Brad Rex, Race Announcer

Brad Rex, who I jokingly refer to as my “uncle from California,” dabbles in a lot of different things: cycling, rowing, race announcing, sailing, environmental restoration, etc. Since meeting him years ago at the Great Floridian Triathlon where he announced and I raced, we’ve become good friends over the years and now every year I fly him in from Santa Rosa, CA (home of Vineman) to announce the Luray Triathlons.

Like many people, I tend to get “stuck in my head,” as I’m always worrying about all the things that “I have to do.” I play over and over in my mind: go to Home Depot, order t-shirts, contact sponsors, answer emails, create a survey, update my website, call my parents, etc. The list goes on and on! As soon as we cross one thing out, another appears. It’s never ending and seems to keep me from doing all the things that we want to do. We get frustrated.

Rather than take responsibility for our choices and actions, we easily fall into a pattern of blaming others or outside events for our current situation:

• I can’t train for an Ironman because I work too much.
• I don’t have enough time to train.
• I can’t be faster because I have other commitments like a family.
• I can’t do what I want to do because I have all of these other things that “I have to do.”

Worse yet, we might lash out at others in jealousy and fear. You can see this on message boards where it’s much easier to hide behind the anonymity of the Internet than it is to look at oneself in the mirror and ask the difficult questions: What’s going on with me? What insecurities am I projecting onto others? What choices am I not making out of fear? Etc.

Ultimately, we’ve lost control our lives and ourselves. We become unhappy, stressed out victims of the outside world.

Ughhh…..! What to do?

“There is only one thing you have to do in life,” offered Brad.

He’s right. The only thing I have to do is die. Everything else is optional.

True, there are consequences if we don’t do some things. If I don’t pay my mortgage, I may lose my house. If I don’t walk my dog, she’ll make a mess in the house. If I don’t eat and drink, I’ll waste away into nothing. If I miss a bunch of workouts

But, ultimately, we don’t “have to do” anything - we make choices about everything we do. By recognizing that we do have choices to make, we can empower ourselves and transform what we “have to do” into what we “want to do.”

Suddenly, not being the fastest in a triathlon is OK….I am making a choice to spend more time with my friends and my family rather than train all time. I am choosing to work longer so that I can get a promotion. I am choosing not to race because I want go to a wedding. Etc.

How do you deal with the “I have to do’s” in your life….?

Live life richly and boldly!

David

—-

David B. Glover
Experiential Writer, Elite Athlete, 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

Twenty miles into the bike at Ironman Louisville on August 26, I told myself, “This is it. My body is tired. I don’t want to do another Ironman again this year. I’m done.”

Four weeks later, I am at a different place. I am hungry again.

I walked into the months of August and September in a state of fear and anxiety coupled with purpose and desire - a paradox of hopelessness and purpose. I knew that I would be under a lot of stree because I had committed to organizing the Luray Triathlons in August then back to back to back weekends in September with Reston followed by SavageMan followed by Smallwood. Reston was the only known quantity. SavageMan was a new race at a new venue at a longer distance. Smallwood was two days instead of one. My focus following Vineman shifted from “racing” to “race directing.”
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Luray Triathlon 2006

August 2005

I want to produce a triathlon. I’ve toyed with the idea of producing my own race but have been hesitant to make the commitment. I’ve been working with the Reston Triathlon as one of the Race Directors (there’s 7 of us now) for several years so have the experience to do it and the perspective to know that it’s a lot of work and potentially a huge financial risk. The demand by the local triathlon community for more races is high as evidenced by many of the local races filling up quickly.

September

I decide to produce two or three race and create a budget. My goal is simply to not lose money.

After researching possible venues within an hour or two of DC on maps and Web sites, Laura [my girlfriend] and I spend a day of driving to potential race sites west of Reston. Almost all fail race site suitability factors: too much traffic; poor road quality; inadequate lake access; road to lake not paved, etc.

One of our final stops for the day is Luray and nearby Lake Arrowhead. Laura and I noticed the paved trail along the river in town (Greenway) and eat lunch downtown at “A Moment to Remember.”

Laura: “This is a cute little town.”

I agree.

The park at Lake Arrowhead is beautiful and the roads are nicely paved with little traffic. Now, I need approval and support from the Town of Luray and Page County.

October

Me in a voicemail to Pat who heads Luray Parks & Recreation: “Hi Pat. My name is David Glover. I would like to do a triathlon in Luray at Lake Arrowhead next spring. I will send you an email with my proposal. Please let me know what you think.”

Excerpt from email that I sent Pat:
Proposed date in 2006: 5/14 (coincides with the weekend of the Festival of Spring)
Event Size:
- # Athletes: ~300
- # Spectators/volunteers: ~300

Pat replies that it sounds like a good opportunity for the town, but I’ll need approval from the Town Council.