strength to witness Michael’s moment. And Margi wanted to do her part to make that moment be as special as possible.
An Ironman herself, Margi knew the ins and outs of triathlon events. She knew that it took a heroic and highly organized effort to pull off these races. With 3,000 competitors and many times that in spectators and support service personnel, there was little room for special requests – and Margi was planning a very special request. She wanted Steve to be at the line to present Michael with his finisher’s medal.
To achieve this, Margi developed a strategy to maneuver herself into an inside position. As soon as the race opened up for volunteer sign-ups, Margi and her daughter Norra registered to be Finish Line Volunteers. Once positioned with a role in Team Tempe, she’d obtained the names and contact information of the race organizers and started sending letters.
The letter writing campaign did not produce results. Margi didn’t even receive a single reply to any of the many letters that she sent. But she did not give up. Once she arrived in Arizona for the race, she started making personal pleas. When the volunteer organizers that she met with couldn’t grant her request, she asked who she might be able to talk to with the authority to make it happen. Eventually, someone suggested that she try talking to some of Michael’s race contacts. As a fundraiser for Debbie’s Dream, Michael was a Foundation Athlete, and Foundation Athlete’s were highly regarded by the organization. That was the key! Michael’s contact with the Ironman Foundation was able to get the permissions needed. Steve was invited into the VIP Circle.
By the time the race day finally arrived, Steve’s stamina was low. Julene and their good friend Craig planned out the activities so Steve could see small parts of the race and still have plenty of time for long rests. Throughout the day, they were able to track Michael’s progress and reasonably estimate his race time. They arranged it so that Steve arrived at the finish line well rested and about forty minutes before Michael.
As Michael started drawing nearer to the end of his race, their Foundation Athlete contact provided frequent updates from the course. Margi was pulled out of the Finish Line Volunteer rotation to escort Steve into the VIP Circle and wait with him. Over the final few minutes before Michael came in, Steve – full of joy and smiles – repeatedly exclaimed “Isn’t this just the awesome, Margi?…Isn’t this just the best?” And then, when Michael came into view of the finish line, Steve lit up like a Christmas tree.
Crossing the finish line, Michael heard Ironman announcer Mike Reilly yell “Michael Andrews… YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!” He looked up and his father was there, standing in front of him with his big smile. They embraced and Steve placed a finisher’s medal around Michael’s neck. And they embraced again. That moment was, hands down, one of the best in both of their lives. Each had given the other one of the most incredibly beautiful gifts imaginable.
CaringBring Post
Eyes turned upon Jesus
By Julene Andrews — Nov 29, 2014 4:49pm
Dear family and friends,
As you know, because you have been on this journey with us, we have been blessed over the past two years to have been able to travel and check things off of Steve’s bucket list. And we were fortunate to have spent as much time as possible with our kids who live out of state. The granddaddy of all the items on the bucket list was to see Michael cross the finish line at Ironman Arizona (where Steve was escorted to the VIP section to award Michael his medal) and to spend a few days at NAU in Flagstaff with Karlie. Bucket list complete.
We returned home on Tuesday, the 18th. Travel was difficult, as he has grown increasingly tired. Within the few days that followed, Steve took a turn for the worse. He has realized that his vehicle is no longer functional, but that his spirit is strong and is ready to move on. While things on this earth become foggy and unclear, the spiritual world beyond becomes bright and welcoming. It’s a beautiful thing and Steve is ready to transition there. We have given him our blessing to move on. As we struggle to see him go, we imagine that heaven is waiting with open doors and so excited for him to be there.
Steve is comfortable but is becoming unresponsive as he focuses on transitioning to his new world. We don’t know if he has hours, days or weeks. Those of us by his side are focusing on the blessings, the love and the memories and feel comforted knowing that this guy lived more life in his 53 years than many do in a much longer life. He absolutely lived every day to the fullest.
My sister said it best the other day when Karlie was telling about her recent trip to visit Warren Buffett. JeNelle said, “Warren Buffett has nothing on Steve Andrews. Steve is the richest man in the world.” Her observation after witnessing the love and support and X Factor that has absolutely enveloped him over the past two years. Thank you to each and every one of you for the role that you have played in that.
As we struggle to make sense of why Steve has been called to leave us, we find comfort in the lyrics of the following song:
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free! Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace. Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conqu’rors we are! Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace. His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Please know that we feel the love. We appreciate the prayers. We are unable to respond to messages, emails, calls, etc. as all eyes are focused on Steve and on Jesus.
God bless.
Julene and family
