Richard Ratay, Writer/Director/Producer
Rich Ratay is an EMMY-award winning Writer and Creative Director and a 20-year veteran of the advertising industry. He’s also a very average amateur triathlete with poor running form and a balky lower back. He came up with the idea for “The Distance: A Triathlete’s Journey” while following the daily blogs of other amateur triathletes attempting their first Ironman on a website called BeginnerTriathlete.com. Believing that a movie could much better capture the very personal, dramatic and often hilarious moments of the journey toward becoming an Iron-distance triathlete, he found three willing subjects and set off with his camera. One year, more than 50 hours of raw footage and hundreds of hours of shooting, writing and editing later, he is proud to present “The Distance: A Triathlete’s Journey”. Since completing the movie, Rich went on to fulfill his own dream of completing an Ironman triathlon at Madison, Wisconsin, in 2009.
Dave Jesse, Featured Athlete
A 38-year-old newlywed at the
time shooting began, Dave learns soon after signing up for his first
Iron-distance event that his wife, Andrea, is pregnant and due to deliver their
first child two weeks before raceday. A former highschool track athlete and coach,
Dave came into the triathlon world with a strong running background but little
idea of how to bike and even less of how to swim. In fact, he barely made it
out the water at his first Sprint-distance event. Along his journey, Dave must also
deal with the challenges of being laid off from his job and the unexpected early
arrival of baby Toby. Today, Dave is working toward becoming a firefighter for
the City of Milwaukee.
Tammy Wuebben, Featured Athlete
A 35-year-old mother of
6-year-old triplets when production began, Tammy launches her Ironman quest
struggling with the monumental challenge of balancing family life, working
full-time on her parents’ dairy farm and training 10 - 20 hours each week. Like
Dave Jesse, Tammy is able to draw on years of highschool and college running
experience, though her involvement in triathlons seems to pull out a
competitive side she never before knew she had. Even as late as she came into
the sport, Tammy regularly finishes among the top athletes in her age group at
local and regional events.
Josh Cowdy, Featured Athlete
For Josh, a 22-year-old
Marquette University student majoring in Physical Therapy when filming
commenced, triathlon is just the latest addition to his lifelong list of athletic
pursuits, which also includes baseball and golf. Over the course of his
journey, he deals with the ever-present temptations of college life—partying roommates,
late night pizzas and, of course, beer—with an easy smile and relentless
determination. It also becomes clear the kid is a natural. After impressive
showings at several events, Josh is recruited to join the up-and-coming
Tri/Cycling Team Gear Grinders, whom he still represents. Seeking to better
combine his passion for sports and working with kids, Josh has now switched his
focus from Physical Therapy to Sports Education as he continues rising up the
ranks in both cycling and triathlon events.
