The Blog of Author and Athlete David Glover

The Power Of Team: Three Ordinary People and Their Run to Greatness
by Peter Wortham

I had the opportunity and privilege to meet Joel Burrows AKA “Ghost” when we both participated in the Special Operations Force Academy in the last week in April. With an extensive background in endurance events including Ironman-distance triathlons and marathons, Joel was the one participant at the Academy with whom I could most closely identify. Joel earned his nickname “Ghost” by maintaining a low profile during the week - by staying under the radar. Yet, on the final day and night, Ghost took over as the team leader of the 44 participants (our initial group of ten from the week long Academy merged with 34 more participants for the final 24-hour SEAL Adventure Challenge).

Joel had also done something, which still seems incomprehensible to me now: he, along with his then wife, Nancy, and friend, Dave, won outright three of the four “Racing the Planet” Desert Races. The “Racing the Planet” races are a series of seven-day, 250-kilometer (~150-mile) footraces across the world’s largest and most forbidding deserts - the Atacama Desert in Chile, China’s Gobi Desert, the Sahara and finally “The Last Desert” in Antarctica. Each participant had to carry 30 pounds of their own survival gear, clothing and food on their backs, running across sand and rock, climbing dunes and mountains.

I asked Joel afterwards why he chose the Special Operations Force Academy. This is what he had to say:

After 11 Ironman races, more marathons than I can count, and winning outright 3 of the 4 Racing the Planet Desert Races, I was looking for a new challenge. In 2003 I saw a flyer about this camp, and it has been on my mind ever since. Now that I am going through my divorce and am able to choose the events that I want to participate in, I felt this was the time to go after the SEAL camp. I began training in January and only took about 6 days off between then and the start of the camp. I am always looking for the next challenge and really wanted to show up to the camp in the best shape possible. I felt like I achieved that goal.

I have been a personal trainer/strength coach since 1996, but in Chicago since 1997. I went to Miami of Ohio and have a B.S. in Exercise Science. I currently hold certification from NSCA CSCS, NASM CPT, certified FIGHT Instructor, world champion desert ultra runner (racing the planet), Power Plate instructor, USA Cycling, USA Track and Field, 1st degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, subject / co-author of the book The Power of Team: Three Ordinary People and Their Run to Greatness.

I think the hardest part of the week for me was relying on people who were untested and had not gained my trust. Let me try to clarify. From 2004-2006 I raced as a member of Team Illinois, a desert ultra racing team. Of the four events we entered, we one the North American title in the 2004 Atacama Crossing in Chile, and won the overall team titles in the 2005 Gobi Desert in China (top 10 overall finish), the 2005 Sahara Race, and the 2006 Antarctica Race. My team worked so well together we were able to communicate with looks and signals as well as verbal cues. Our winning streak is still unmatched. Not only were we world champions, but as a coed team we beat every other team whether it was all male, all female, or coed. In Egypt we beat a team of ultra running legends! Going from that kind of cohesive unit to one where people were not sure of their abilities, were not in shape, were not strong, etc. was a real challenge. I found I was able to work better with Team Slit Throat [name for our Academy team] as the week went on, but was faced with those same problems (only to a greater degree) on the final day of the event [when 34 brand new participants joined the group]. Being cold and wet, sleep deprived and beaten down were all bad; however, they were expected bad events and feelings. The unknown aspect of teamwork and relying on others to help you get through is a real challenge - especially with all that is going on in my personal life.

Being the class leader on the last day was tough for me. Like my call sign “Ghost”, I spent the majority of the week working hard, trying to get my team to the finish, helping those I could when they needed it, and trying to stay under the radar. I had made a plan of letting my performance speak for itself. I wanted my actions, not my words, to prove I belonged at that camp. It’s hard to be a ghost when you have to stand in front of 43 other students and all the instructors and give orders, help others, and pay the price for anyone (including yourself) who screws up. They told me they would be rotating a new leader in, especially if I made mistakes. When I was put in charge, I again wanted my actions to lead the way. It is one thing to bark commands, but I firmly believe in never asking anyone to do something I myself can’t or won’t do. I want people to know that I will be at the front of the line, leading the charge and helping all those who need me. It was a challenge to lead the class because I had also taken over command of my boat group. I was running the double stress of trying to get my group of 7 as well as the entire class to successfully navigate their way through that 24 hour period. I was relieved when they took the role away from me. Under my watch, no one was punished, every team succeeded in the mission, and the group performed well. I think the highlight for me was Instructors Jono and Dr. Kohlberg driving up to me and telling me to “fire” the military guy who had taken command from me and retake the leadership role. That spoke volumes of their belief in me and my performance. I never had a chance to ask Slit Throat what they thought of my command, or for that matter anyone in the rest of the class. I hope I led with authority and grace, that people believed in me when I stood up front, and that I presented myself both in a manner deserving the leadership role as well as being someone people would follow.

This experience was both self-confirming and self-affirming for me. As my personal life has dramatically changed over the last year, a lot of my beliefs in myself have faltered. I knew I needed something for me. I have been watching this camp since 2003 and finally decided it was time for me to step up and toe the line (you’ll get a little better insight into me from my chapter in the book). On the application I wrote that I had competed with some of the best in the world and believed I was one of them. Who better to test myself with and against than those who really are the best–the SEALS and Rangers. This camp confirmed that what I believe to be fit and how I train myself and many of my clients really does work. The confirmation was important from a professional side. It was self-affirming in the sense that I believed my mental and physical games were strong. I am always looking for the challenge to drive me into those unknown areas. I needed and wanted something to help me believe in me again. I found it during the SEAL camp week. I was pushed and battered, I was made cold and wet, I was put into a realm where I had to learn to trust my teammates and they me. All of those things were welcome challenges. I loved every minute of the camp. In another time, I probably was made to live in the world of the Spec Ops warrior.

I read Joel’s book shortly after the Academy. I am inspired by his story and I would follow him anywhere.

Live life boldly and richly,

David Glover

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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