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Scott Ekman, a long-time RedCloud veteran and dedicated Client Engagement Director, recently completed his first triathlon at the annual Lavaman Triathlon in Waikoloa, Hawaii. Known for his strategic vision and leadership skills, Scott embraced this personal challenge to push his physical limits. The triathlon not only tested his endurance but also offered valuable insights that he now applies in his professional life at RedCloud.
Let’s hear directly from Scott about his journey and the lessons he learned along the way.
My goal was to finish my first triathlon, and why not do it in a beautiful, sunny, warm location like Waikoloa, Hawaii? The annual Lavaman Triathlon race, held in April, is Olympic length (1.5k swim, 40k bike, and 10k run). As we age, finding an exercise motivator becomes essential, and this triathlon sounded like the perfect plan.
I grew up a competitive swimmer, so I wasn’t too concerned about the swim. I’ve completed century-length bike races in the past, so I wasn’t worried about that leg either. However, I’m not a runner! My plan was to shuffle/jog as much as possible just to complete the race. Preparation included mile-long open ocean swims at local beaches like Hapuna and Mauna Kea, as well as biking through local communities and highways that paralleled the ocean. Putting them all together back-to-back on race day was definitely a challenge!
Everything went well, and I had enough energy to ‘shuffle’ across the finish line about halfway through the 1000-person pack. Would I do it again? Absolutely – I signed up for next year one week later. This race has given me a new motivator to routinely exercise, putting my gym membership to better use and also giving me improved energy and a clear mind to tackle each day with more vigor. I aim to improve my bike and run times next year and sign up for a few more races in between Lavaman’s annual event.
The Impact of the Lavaman Triathlon on My Professional Journey at RedCloud
Similar to how I try to lead inside RedCloud and how I work with my teams, I started with the end in mind: finishing. Never veer from that vision – put it on the board, work backward, and just plan on it happening.
My family/peers wondered if that was achievable given I’ve never done one, getting older, and wasn’t swimming, biking, and running every day, but they gave me the benefit of the doubt and some encouragement along the way. In any business setting, there will always be challenges similar to those I had going into my race….budget, resources, timeline, etc., but just as in our team’s daily project work for our clients, the work you put into achieving that goal will help you overcome challenges and accomplish your goals, just like it did for me!
Reflecting on my journey from training to crossing the Lavaman finish line, I also learned (or maybe better said, remembered and reinforced!) valuable lessons about perseverance and resilience. These insights mirror my approach to leading and motivating my team through demanding projects or tough times in the business environment. It literally and figuratively is a marathon, not a sprint, so it is critical to have a holistic approach to any project, or in my case, a daunting physical challenge.
If this motivates you at all and you are looking for your first (and fun) triathlon, I highly recommend Lavaman. And hey, why not spend another week or so on the island after the race to recuperate and explore?
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