Meet The Team: 2012 Wisconsin

Ironman® Wisconsin is one of the premier events for TeamEN.  And this year is no different.  We have 30 folks ready to make it happen this Sunday.  And the weather looks like it is going to be amazing!  Meet a few of our team below.

Carl Noftsger

2012 Ironman® Wisconsin Race Captain

My name is Carl Noftsger, I am racing Ironman® Wisconsin as my AAA race.  My goal is to be able to go to the deepest darkest parts of HELL but just before I reach that breaking point open up the secret door inside me only I know how to get to.  I am racing for a greater cause then my pain or the clock.  I am racing for – Children’s Cancer Connection.  I am racing for their pain, I am racing to put a smile on their face’s, I am racing so WE can have, “ The Time of Our Life’s” !!!!!

Very special THANKS to my beautiful bride Alison.  Two week before I was to race Ironman® Wisconsin last year I was involved in a horrific bicycle wreck which involved an ambulance ride to a trauma center, a very scary call home, and a torn ACL, MCL, grade 2 concussion, and my share of deep road rash.

We still made the trip to Madison last year to cheer on the team and me trying to swim with them without success and causing me to twist my knee on the boat ramp.  They had the most beautiful day to race and I was sooooooooo jealous.  After ordering a new bike and gear I promised myself we would come back smarter and stronger.

Well team all the early mornings, hot humid days, rainy days, windy days, hill climbing, non ending hours of staring at a black line, and near misses with cars are over.  The hay is in the barn and stacked WAY high.  Throw away the ignition sources, sit back, relax, and come 9/9/12 we race with big hearts (literally), smiles, tears, and execute like the ninja’s Team EN has made us.

WE will have The Time of Our Live’s!!!!!!

Sarah Kim

Hi team!  I’m Sarah Kim, a 33 year old software consultant hailing from the Windy City, originally from Indianapolis.  This is my 2^nd year of triathlons and Wisconsin will be my first full distance.  I volunteered last year and after seeing a lot of miserable faces on the bike course (it was HOT!) I didn’t want to do it.  But then being on State Street later that night completely erased the pictures in my head from earlier in the day and I got up at 5am the next morning to sign up!  I had a great time at the training rally meeting some of you.  I’m excited to be a part of the EN team and look forward to racing with you all on Sept. 9!

J.T. Thompson

Hey Team – I’m J.T. Thompson and fired up to hit that start line at IMMoo….which will be my 2 nd IM after Coeur d’Alene last year.  I mention the start line, because it’s been an adventure this past year just to get to this point.  Why?? Well, literally 4 days after signing up for IMMoo, I had a bike crash where I shattered the collar bone in 5 places, broke 3 ribs and had a collapsed lung.  Months later, after the collar bone was healed, I still couldn’t move my arm to swim – Dr’s finally realized I had a pinched nerve in my shoulder and a bunch of muscles weren’t working – so ended up in surgery for 6 hours and when I came out, it turns out I had a stroke while on the operating table!  Found out that it was caused by a hole in my heart (thus my new excuse on why I haven’t made Kona – yet).   That was just about 6 months ago and having IMMoo on the horizon was my goal to get everything back in order – to Make That Start Line!  So having made it this far, I’m very fired up to be heading to Madison to toe the line..(or maybe I should say float near the line??)

My goal for the day is to enjoy life and take in all the race can give.  My time will be what it is and I’m out to have fun and as Macca would say, to “Enjoy The Suck!”  So I’ll be the one cheering on the fans and encouraging all the racers to meet their goals (especially my brother Bruce) – Just racing and being there will have met mine for now!

Sara Frandrup

My name is Sara Frandrup, I’m 35 years old and live in Saint Louis Park, MN.  I’ve been participating in multisport since 2008 when i started with Team in Training to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and was coached to complete my first du, then my first tri, and then my first marathon.  It was extremely rewarding to train for a reason other then myself and my own personal goals.  I am a Radiation Therapist at a local cancer center and am reminded on a daily basis that your health is not to be taken for granted.  So my “why” for Ironman® is to: “Do it for those who can’t”.  The pain that I know I’ll have on race day is nothing compared to that of a cancer patients pain.  I can’t wait to push myself harder then I ever have and to enjoy the day.  It’s been an incredible journey..

Annie Stokes

Hi Team!  I’m Annie Stokes from Minneapolis, Minnesota. This will be my first Ironman!  Im a 43 yr old stay home mom with two kiddos…Jillian 11, and Andrew 6.  I have been married for 17 years to my best friend and college sweetheart Zac.  I am so blessed to have a super supportive and very understanding family!!  😉  I have been a runner for 32 years and have done numerous marathons in that time.  I began my triathlon career just last year, as I hopped on a road bike for the first time in May 2011.  Needless to say, I am hooked!!  I have done many sprints,  1 Oly and 2 HIMs in that time…and now it is time to step up to the Big Daddy of them all…IRONMAN!  For years I have watched the coverage of Ironman® on tv knowing that “some day” I would do one.  Well, I got hooked into a great training group and hooked up with EN, and I have not looked back.  My goal is to finish with a smile and enjoy the journey to the finish line.  Cheers to all the other EN peeps who will be there with me on race day both participating and spectating…I could not have gotten to the start line without all of you!!!!  Lets.Do.This!

Brian Comiskey

Robert Chose

Greg Hansen

John Jordens

Aaron Wilson

Richard Shea

I’m Rick Shea from Indianapolis.  I am a cardiologist and father of 2 young athletes (ballet and soccer) who enjoy showing me up at every chance.  This will be my 4th IMWI, and 8th IM overall.  I keep coming back because everything about Wisconsin is perfect for me – the time of year, the water temp, the great crowds, the hard hills, and the way the sun sets about 12 hours into the day.  This will be my 2nd year racing with EN, and my goal is to finish happy and humble so I can keep coming back.

Bruce Thompson

HI Team EN – I’m Bruce Thompson.  I’m 57 and live in Wilmette, IL with my wife Anne and teenagers Andrew (freshman @ Purdue) & Lindsay (senior in HS).  I have been a runner for years including numerous marathon finishes (Chicago, New York, Boston).  I started doing tris in 2010 and had some AG success in local sprints & Oly races.  I’ve been a member of EN since 2010 and this is my 2^nd IM racing as part of EN.  I finished Coeur d’Alene last year in 12:50, and I’d like to beat that time @ IMWI.   I’ll be racing with my brother JT, who got me interested in triathlon.  JT is my triathlon “hero” due to his always positive attitude that has helped him overcome numerous injuries, crashes and mishaps to participate and do well in this crazy sport.  Triathlon is something we share and it had made us even closer brothers.  Can’t wait to get on the starting line with him.

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