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Chris Glover |
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Age: 32
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Commitment |
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| In late 2004, I found out I was a Type 1 Diabetic. This forced me to change my entire lifestyle – diet, training, doctors appointment, daily glucose monitoring etc. The first few years were tough with finding a right treatment for my condition and I was also busy with other things. As a partner in a small business the 70hr work weeks were getting to me. I had just got married and was preparing to purchase our first home. | |
| Cycling seemed to be a distant memory as Janice and I prepared for our first daughter, Ava. Having ridden a mountain bike for 15 years, I continued to cycle occasionally with guys I used to race with, increasingly more aware that my fitness was suffering. It seemed we liked being parents so much that about 18 months after the birth of Ava, we were now preparing for our second daughter Sadie. The strains of juggling a small business, two babies, serious health constraints and intermittent periods of pregnancy prevented me from logging the hours I wanted to on my trusty Giant that I had loved for so long. | |
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In early 2007, while I was interested in getting back into racing, I was also an avid soccer player and had committed to purchasing Toronto Football Club season tickets, playing on an indoor team, and playing for the outdoor season which meant two traveling tournaments. I bought another bike and decided to ride again. I started to ride at the weekly races at Coulson’s Hill and realized that something was missing from my life. While my commitments prevented me from going full bore into racing mountain bikes, I still managed to get out and improve on my race results as the season unfolded. It all seems so simple now: I had to quit everything else, and have devote all my discretionary time, money and effort into cycling. I have already committed to the following for 2008 season:
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2008 Goals |
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Bikes (I have a few...) |
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Training |
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Why I Do What I Do |
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I have gained the wisdom at my age to see that I am capable of amazing things. I have learned that there are no short cuts, you cannot cut corners to achieve results. I have done a lot of research and adjusted my lifestyle to accommodate the challenges associated with diabetes. Professionally, I have learned that people respond favorably to honesty and integrity. Relationships can only be maintained if those around you trust and respect you. As an employer, I have had a lot of experience with motivating and inspiring employees. I tend to do this by setting an appropriate example. While cycling, I have used these skills specifically to challenge friends to enter races and push beyond their personal boundaries. This has become very important during those cold wet nights when a rookie rider needs a push to complete a lap at a 24 hr race. I have given up many old habits as my diabetes requires me to live a clean life. I am confident in my ability, but more confident with my overwhelming desire to compete. I would very like to be part of a team where we can all share in successes, learn from our failures, and continue to push ourselves to our personal best. The endorphins are my motivator now. I am addicted to pushing my physical limits and mastering the mental techniques it takes to be competitive. To be quite honest the monetary incentives offered by Spoke O’Motion, as nice as they are, are very much outweighed by the benefits of being a part of a dedicated group and representing what is good with the competition of cycling. The bottom line is that I am doing all of this on my own and will do it regardless of any kind of compensation. I would like to represent a like minded group while I compete at these events and give my training a little more purpose! While my results may be lacking, my actual race experience spans quite a long time period and is mixed with many different types of competition. I have rekindled a deep desire to compete. I have always played organized sports and had much success with them. However, as I age I see that commitment to athletic endeavors seems to take a back seat to the struggles and responsibilities of the hectic lives we all live. Cycling has fueled my competitive spirit over the last season or two. I now no longer want to spend resources on a team-oriented sport where it is easy to mask one’s shortcomings or likewise, be dragged down by others sub-par efforts. I enjoy the pressures of self directed and individual achievements. I alone am responsible for my results. While this is the technicality that propels me, the idea of a team is something that I still relish. This is precisely why I continue to do the 24Hr and 8 hr races. When people who take responsibly for their actions – both successes and failures – combine to form a team, then great things are attainable. I would not consider joining a team if I did not believe I could represent myself in a manner that garners respect, and mutual admiration. I am at an interesting point in my life where I have seen some amazing results from sticking to a strict training program and regimented diet. I have never been in better shape, and have never trained so hard for a specific goal. I am excited and have already put a lot into the 2008 season. I may not win every race at this point but I guarantee that I will represent Team Spoke O’Motion to the best of my ability and commit to improving on every result. |
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Experience |
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2002
2003
2004
2007
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