Profile – Frank Lowery

Lowery’s Multisport (Races Inc.)

Julyrn2008 I’d like you to know a bit about Frank Lowery. Frank is probablyrnbest known for SILVERMAN, but he’s involved in a LOT of athleticrnpursuits. I met Frank when he was an active duty airman at Nellis AirrnForce Base. He worked as a combat medic in the base hospital. I was arncivilian Federal employee working at the Family Support Center (Irnretired a couple of years ago). Frank and I were part of the 2001rnNellis contingent of four from Nellis AFBto the Air Force Marathon atrnWright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio.Frank was the airman, Irnwas the civilian (oldest guy), and there was also an NCO, and a Chief.rnWe had a great time.rn

When I have a tri question, Frank gives merngood advice.Frank’s athletic background is quite impressive. He is arnlong timecompetitor in the sport of triathlons and held nationalrnrankings from 1990to 2003. His interest in the sport began when he wasrn15 and a family friend challenged him to finish an event that seemedrn"unachievable" by someone his age. He finished the race and was hooked!rnSince 1986 he has competed in over 200 triathlons, including threernIronman and more than 40 Half Ironman races.

At 16, Frank wasrnrecruited to play soccer in Scotland for the U16 National Team. Herngraduated from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor ofSciencernin Exercise and Sports Science. He received a scholarship to playrnsoccer and run cross-country for the University and became the firstrnstudent in the University’s history to compete in two collegiate sportsrnsimultaneously. Frank’s career as a coach began with a youth soccerrnteam 17 years ago.

For the last 12 years, however, his primaryrnfocus is coaching swimming at both the age group and master’s levels.rnFrank currently coaches the Henderson Nevada Masters Swim team and hasrnincreased program participation by over 500percent during his 5-yearrntenure. His reputation as an excellent swim coach, coupled with hisrnsuperior athletic ability, has given Frank the opportunity to coach onrna more personal level, tailoring workouts based on an individual’srngoals and objectives. Frank has built his career around coaching, racerndirecting, and youth development. Frank holds a level 1 USATriathlonrnCoach Certification and a National C Soccer Coach Certification. I havernbeen volunteering for Frank for many years. I want you to know why Irncontinue volunteering with him: he treats his volunteers VERY well -rnwe’re valued and he shows it. Of course he abuses-overworks us (but hernREALLYworks hard as well).

Here’srnwhat really tickles me: it’s a family affair. Meg, Frank’s wife, isrninvolved in Frank’s events up to her eye balls (as well as being mom tornthreekids). Frank’s brother George and Meg’s brother Mike show uprnwhenever they can (which is quite often) to lend a hand. Frank’s dad,rnGeorge Sr. (who lives in Florida) pops up frequently. Take, forrnexample, Frank’s famous and fabulous fish fry. The Georges (father andrnson) drive from Florida with iced fresh fish that they personallyrncaught off the Florida coast from Joey’s (another brother) fishingrnboat. Frank’s family turns out as well as friends and swimmers forrnFrank’s very successful masters’ swimming program. Frank some howrn"charms" all kinds of people to help promote Silverman. People like thernrenowned six-time Ironman champion Dave Scott; Chris McCormack,rnaffectionately known as "Macca," who is the 2007 Hawaii Ironman winner;rnand Tour de France cyclist and Olympic medalist Tyler Hamilton. Heck hernKNOWS these people.

Inrnaddition to the Silverman, Frank also hosts kids’ tris (forrnfutureTriathlete/Silverpeople)! They’re a lark! It’s supreme peoplernwatching time. Parents don’t swim with their kids, but some ride bikesrnwith them and more run along side their kids. If you want to laugh (ifrnit isn’t your kid) come and watch. Kids and families show up: somernarrive early and others are the harried late ones.Bikes of all kindsrnand in various conditions are racked at the transition area. Some tiresrnneed to be pumped up. There’s always someone who forgot a helmet.rnSpeaking of helmets: kids wear them every which way. Some are so loosernthey wouldn’t serve much purpose, so we help them do it right. We arerneasing kids into a sport we love. Wet kids stagger up from the pool,rnsome with a glazed look on their faces trying to figure where theirrnbikes are. When they find them, they extricate the beasts from the rackrnand hopefully head in the right direction AND geton the bikes beforernthe "mount" line.

I saw a small "Barbie" girl’s bike withrnTRAINING WHEELS! I saw a gal finish the cycling portion by pedalingrnwith one pedal. When asked what happened,she replied "it fell off." Thernpedal was stuffed between the cable and downtube. How the heck did shernpedal with one pedal? We sure didn’t have muchtime to discuss thisrnbecause she was off running. I wonder how many adults would have herrndevotion to her sport? At one race I saw a young girl careening downrnthe hill on her bike for thefirst turn on the course. I was ready torngrab her so she wouldn’t go in thetraffic lane. Another adult of thernmother persuasion was looking prettydarn concerned – it was Meg Loweryrnwith two children in a stroller. It was her daughter Jayden, riding forrnthe first time without training wheels, who was scaring us. Some howrnJayden got control and rode off, unaware of our concerns. After thernkids wobble back on their bikes and park them (read "drop it anywhere")rnthey must figure out where to run (while the grown ups are screechingrnincomprehensible adult directions).

Thernkid tris are an exercise in organized chaos, but there are some reallyrnserious, good triathletes in them. One young guy has all the expensiverntrigear and places at the top in kids’ tri; when he competes in "adult"rntris hebeats many adults.Frank also sponsors Splash and Dashes. Arernthey fun to participate in -like a hyped up practice for a tri (minusrnthe cycling). And to add to the fun, there are neat prizes such asrnBellagio Buffet certificates, shows on the strip, and even airlinerntickets occasionally!

Organization and eye to detail personifyrnFrank. Silverman is a year-long planning/working event, but whenrnSilverman is being physically set up, Frank doesn’t stop for days.rnFrank and Meg are masters at getting key volunteers(supervisors) andrnmajor sponsors. There are all kinds of volunteers, somework days andrnweeks prior to the event, and some work on the day of theevent. I likernto be a floater and fill in where I see the need – I like to savor asrnmany aspects as I can. I initially like T1 & 2, then fill inrnelsewhere. Frank sometimes foils my plans – he’s the boss: he can firernvolunteers.

The "power behind the throne" is Meghan (Meg-The-Hugger [with a capital H])- it’s her Lowery Multisport too.rn