If you have raced multi-sporf or ultras in the last 25+ years around Ohio or nationally there is a pretty good chance you have raced against Ben or his brother Jon.
Monday evening Ben passed away suddenly. He was my coach and friend for quite a few years. Ben was 3rd pro in the first IM Utah. Now passed away from an apparent heart condition at 55. He had a regular day, got in a bike workout, and was visiting with friends when he collapsed.
Sorry to hear about your friend, I did not know him, generation below me..But his death is familiar to me, I have had two lifeguard buddies spend a great day, working out, then going to bed and not waking up the next morning. A lot more of course with an obvious heart attack or stroke, but the just dying in your sleep thing is a scary and tough way to go, not getting to say any goodbyes, or hearing them..
Sounds like a great guy in the Ohio area, and sounds like he really lived up until the end. Its all we can do really, just donāt know when that time will be, he was certainly too early..
Ben was my first coach and I raced and traveled around with him racing on āHastings Eliteā for a few years in the early 00s. Rode with him on zwift as recently as a few weeks ago, and messaged back and forth as well.
I canāt believe this.
Sorry to hear. Not familiar with this guy but still, we just never know. He was my age and thatās scary.
Monty, Iām exactly the opposite. I want to just go to bed one night and not wake up. Sounds good to me.
Ya, I hear that from a lot of people. Me on the other hand would want a very long runway, enough time to put all affairs in order, and to say good bye to my family, friends, and anyone that feels a need to say goodbye to me. I think most of us live our lives like they have a long time to go, even when we get older and all our friends are dying around us. Procrastination, that is the word Iām looking for. I do that all the time, so a fixed death date period is what I would need to kick me in the ass and do all that end of life stuff..
I have had 4 friends die in that way, and it was great to be able to visit with them and reconnect after separate busy lives. I know it was good for me, think it was also good for them too. So for me a small price to pay for a drawn out painful ending, got the rest of time to just be dead and goneā¦