For Tim –
Tim Darbe loved the Josh Billings and looked forward to it each year. The third annual was his first Josh and he competed in about 36. In the early Josh days, we spent more time thinking up team names than we did training. One year was the Esoteric Midnight Philosophers, another time, the Becket Cloud Watchers, yes, it took hours to come up with these names. We were weekend warriors and would travel to Vermont and New Hampshire to compete (I use that word loosely) in a number of triathlons. For one race in New Hampshire, we were running late for the start and came around a corner and saw the peloton coming toward us. Tim pulled his van over, jumped on his bike and started chasing the pack. His spirit was indefatigable. But it was always the Josh that stood out as special. Tim loved seeing friends each year and telling race stories, always a good hearty laugh at some misadventure. Around the 15th Josh (time is measured in Josh years), a group of friends put together 10 teams for the Josh. Tim met Alison that day and she became his wife and Josh partner. Josh Billing’s quotes were read at their wedding and each September the Josh was an important date on their calendar. Two weeks before the 39th Josh, Tim was diagnosed with cancer and for the next five months Team Tim fought against the odds.
I’ve often tried to understand what makes the Josh so fun and special, but I know Tim totally embodied the spirit of the race. We will all miss him at the 40th and know that his spirit will always be present at the Josh. This one’s for you, Tim.
Larry Bravo