Racing With IBD, John’s End of Year Recap
2022 Recap
by: John Hardisky
I know I’m not alone in thinking “whoa, where did the year go?” 2022 seemingly came and went in a flash. While the world changed at a relentless pace, one thing remained the same - IBD still affects millions of people worldwide. It’s that constant which fuels my efforts and goals; riding, inspiring, and challenging what’s possible with IBD. As a Ride4IBD ambassador, I have the unique opportunity to spread IBD awareness through the lens of cycling and athletics.
Despite a heavy work year and a very busy family life, my adventures took me to 5 states, which included two trips to the birthplace of Ride4IBD in Southern California. In fact, I kicked off racing season in Brea, California with the Roger Millikan Grand Prix Criterium. In total, 2022 featured over 20 races, standing on the podium 4 times and upgrading my USAC race category. Those races gave me countless opportunities to talk about how living with IBD has impacted me and my athletic pursuits. The well-designed Ride4IBD kit is a great conversation starter and brings visibility to this invisible disease. I can’t tell you how many folks stopped to talk and learn more about IBD - from fellow racers to random folks I meet on rides. I’ve had such amazing interactions with people, who more often than not know someone or have a family member who is also afflicted with IBD.
As anyone with IBD knows, there is an unpredictable nature to IBD flare-ups. The year was definitely marked with several periods where I truly had to shut things down and listen to my body. Although I am in clinical remission, I am prone to stress triggered flares. The GI symptoms and extreme fatigue are no joke. It’s a not so subtle reminder that this invisible disease is still there and active in spite of the most advanced medicines and lifestyle adherences. Listening to our bodies is a valuable lesson we learn along the way, especially when so many of us are inclined to push through, no matter the circumstances.
However, there’s an often overlooked bright side of living with IBD. This condition brings a heightened awareness of one’s self and also a built in factor to ignite determination to overcome the disease. For me, it reminds me of how grateful I am to be able to enjoy any athletic pursuits, raising my desire to train harder and challenge what’s possible with IBD. I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the amazing support in the background of my (sometimes crazy) pursuits. I would never be able to achieve my goals without a tremendous wife and kids, and a stellar friend group. Sometimes this looks like my wife, “gently” reminding me I’m not superman and should probably rest, or my kids bringing me nutrition when I’m grinding away intervals on my bike trainer in the basement, or even my friends inspiring me to jump into the local group rides for an easier paced workout when I’m feeling very run down. Just like cycling, living with IBD is a team sport - you assemble your best team and prepare for the journey.
I am so excited about the future of Ride4IBD and our upcoming developments. I was fortunate to spend some time with Cory Greenberg at the end of 2022 to discuss ways we can support other athletes with IBD and maximize our impact on awareness and research. It brings me great joy to have team Ride4IBD supporting me, and I can’t wait to see where this year takes us. We will continue to Ride, Inspire, and Challenge what’s possible on global stages. We wish you the happiest of New Years, and hope you’ll continue to follow our journey to bring visibility to this invisible disease.