Asking For Help
What Adapt and Overcome often looks like...
Ring… Ring…
It’s 4:30 am on Saturday.
Race morning for a local Sprint Tri I’m taking on.
The race starts in 3 hours.
But the ringing isn’t my alarm…
It’s our doula bat phone - the landline that only rings when one of my wife’s clients goes into labor.
Water broke. Contractions starting. Baby’s on the way.
Within minutes, Chels is out the door.
My alarm was set for 4:55am.
But now it’s looking like I’m swapping the race for solo dad duty.
“All good”, I thought.
A birth hadn’t popped up on a race day before.
But scrapping the day’s plans to take over when my wife gets the call?
That’s nothing new.
But then we had an idea…
Call The Audible
What if we asked our friends Katie and Jonah (who would be at the race) if they could handle Jack Jack while I raced?
We floated the idea to them the day before, knowing this could happen.
But sending the text at 5 am? That’s different.
I started loading the car with no clue what the next 3 hours would bring:
Racing at threshold.
Or…
Making waffles and playing with trucks.
Then the text comes back…
Green light. Race is on.
Ask For Help
One of our core Tribal mindset themes is Adapt and Overcome.
It’s about not letting the uncontrollable control you, staying positive, being resourceful, finding solutions…
And very often?
That looks like asking for help.
I packed up Jack Jack’s stuff:
diaper bag
change of clothes
breakfast and snacks
Then I tiptoed into his room, opened the blinds to let the pre-dawn light crawl in, and woke him gently.
With PJs still on and sippy cup in hand, we strapped into the car and headed to Katie and Jonah’s for pre-race drop off.
Effort. Attitude. Enthusiasm.
My intentions for the race were simple:
push hard
give my best effort
get a quality triathlon race rep ahead of Ironman World Champs in September
I ended up finishing 2nd overall. My best result ever in a triathlon.
The podium was cool for a few minutes…
But here’s what lasts much longer:
The feeling of giving my best - and doing it in front of my kiddo.
smiling
flexing out
having a freakin’ blast doing it
Chels was able to make it to post-race hangs after a successful birth.
Katie’s athlete raced her first Olympic Tri - and crushed it.
Jonah held down dad duty with the boys and logged some quality miles towing 60+ lbs.
Life Never Goes To Plan
But that doesn’t mean the plan is ruined.
The detours are the story.
The best days are wrapped in chaos.
And all it takes is a single yes - from you, or from someone in your corner - to keep the dream alive.
So when the curveballs come…
Stay calm
Ask for help
Give your best
And when it’s your turn, be the one who says yes.
Onward.
— Ryan
P.S. Days like this are only possible because of a strong foundation - in fitness, mindset, and community.
If you’re ready to build your body, sharpen your mind, and find a team that lifts you up, the upcoming Run Foundations Cohort is for you.
It’s a 4-week group coaching experience designed to help you train smarter, stay consistent, and go further than you thought possible.
Starts August 4th.
We have 2 spots left.
Love this story dude- that’s a dad at his best. Raced Tri Boulder last year, great local race. Congrats on the podium!