Air Force veteran, cancer survivor ready for first Ironman

Daniel Semsel has completed eight 100-mile races. He has run a marathon in all 50 states. And with his first Ironman on tap, it's obvious he gets a feeling during these events that he just can't find anywhere else. "It's very, very gratifying," Semsel said. "I love the feeling of accomplishment. I'm not gonna be at the top of the pile. I'm gonna be one of those people slogging along just giving what I've got to give. I just can't wait. It's a rush coming across the line because it means that all the work I put in paid off." Semsel, 55, grew up near Athens, Ohio, and lives in Fairborn just outside Dayton. He's a retired Air Force veteran and a three-time cancer survivor. On Sunday morning, Semsel will be one of more than 2,000 competitors in the first-ever Sandusky Ironman 70.3. "I'm gonna go up there and enjoy the experience," he said. "I'm sure if it holds true like most of the running races, there's an enthusiastic crowd. I'm gonna feed off the crowd, gonna love seeing the people of Sandusky come out and watch us nut jobs race." Semsel grew up in Athens as the son of an Ohio University professor. At Athens High School, Semsel competed in cross country and wrestling. Prior to enrolling at OU, Semsel went with his friend to an ROTC sign-up. Semsel hadn't planned on joining, but he thought it might give his friend a better chance of acceptance. So Semsel signed up, too. That determined the course of the rest of his life. Semsel had 12 assignments in an Air Force career that spanned from 1989 to 2013. They took him across the United States with roles involving logistics, then chief of supply positions, before he served as a commander at multiple Air Force bases. Semsel's final assignment was at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton as vice commander of the 88th Air Base Wing, a full circle moment. "Never really planned on it," Semsel said of joining the Air Force, "but found that I liked it and decided to stick it out and made a career out of it." Semsel has continued working since his retirement from the Air Force. He helps his fellow veterans in downtown Dayton at the Montgomery County Veterans Service Center. "I've found it to be my calling to continue to give back to the veteran community," Semsel said. "I've taken positions that have helped veterans find jobs. I've provided emergency financial assistance to veterans in need. I've helped them with their V.A. claims. The whole idea is if I can make a difference for somebody that served, whether they served directly with me or whether we both share the common bond of military service, that's something I can do." In 2001, Semsel was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. He underwent a thyroidectomy and radiation. The cancer came back in 2002, which meant more radiation and surgery to remove all the lymph nodes from his neck. Indications showed the cancer was back in 2005, so Semsel had another round of radiation. Then in 2014, doctors told him there were positive indicators that they'd never be able to declare him in remission. "I'll be living with cancer the rest of my life," Semsel said. "... It's suppressed through hormone therapy. Basically, it's medically suppressed and I just have to go back to get monitored on a regular basis to make sure none of the numbers spike again." Semsel, at the time of his second surgery, was heavily involved in powerlifting and rugby. One of his friends suggested a marathon in Honolulu, where Semsel was stationed. "I thought he was nuts, but I did it," Semsel said. "I swore I would never do another one." That soon turned into a theme for Semsel — try something once with the belief that he'd never do it again, only to come back again and again. It took a little while for Semsel's tendency to play out, but he ran the Columbus Marathon in 2007. There, Semsel saw someone in a '50 States Club' shirt. The premise of running a marathon in all 50 states inspired Semsel. By 2016 he had accomplished the feat. "It's about challenging myself," Semsel said. "It always has been. Can I run a little bit farther? Can I go a little bit faster? Can I try something new?" That included running the Boston Marathon in 2014. "I was invited in after the bombing," Semsel said. "They had a limited number of invitational slots that they wanted to give out to people who were impacted by the bombing, basically had a reason for it. With my background in the military, I guess they liked my story and liked my background so they invited me to come out. I loved it. Amazing event." Semsel has attempted to run 100-mile races 13 times. He's completed eight, with the longest measuring at 102 miles. "Kind of like marathons, I said 'one and done' and then I finished it and made it about a week and said you know? That was really cool," Semsel said. "Let me find another one." Semsel had thought about trying triathlons or even an Ironman, but it wasn't high on his list. His friends, who he's met through years of long-distance athletic competitions, convinced him. "I've got some friends who talked me into getting onto a bike for the first time in 30 years," Semsel said. "They did that last summer. … They said why don't you join us at Ironman Ohio next year? So throw in a little bit of beer and some bad advice, and I signed up." The swim is the most foreign part of the event to Semsel, who recently completed his first Olympic triathlon in preparation for the Ironman 70.3, which includes 1.2 miles of swimming before 56 miles on the bike and a half marathon. The last time Semsel swam, before beginning this training, was in Boy Scouts. "The last time I swam for distance, I was a 12-year-old Boy Scout doing a mile swim and I did the first day of training and said this sucks, and I'm never doing this again," Semsel said. "You're noticing a theme here. When my friends talked me into doing the half Ironman, I said that's great, I signed up for it, then said how far do I have to swim? Which is probably not the normal order of things." Semsel had knee reconstruction done on his left leg in March, and he's awaiting a surgery date for reconstruction on his right knee. So he won't be running at full strength in Sandusky. But that's fine, because he's never done this to win his age group or set record times. "I like running because for me, it's a means of therapy," Semsel said. "I've had some issues from when I was in the service, and it's a place where when I'm running, particularly on a trail, I find that I enjoy the peace and focus, basically the self-focus." Semsel's life has followed a pattern of trying something once and not being able to let it go — the Air Force, marathons, 100-milers. If the trend continues, this will be Semsel's first Ironman but not his last. "Yeah, I think that's a safe bet," Semsel said. "(My friends) are already talking full Ironman in 2023."