“There are 2 aspects in life that will haunt you for the rest of your life that will last forever: Regret and Glory…which one do you want burned into the memories of your soul - Regret or Glory?”
- Special Operations Force Academy Instructor Jono
Photo: Team “Slit Throat” dressed up for our late night Field Training Exercise (I’m in lower right hand corner)
The following is a copy of an email that I sent to the Instructors of the Special Operations Force Academy (SOF/A) and SEAL Adventure Challenge (SAC):
Dear SOF/A and SAC Instructors:
I want to say THANK YOU for the experience of SOF/A and SAC this past week. Making it through this week and NOT QUITTING meant more to me than you probably realize. I think Instructor Jono may have guessed somewhat when he saw me crying when it was all over.
Some context:
First, I’m a cancer survivor as most of you know. The Navy medically discharged me in 1995 as being “Not Fit for Duty.” This has haunted me.
Second, as an athlete, I hit a bad spell of overtraining a little over a month ago - I was sick, tired, irritable, had an elevated heart rate, slept poorly, etc. I decided not to do Ironman Arizona on 4/13 because of health concerns. I also experienced weakness, especially on the right side of my body, to the extent that I could not even do 10 push ups (truth).
I went back and forth in my mind about whether or not to participate in SOF/A or just observe and write about it - at one point I decided to not participate because at the time I could not physically do the PT. However, I began to feel better the week before and my decision ultimately came down to this: If I could only do one event this year, what would it be? If I did SOF/A, I ran the risk of putting myself out of triathlon racing for the rest of this season, yet this was the only time that I would be able to do the full week of SOF/A. I could always do another Ironman.
I decided that I DID NOT want the REGRET of not having tried SOF/A.
Today, I’m still tired, covered in poison oak, with a tweaked right hamstring and left shoulder, the beginnings of a hernia, a burst ear drum, infections in both ears and another infection of some sort in my leg. Essentially, I’m out of commission as an athlete for a period of time. However, I am feeling VICTORIOUS for what I did accomplish - the ability to persevere in spite of obstacles like a tweaked hamstring that kept me from being able to run normally and NEVER QUITTING - this is PRICELESS. Ultimately, the experience will make me a stronger athlete and a stronger man.
I have also developed a better appreciation for all that you do as Special Forces operatives - THANK YOU for that perspective and THANK YOU for your service to our country.
When it’s all said and done, would I change my decision attending? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Thank you.
Best regards,
David Glover
aka Monkey Butt
aka Nuke Knocker
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David B. Glover
Professional Triathlete, Coach and Race Director
Author of Full Time and Sub-Nine
Personal Web: www.davidglover.net
Business Web: www.enduranceworks.net
© 2008 David B. Glover
