Lowery's Multisport (Races Inc.)
July 2008 I'd like you to know a bit about Frank Lowery. Frank is probably best known for SILVERMAN, but he's involved in a LOT of athletic pursuits. I met Frank when he was an active duty airman at Nellis Air Force Base. He worked as a combat medic in the base hospital. I was a civilian Federal employee working at the Family Support Center (I retired a couple of years ago). Frank and I were part of the 2001 Nellis contingent of four from Nellis AFBto the Air Force Marathon at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio.Frank was the airman, I was the civilian (oldest guy), and there was also an NCO, and a Chief. We had a great time.
When I have a tri question, Frank gives me good advice.Frank's athletic background is quite impressive. He is a long timecompetitor in the sport of triathlons and held national rankings from 1990to 2003. His interest in the sport began when he was 15 and a family friend challenged him to finish an event that seemed "unachievable" by someone his age. He finished the race and was hooked! Since 1986 he has competed in over 200 triathlons, including three Ironman and more than 40 Half Ironman races.
At 16, Frank was recruited to play soccer in Scotland for the U16 National Team. He graduated from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor ofScience in Exercise and Sports Science. He received a scholarship to play soccer and run cross-country for the University and became the first student in the University's history to compete in two collegiate sports simultaneously. Frank's career as a coach began with a youth soccer team 17 years ago.
For the last 12 years, however, his primary focus is coaching swimming at both the age group and master's levels. Frank currently coaches the Henderson Nevada Masters Swim team and has increased program participation by over 500percent during his 5-year tenure. His reputation as an excellent swim coach, coupled with his superior athletic ability, has given Frank the opportunity to coach on a more personal level, tailoring workouts based on an individual's goals and objectives. Frank has built his career around coaching, race directing, and youth development. Frank holds a level 1 USATriathlon Coach Certification and a National C Soccer Coach Certification. I have been volunteering for Frank for many years. I want you to know why I continue volunteering with him: he treats his volunteers VERY well - we're valued and he shows it. Of course he abuses-overworks us (but he REALLYworks hard as well).
Here's what really tickles me: it's a family affair. Meg, Frank's wife, is involved in Frank's events up to her eye balls (as well as being mom to threekids). Frank's brother George and Meg's brother Mike show up whenever they can (which is quite often) to lend a hand. Frank's dad, George Sr. (who lives in Florida) pops up frequently. Take, for example, Frank's famous and fabulous fish fry. The Georges (father and son) drive from Florida with iced fresh fish that they personally caught off the Florida coast from Joey's (another brother) fishing boat. Frank's family turns out as well as friends and swimmers for Frank's very successful masters' swimming program. Frank some how "charms" all kinds of people to help promote Silverman. People like the renowned six-time Ironman champion Dave Scott; Chris McCormack, affectionately known as "Macca," who is the 2007 Hawaii Ironman winner; and Tour de France cyclist and Olympic medalist Tyler Hamilton. Heck he KNOWS these people.
In addition to the Silverman, Frank also hosts kids' tris (for futureTriathlete/Silverpeople)! They're a lark! It's supreme people watching time. Parents don't swim with their kids, but some ride bikes with them and more run along side their kids. If you want to laugh (if it isn't your kid) come and watch. Kids and families show up: some arrive early and others are the harried late ones.Bikes of all kinds and in various conditions are racked at the transition area. Some tires need to be pumped up. There's always someone who forgot a helmet. Speaking of helmets: kids wear them every which way. Some are so loose they wouldn't serve much purpose, so we help them do it right. We are easing kids into a sport we love. Wet kids stagger up from the pool, some with a glazed look on their faces trying to figure where their bikes are. When they find them, they extricate the beasts from the rack and hopefully head in the right direction AND geton the bikes before the "mount" line.
I saw a small "Barbie" girl's bike with TRAINING WHEELS! I saw a gal finish the cycling portion by pedaling with one pedal. When asked what happened,she replied "it fell off." The pedal was stuffed between the cable and downtube. How the heck did she pedal with one pedal? We sure didn't have muchtime to discuss this because she was off running. I wonder how many adults would have her devotion to her sport? At one race I saw a young girl careening down the hill on her bike for thefirst turn on the course. I was ready to grab her so she wouldn't go in thetraffic lane. Another adult of the mother persuasion was looking prettydarn concerned - it was Meg Lowery with two children in a stroller. It was her daughter Jayden, riding for the first time without training wheels, who was scaring us. Some how Jayden got control and rode off, unaware of our concerns. After the kids wobble back on their bikes and park them (read "drop it anywhere") they must figure out where to run (while the grown ups are screeching incomprehensible adult directions).
The kid tris are an exercise in organized chaos, but there are some really serious, good triathletes in them. One young guy has all the expensive trigear and places at the top in kids' tri; when he competes in "adult" tris hebeats many adults.Frank also sponsors Splash and Dashes. Are they fun to participate in -like a hyped up practice for a tri (minus the cycling). And to add to the fun, there are neat prizes such as Bellagio Buffet certificates, shows on the strip, and even airline tickets occasionally!
Organization and eye to detail personify Frank. Silverman is a year-long planning/working event, but when Silverman is being physically set up, Frank doesn't stop for days. Frank and Meg are masters at getting key volunteers(supervisors) and major sponsors. There are all kinds of volunteers, somework days and weeks prior to the event, and some work on the day of theevent. I like to be a floater and fill in where I see the need - I like to savor as many aspects as I can. I initially like T1 & 2, then fill in elsewhere. Frank sometimes foils my plans - he's the boss: he can fire volunteers.
The "power behind the throne" is Meghan (Meg-The-Hugger [with a capital H])- it's her Lowery Multisport too.
