June 21, 2025 • 31 mins
What do you do when life changes in a single moment? Dave Randall knows. After surviving a life-altering medical condition while serving in the U.S. Navy, Dave could’ve quit. Instead, he rebuilt—body, mind, and mission.
Now a world champion hand cyclist and founder of Alive Day Apparel, Dave joins Ben to talk about identity, faith, pain, purpose, and what it takes to thrive after hitting rock bottom. This episode is a must-listen for athletes, coaches, and anyone trying to rise from a setback.
Highlights include:
- The story behind “Alive Day” and what it means to Dave
- Why purpose makes discipline effortless
- How to win the mental game before the race even begins
- The role of faith in high performance
- Why your comeback is always stronger than the setback
Are you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:
mentaltrainingplan.com/athletes
Are you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:
mentaltrainingplan.com/academy
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, welcome to the Coaching Minds podcast, the
official podcast of MentalTraining Plans.
Super excited about today'sguest.
What do you do when lifepunches you in the mouth?
Literally everything changes ina single moment.
Today's guest knows exactlywhat that's like because he's
lived it.
Dave Randall is a worldchampion hand cyclist, a former
(00:23):
member of Team USA and thefounder of Alive Day Apparel, a
brand born out of pain,perseverance and purpose.
After surviving a life-alteringevent that should have
sidelined him forever, davechose something different.
He chose to rebuild, to fightto find a new lane and to
(00:43):
dominate it.
He's taken gold at the worldchampionships, competed on the
biggest stages and, through itall, lived out a faith that just
refuses to quit.
If you're an athlete, coach orjust someone trying to keep
going when the road gets steep,this episode is for you, because
what Dave has to say just mightchange the way you see pressure
(01:03):
, pain and performance.
Let's dive in, dave.
So excited to have you on here,man, appreciate you joining us
today.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yeah, thanks for having me.
I'm excited to be on.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
And it looks like you got quite the setup there.
You life on the road right now.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Yeah, I am, yeah.
So in Madison Wisconsin I'mactually at a bike trail, so a
trailhead.
I kind of came here for the dayto hang out.
We rode yesterday but today'skind of a day off, so I thought
what better way to do it, likein the van?
Let's do it.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
I love it.
Man.
One of the first things thatyou and I talked about was the
concept of a live day.
Let's just start there.
Let's start with your story andwhere you're at and how you got
here.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Right.
So a live day, the term, it'sbasically the start of Vietnam
veterans.
It's the anniversary day of,you know, when they almost lost
their life in combat or someonejust survived a near-death event
that had a major impact.
So my, I guess, if you call ita live day, was basically in
1995.
I was in the military, the USNavy Started having a few issues
(02:16):
we were in the Persian Gulf atthe time Started having a couple
medical issues, kind of blewthem off.
You know, I was only 20 yearsold, started having some other
major issues.
So they flew me to Germany.
They did an MRI on my spine andbrain.
The lady, the nurse, come inand said that I had tumors all
over my brain, spinal cord.
So yeah, I had my first surgeryright before Christmas in 95,
(02:37):
had learned to walk again,everything.
So you know, at that age it wasvery tough.
Uh, but since then, so over thelast 30 years, I've had five
brain surgeries, four backsurgeries, lost the vision in my
left eye, had a kidney surgeryin uh 2023.
And uh, here I am still racingand riding in uh Wisconsin.
(02:58):
What can be better?
Speaker 1 (03:00):
I love it.
So talk, talk to us.
You know just a little bit asyou go back to when, when you
experienced the physical changes.
What was that?
What was the mental shift, like, like, how did you wrestle with
identity and purpose and mindsI mean some of these big things
(03:21):
in those early days?
Speaker 2 (03:22):
So I want to like it.
You know, like the motto wehave is mindset is everything.
But I'm not gonna lie.
So when it first happened right, I was young um, major impact.
So you know, I was probablydepressed for about six months,
you know, uh, didn't know reallywhere life was gonna go, um,
and then I don't know whathappened, I just think for some
(03:44):
reason I snapped out of it andthen I was on the computer one
day and I learned about handcycling, you know, because I
couldn't ride a regular bikeanymore.
So I was like what, there'slike a bike I could ride.
So then found that, and then Istarted just riding that right,
like I'd go out and ride 26miles, you know, and I was happy
about that.
But then I found out you couldrace these things.
(04:05):
So I entered the Detroitmarathon.
This was like I think it waslike 2004.
I entered that because I'vealways been a competitive guy.
So when I got on that bike andI think there was only like 10
of us, you know, guys that maybehave been racing for a little
while, I think I finished fourthand I was hooked.
I was like this is it?
So then kind of did someresearch and I found there was
(04:25):
like a series that we could do.
And uh, yeah, I drove all theway out to Colorado to do a race
and I remember being so excitedbecause I had seen these guys
online.
I'm like I'm going to racethese guys, you know.
But I think in the beginning itwas very hard.
You know you go through that,you know, stage of just a maybe
and then depression and somepeople don't come out of that.
Especially with disability isvery hard.
(04:47):
If you have like that alive day, day right that something
happens major, you could getstuck in that right.
So that's why it's so importantfor you to surround yourself
with good family or friends andthen even role models that you
know can kind of support you toget you out of that you to get
(05:07):
you out of that for sure.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
And you know you, you almost just like, you almost
just like skipped through majorgiant life, altering like
negative, like I don't know it'sthere's, there's something
about your personality that Ithink just draws people toward
you because you see the glasshalf full or you see maybe, some
possibility.
I want to maybe rewind just alittle bit and go back just for
(05:33):
a moment.
Just one more question.
Most people would have stopped.
Most people would have at leastcamped out there for a while,
would have at least camped outthere for a while, felt sorry
for themselves.
Why didn't you like?
What internal decision do youfeel like you made that maybe
set you on this path toward highperformance again?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
So that is a really good question, but the only
thing I wish I could say it'ssomething special about me.
But the only thing that I couldcome up with is that I believe
that God equipped me with theright, like I believe there's
purpose to everybody's life,right, I just believe he gave me
the tools to be able to dealwith this.
Like I said, I have my daysbecause my father was 43 when he
(06:19):
died of this.
He died my senior year of highschool, so that's all I knew of
the disease was that.
Hey, you know, you only livedto about 40.
So I'm 51, outlived him, butyeah, I don't really have the
answer.
I mean, I've just always beenthat way.
You know, looking at thepositive right, like you can
always find that, and it's true,like mindset really is very
(06:40):
important, because if you havethat mindset of positivity, you
know, look at what's good.
You know I still find thingsthat are wrong.
You know I still get down, butfor the most part, 80% of the
time, I'm focused on what I cando, not what I can't do.
And that's the thing with thedisability community is like we
find ways.
You know, when you havesomething happen, you got to
figure out ways to beindependent, right, or make
(07:02):
things happen.
So that's kind of what I'vedone.
I don't know if it'snecessarily like I don't look at
it as me being special and likeyou know, or I just believe
God's kind of equipped me withthe right tools to be able to do
this, where maybe somebody elsedoesn't have that, but yet I
can inspire them to hey, if hecan do it, you know, they can do
(07:22):
it as well, right?
But I also know that somepeople don't come out of it and
I can't explain why.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
That's fair.
I mean the.
The word purpose stands out tome in what you just said.
And we talk, we talk all thetime like that.
That's a pretty.
If you, if you were to take yourteam through the MTP Academy,
if you were to work one-on-onewith us, purpose would be pretty
early on.
Because if we can get you tosee that life is about way more
than how well did I do in thisone particular game, how well
(07:57):
did I do in this one particularrace, you're even now getting
bigger into real life.
This doesn't just impact you.
Competing Like this impactsyour ability to go to the
kitchen and make a sandwich,Like things are different now,
but being able to know, hey, I'mhere for some reason and I can
(08:21):
go accomplish this purpose, andI can go accomplish this purpose
.
Talk, talk to me maybe a littlebit about now as we, as we
shift into you know the, thehand cycling.
You've won gold on the on theworld stage.
Like, in your mind, what, whatdo you think maybe separates the
best from the rest when itcomes to your sport?
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Well, so you mentioned purpose.
So actually, one of my shirtdesigns on the back says enough
purpose makes disciplineeffortless, and it's so true.
If you have purpose, justenough, you don't need a ton.
You just have to have enoughpurpose in your life to be
disciplined at something.
So, you know, with regards toracing, hand cycling, but any
(09:06):
sport you know, I'll meet peoplein the beginning that you know
maybe I meet somebody new,that's, you know, riding or
whatever, and they have they'relike, oh, I want to, you know,
be a Paralympian or I want toget to that level.
I usually know within a couplerides whether they have the
ability, right.
So I think it definitely takesthe mental side is very
(09:28):
important, right, you have tohave that mentality of with hand
cycle racing.
But I'm sure any sport, like Ialways say, like you, you, when
I race, like a time trial.
So time trials, an individualeffort, right?
So maybe I'm riding a 10-miletime, it's all about time, you
go as hard as you can.
So they call it the truth, therace of truth.
So you're right at that redline, right?
(09:50):
So my thought process duringthat ride is I'm trying to kill
myself, I'm trying to literallybury myself, right.
So the mind eventually willtell you, you know, it'll say
stop, because you're going todie right, but you're not going
to die Now.
Maybe you could push it to thatpoint that you really could,
but that's.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
That's just probably pass out first, Right?
Speaker 2 (10:10):
I mean realistically, you're right, yeah, you're not
going to die.
That's just the way your body,your, your mind, you're trying
to protect yourself.
So, yeah, I try to literallypush myself to that.
And that's what I find inracing, even in a road race, if
you're racing with a group ofguys, it's the guy that's
willing to delay that thought,right.
So when everybody has it atsome point in their race or game
(10:33):
or something they're going towant to quit, they are.
That's just the way humannature is.
So it's that guy that can kindof delay that three or four
times, right, that's ultimatelywho's going to get there and I
think, to get to the top level.
I think, you know, I think someof it is genetic, you know, I
think you have to have a littlebit of genetics, because you
(10:54):
could take two guys and say oneguy's a really hard worker but
he just doesn't have thegenetics.
Well, he could still get up.
You know, he could still dovery well.
But if you have thatcombination of you know, uh, you
see a guy that's just gifted,right, and then it also, he has
a good work ethic.
When I was young, you knowyou're, you're a high school
(11:15):
coach and stuff I didn't havethat work ethic.
I was not, as, uh, you know yousay you wish you could go back
now with the mind I have now andgo back, man, I would have been
a really good athlete butdidn't quite work out that way.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Sure, and you know we had.
We had Don Thomas on here a fewmonths ago who was, you know,
literally talking about what'sthe difference between the guys
that you know come to the NFL,combine and put up insane
numbers and it's like, oh man,this guy is going to be elite at
the next level, and thenthere's kind of a split after
(11:53):
that.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Sometimes they live up to those expectations,
Sometimes they don't live up tothose expectations, but it's
interesting to hear youliterally say the exact same in
your sport yeah, I mean it's,it's universal, I think, right,
it's uh, you know and I don'treally have always the answer of
why some guys make it, and Ithink, even in the NFL, like you
(12:17):
know, football you probablyhave a better understanding of
and I would be like want tounderstand that why do you like
some quarterbacks?
You know, is it really workethic or is it?
You know, the genetic thing?
I mean you got to have geneticsand gifts, right?
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Sure, and then also incorporate into it, you know,
preparation piece, incorporate,you know, leadership, decision
making, your ability to performunder pressure, you know all
those certainly certainly playinto it.
But let's get back to maybe,maybe, your preparation.
Heading into a big race likewhat, what's the, what's your,
(12:54):
maybe mental routine or what'sthe preparation look like for
you, when you know, hey, there'sgoing to be a lot on the line
here and I'm going to push my Iknow I'm going to push myself to
that super uncomfortable placewhere my mind is going to want
to shut down to preserve my life, my mind is going to want to
(13:16):
shut down to preserve my life.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
So there's a thought that comes to mind with that.
So in training, when I'mtraining, I think you have to
train like you're going to race.
And there was Alan Iverson,remember.
He used to say practice, thisis practice.
Well, I think he was actuallywrong.
Practice is where you preparefor the race.
So if your practices or yourtraining is not mimicking your
(13:40):
actual events, then you're notgoing to be prepared.
So when I train, right, there'sdays where I'll have like an
easy recovery ride right, likemaybe I go out just recover
because you have to have that.
But then there's days where I'mgoing to do some intervals and
I'm talking like physicalintervals, so you push your
limit right, as if you're racing.
But then also you have the themental side of where, say, we're
(14:01):
leading up like this race,we're going to race next weekend
, next, next Thursday is ourfirst race.
So right now, you know, maybeevery once in a while, once a
day, I'll just kind of prepareand I'll visually see myself
right Like, hey, I'm feelinggood, I see myself on the bike,
I'm feeling strong, fresh, readyto go, and then ultimately you
get to the start line and I'vewon I don't know how many races,
(14:25):
but I've won a few just by guys, because sometimes they put you
know, they see me right andI've won a lot.
So I've already beat them atthe start line because they're
already saying to themselveswell, I can't beat him, he's the
national champ, right.
But that's where I think thatbelief has come in, because I've
looked at.
When I first started out, Ilooked at those guys and I was
(14:46):
like man, I'm excited to racethese guys and then, of course,
you want to beat them.
So then you try your hardest.
So, yeah, I think the physicalpushing yourself in training, uh
get you prepared for the race,cause if I don't push myself,
I'm not when I get into the raceand I'm not going to be
prepared.
Um same way for the mental.
So just kind of you know,visualization, uh.
And then I do a lot ofmeditation, like I'll take an
(15:09):
hour out of my day.
I have like a little massagetable, I'll just lay on that and
just lay there.
You know, I really don't thinkabout much.
Whatever comes into the mind,comes in and it goes, and I feel
like it's a way to relax mymind but also my body.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
I love that you brought up Allen Iverson.
I would venture to say thereare not really that many
athletes who have gotten to thathighest level and have just
kind of had the attitude of Idon't really need to practice,
I'm just so good.
I mean, we're talking apercentage, of a percentage, of
(15:44):
a percentage maybe.
And you know, here we are.
Game four of the NBA finals istonight and you know, on the
other side of that you've got aTJ McConnell.
You know the opposite maybe ofthat Allen Iverson example,
(16:06):
where practice isn't important.
And I mean you've got a guy likehim who is only playing in the
NBA because of how hard hepractices.
He was in an interview you knowinterview talking about how
he's undersized, he's under this, that and the other.
He's not Allen Iverson for sure, but because he worked so hard
(16:27):
and trained so hard and justmade a living and made an entire
career out of, I'm going topick you up full court, the
entire game, the whole time I'mon the floor and I'm going to
pick you up full court, theentire game, the whole time I'm
on the floor and I'm going toplay to a point of exhaustion
and, like you said, the practiceis so important.
In order to be able to do that,he has to practice at that
(16:47):
level.
He has to push himself at thatelite level all the time.
Talk us through your side ofpreparation Like what?
What does the practice looklike for you?
What's the practice look like?
You know what?
Knowing I need to push myselfto a point where I'm going to be
able to do this longer, harder,faster than anyone else I
(17:11):
compete against.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Well, so for me it's it's, it's me, it's not hard
because I have a coach.
So my coach uploads theworkouts to the website or
whatever.
I log in, I see what's there, Igo, do them and then I just
download them back in.
So tomorrow, I mean, it varies.
So if I have to do intervalsand when I say an interval so we
(17:38):
would do so 30 seconds startsoff right.
We do 30 seconds and you're,you're putting in the power and
then you back off a little bit.
Now you're at threshold and youdo like a two minute effort and
you do two and a half minutestotal.
Then you get like a three,three minute rest, then you do
that same thing and then you dolike four or five of those, but
over the whole ride.
We're talking it's like two anda half hours, but there's days
(17:58):
where I do like I'm on the bikefour to five hours.
So I'll do the.
Uh, my longest ride has been 81miles and that's a long ride.
That's a long time to be on abike, but that's more like now.
That's a hard ride, that'sendurance pace.
So meaning you know you'rebuilding your base cardio,
you're just getting that aerobic, you're not going anaerobic,
(18:18):
but about two hours in you startto feel it.
But you're just building yourbody.
You know that stamina to beable to be like all right, I've
been on the cyclist that has thebest aerobic base usually will
win.
But you also have to have theanaerobic you know, being able
(18:44):
to go above your threshold forthose few seconds or whatever,
for sure.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Talk to us about pressure moments.
What tools or mindset shiftshelp you perform when it matters
the most?
You know whether that's beforecompetition, during competition,
coming down the stretch likewhat's that look like for you?
Speaker 2 (19:06):
So good question, like being national champ.
So the world championship whenI won that in 2018, so that one,
there was pressure because thisis the biggest stage.
This was in italy, so I didn'tfeel I was nervous, but there
was no expectation really on theus at the time because we had
(19:26):
never beaten italy.
Italy was literally the teamthat had won most of those races
.
So when we did beat them and itwas an, uh, awesome
accomplishment, um, butindividually.
So, you know, being nationalchamp and the way people will
look at you, that's pressure,that's coming from them, but
ultimately, it's about us, howwe perceive ourselves.
So there have been times that Ifelt pressure, especially when
(19:48):
you're on top right.
You, you want to stay there.
Um, it's very hard to staythere.
Now I'm older, um, but what Iwould do is like when I'm racing
, I would think about my family.
So my dad that passed awaydoing it for him.
You know if he still sees me andstuff like that uncle, family,
(20:09):
pride for myself and, like Isaid, when those moments come
that you're, you're wanting togive up and I don't really know
if, like I said, I don't know ifthat's me I believe God has
equipped me with this, likeability to be able to do that
Right, um, and, and I'm thankfulfor it.
I mean there's, there's nothinglike.
There's not a day that goes bythat I'm not thankful for, for
(20:31):
what I can do.
You know, even though I've beenthrough a ton of stuff, I'm
still here.
And if I live to be 80 and I'mgetting off topic but if I live
to be 80, I'd love to be 80, 90years old, old man in a
wheelchair.
But if I die tomorrow, I'm ahappy man.
You know that's a really highfield.
I'm a happy man.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
You know, that's really how I feel, and you
brought up, you brought up God.
I'd love to just dive in alittle deeper.
You know, how, how is yourfaith shaped?
This competitive mindset thatJesus is, this 1970s painting
(21:09):
holding a lamb with featheredhair and wearing flip-flops, and
that that's, you know, a littlebit, if I'm being honest, like
the painting that I think ofthat's hanging in my gram
grandmother's church, the dudelooks soft.
So how, how does your faith,you know, tie in with this
(21:34):
competitive mindset?
You know what's, uh, what,what's that look like in
preparation and in performance?
Speaker 2 (21:42):
So I think it's a big part of my life.
Um, it's, it's where I draw mystrength, uh, you know, or
purpose in life, you know, yeah,it's very hard to describe.
I mean, I wasn't raisedreligious, you know, which I'm
kind of thankful for.
You know, I had gone to churchActually my best friend when I
was younger.
His dad was a Sunday schoolteacher.
(22:03):
So when I used to go stay thenight Saturdays with him, I'd
have to go to church Sunday andI'm like a kid, you know, like
eight, nine years old, and he'dmake us read out of the Bible
and I didn't know how topronounce half of those words.
So I was often embarrassed.
But I had heard about Jesus andyou know he'd always talk to me
about it.
I'm like, oh, you know, I don'twant nothing to do with it.
And then, and then in 2000, Istarted having some things.
(22:25):
There was just something,something on my heart.
I felt like I was missingsomething.
And, yeah, one night it wasn'teven church I went out one night
to a club with some friends andI came home that night and I
just came home and I startedcrying and I don't even think I
prayed to Jesus, I just prayed,I guess, to God, and I was like
(22:46):
there's got to be something moreto life.
I woke up the next day and I'mtelling you I had like clear
eyes.
It was bizarre man, I mean.
It was like stuff that had beenon me had been gone.
My vision was and I'm talkingabout spiritual right just new
life.
And then I, you know, fell intosome stuff again, but he's
always been there.
And then, ultimately it's ajourney, right, like you know,
(23:07):
2000,.
April of 2000,.
Now we're 25 years later.
It's been a long journey, buthe's been there and he's close
to us all.
He's not far, like you said,that painting is a painting and
our Jesus, our God, is a warrior.
He's tough, you know.
He can be soft, but that's whata man can do.
He can be soft, but he can alsobe firm when he needs to.
(23:30):
And I feel like that's who heis and he's always been there.
Every surgery I've had, youknow, if I've had a worry or
whatever, he's been there.
And I always hear that voice ofsaying it's going to be okay,
no matter, and I'll getemotional now, but it's just
going to be okay.
That's the thing we know.
Whatever you go through, he'sthere, regardless of who you are
.
He's very close.
You can feel him.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
And even at times you don't feel him.
He's still there, yeah, andthat you know that that feeling
of it's going to be okay, Iassume has to be tied in with
the alive day apparel.
I mean has to be tied into.
You know there's purpose.
You're still here, like there'sstill something to fight for.
Talk to us a little bit about,maybe.
(24:18):
Why is that mission so personalto you and what impact are you
hoping this brand makes?
Speaker 2 (24:26):
Well, so yeah, a live day has a lot of purpose.
So it's about resilience, right, you know, telling people that
now.
The thing with a live day,though, is some people, it's
that moment, right, because itis this moment that changed your
life.
So some people don't celebrate,and that's okay, you know, we
stand with them regardless, buta lot of people do figure out a
(24:48):
way to move forward, right, andthat's what we're about.
We just felt like you know thisbrand, the designs that we have
, the statements that we have.
One of my favorites is adversityintroduces a man to himself,
and it's 100% true, because whenadversity hits, you find out
very quickly who you are, youknow.
So those are statements that Ilive by.
(25:11):
The comeback is always strongerthan the setback.
Very true, you know, we allhave something right.
You don't necessarily have tohave a live day.
We all have something that'shappened in our life that we had
to come back from.
That's just life, you know.
So I feel like you know, thisis just the start.
I just launched this and I'm onthe road.
We've met a lot of peopletaking pictures.
(25:33):
I was actually in PlanetFitness two days ago, and I
rolled in with not this one, butI had another shirt on and the
girl that was working the frontdesk said I love that shirt.
So we got talking.
So then two of the girls endedup buying shirts and we got
pictures of us together and uh,you know, that's where I, you
know, just out racing hoping topromote, uh, and build a, build
(25:55):
a community.
You know that, uh, that we canstick together and support one
another, you know?
Speaker 1 (26:01):
yeah, I love that.
So let's say there's someonelistening right now.
Who's who's hit this, you know,maybe it's their own alive day,
or or maybe it's just they'restill stuck in that that
negative, deep, dark place.
What, what's?
Maybe something you would sayto them, or what advice would
you give to that person facingthis life-altering setback or
(26:27):
event or diagnosis?
Speaker 2 (26:30):
right.
So I think I think you knownewly injured vets very hard.
So say, a veteran is comingback from you know service and
he got injured.
I've met some.
So you're in that state ofshock, right, you think your
life's over.
I was there, you know.
When you have something happen,you think, oh, what am I going
to do?
How am I going to find somebodyto love me?
Am I going to have kids?
All those thoughts are goingthrough your mind and that's
(26:52):
normal, it's OK.
You know that's the way it'sgoing to be.
But know that there is hope,because that's the thing.
Like the wheelchair people thinkand not everybody's in a
wheelchair, but the wheelchair,you know everybody wheelchair or
something happens like that.
You're not going to be no, likewe're in 2025, technology's out
there, so it's getting better.
Accessibility's better, youknow.
(27:18):
So things like that definitelyhelp.
I think the biggest thing I'dsay is just talk to somebody you
know and understand that it'sokay.
If you're feeling down, don'tjudge yourself, because you can
do that.
You can, you know.
Like say we're feeling down orI'm feeling down, then you beat
yourself up for feeling down.
So you're now you're just doinganother double you know thing
and it's like no, stop doingthat, you know, just let it be.
And then too, I think thespirit like for me.
(27:46):
If so, say somebody that I metis not living their life and
they're just depressed andthey're in the house, I'm living
for them.
So say, I met them right andthey're just not getting out,
well, I'll live for them.
That's the best thing I can dois live the life, because
they're, for some reason,they're not getting out and
doing it.
So I will live for them.
Same way with, like my you know, my family has passed away.
You know, I think they'd wantme to live life right, like,
(28:14):
continue to live.
And then I have the thought of,like no, they're not here
anymore.
My best friend just passed awaylast October from prostate
cancer and he was part of thisalive day thing.
Um, and it was sad, cause wethought, you know we'd be around
together doing this, but he'snot here.
So, like, the best thing I cando is just keep moving forward
and keep him in spirit and livefor him Right.
So I think, uh, if somebody isin that spot, you know we're
here for him.
That's what we're trying to dois build a community, reach out.
(28:36):
I mean uh, you know, go to theInstagram or Facebook and uh,
you know, reach out.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
I love it.
What's the?
We're just got a few more quickquestions.
Just want to, just want to firesome off at you.
What's the hardest thing you'veever done mentally?
Speaker 2 (28:55):
Oh mentally, um, I would say, uh, man, mentally,
well, I would say, brain surgery, um, well, I don't know.
Is that mental?
Yeah, I mean, you know,preparing, yeah, I mean I think
it was 2014.
So for some reason, 2014, Icould not, and this is really
(29:17):
weird.
I could not see my life afterthat surgery.
I kind of in the most positiveplace I could have been, whereas
other surgeries I was a littlemore confident.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
That's fair.
What's one mindset skill youthink every athlete should
master?
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Perseverance, perseverance, I guess.
Well, no, I'd say, uh,resilience, you know, just being
able to come back.
You know, hurt yourself, comeback, do it again, do it again,
do it again what do you, what doyou think at age 51?
Speaker 1 (30:02):
keeps you hungry, keeps you going the most to beat
the 20 year olds.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
We got young guys on the circuit and I like being
cause you know they look at meas old, but hey, that's just a
number.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
I love it.
Finish this sentence.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
Greatness is achievable If you well.
So I'd say achievable If youput in the work.
I love it Well.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Dave, this achievable if you put in the work.
I love it.
Well, dave, this has beenfantastic.
Just getting to talk with you,learn a little bit more about
your story, your journey.
I know that you're passionateabout building up this community
.
If there are people listeningto this that are saying you know
what I want to be part of thatcommunity, to this that are
(30:50):
saying you know what I want tobe part of that community,
what's the, what's the best wayfor them to either reach out to
you or find you on social mediawebsite, what's that look like?
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Yeah, they can reach me, you know, through Instagram.
Alive Day Apparel on Instagramor Facebook, or they can email
me at david atalivedayapparelcom.
So yeah, reach out any of thoseplaces and I'll get back to you
.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
Well, Dave, it's been an absolute joy.
Can't thank you enough.
Appreciate you taking the timeto chat with us today and tell
us a little bit about your story, your insights.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Yeah, I appreciate it Ben.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
As always, if you have questions and want to reach
out, head on over tomentaltrainingplancom, reach out
to us at ben atmentaltrainingplancom, or fill
out the form on the website and,until next time, make your plan
and put it to work.
Hey, welcome to the Coaching Minds podcast, the
official podcast of MentalTraining Plans.
Super excited about today'sguest.
What do you do when lifepunches you in the mouth?
Literally everything changes ina single moment.
Today's guest knows exactlywhat that's like because he's
lived it.
Dave Randall is a worldchampion hand cyclist, a former
(00:23):
member of Team USA and thefounder of Alive Day Apparel, a
brand born out of pain,perseverance and purpose.
After surviving a life-alteringevent that should have
sidelined him forever, davechose something different.
He chose to rebuild, to fightto find a new lane and to
(00:43):
dominate it.
He's taken gold at the worldchampionships, competed on the
biggest stages and, through itall, lived out a faith that just
refuses to quit.
If you're an athlete, coach orjust someone trying to keep
going when the road gets steep,this episode is for you, because
what Dave has to say just mightchange the way you see pressure
(01:03):
, pain and performance.
Let's dive in, dave.
So excited to have you on here,man, appreciate you joining us
today.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yeah, thanks for having me.
I'm excited to be on.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
And it looks like you got quite the setup there.
You life on the road right now.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Yeah, I am, yeah.
So in Madison Wisconsin I'mactually at a bike trail, so a
trailhead.
I kind of came here for the dayto hang out.
We rode yesterday but today'skind of a day off, so I thought
what better way to do it, likein the van?
Let's do it.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
I love it.
Man.
One of the first things thatyou and I talked about was the
concept of a live day.
Let's just start there.
Let's start with your story andwhere you're at and how you got
here.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Right.
So a live day, the term, it'sbasically the start of Vietnam
veterans.
It's the anniversary day of,you know, when they almost lost
their life in combat or someonejust survived a near-death event
that had a major impact.
So my, I guess, if you call ita live day, was basically in
1995.
I was in the military, the USNavy Started having a few issues
(02:16):
we were in the Persian Gulf atthe time Started having a couple
medical issues, kind of blewthem off.
You know, I was only 20 yearsold, started having some other
major issues.
So they flew me to Germany.
They did an MRI on my spine andbrain.
The lady, the nurse, come inand said that I had tumors all
over my brain, spinal cord.
So yeah, I had my first surgeryright before Christmas in 95,
(02:37):
had learned to walk again,everything.
So you know, at that age it wasvery tough.
Uh, but since then, so over thelast 30 years, I've had five
brain surgeries, four backsurgeries, lost the vision in my
left eye, had a kidney surgeryin uh 2023.
And uh, here I am still racingand riding in uh Wisconsin.
(02:58):
What can be better?
Speaker 1 (03:00):
I love it.
So talk, talk to us.
You know just a little bit asyou go back to when, when you
experienced the physical changes.
What was that?
What was the mental shift, like, like, how did you wrestle with
identity and purpose and mindsI mean some of these big things
(03:21):
in those early days?
Speaker 2 (03:22):
So I want to like it.
You know, like the motto wehave is mindset is everything.
But I'm not gonna lie.
So when it first happened right, I was young um, major impact.
So you know, I was probablydepressed for about six months,
you know, uh, didn't know reallywhere life was gonna go, um,
and then I don't know whathappened, I just think for some
(03:44):
reason I snapped out of it andthen I was on the computer one
day and I learned about handcycling, you know, because I
couldn't ride a regular bikeanymore.
So I was like what, there'slike a bike I could ride.
So then found that, and then Istarted just riding that right,
like I'd go out and ride 26miles, you know, and I was happy
about that.
But then I found out you couldrace these things.
(04:05):
So I entered the Detroitmarathon.
This was like I think it waslike 2004.
I entered that because I'vealways been a competitive guy.
So when I got on that bike andI think there was only like 10
of us, you know, guys that maybehave been racing for a little
while, I think I finished fourthand I was hooked.
I was like this is it?
So then kind of did someresearch and I found there was
(04:25):
like a series that we could do.
And uh, yeah, I drove all theway out to Colorado to do a race
and I remember being so excitedbecause I had seen these guys
online.
I'm like I'm going to racethese guys, you know.
But I think in the beginning itwas very hard.
You know you go through that,you know, stage of just a maybe
and then depression and somepeople don't come out of that.
Especially with disability isvery hard.
(04:47):
If you have like that alive day, day right that something
happens major, you could getstuck in that right.
So that's why it's so importantfor you to surround yourself
with good family or friends andthen even role models that you
know can kind of support you toget you out of that you to get
(05:07):
you out of that for sure.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
And you know you, you almost just like, you almost
just like skipped through majorgiant life, altering like
negative, like I don't know it'sthere's, there's something
about your personality that Ithink just draws people toward
you because you see the glasshalf full or you see maybe, some
possibility.
I want to maybe rewind just alittle bit and go back just for
(05:33):
a moment.
Just one more question.
Most people would have stopped.
Most people would have at leastcamped out there for a while,
would have at least camped outthere for a while, felt sorry
for themselves.
Why didn't you like?
What internal decision do youfeel like you made that maybe
set you on this path toward highperformance again?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
So that is a really good question, but the only
thing I wish I could say it'ssomething special about me.
But the only thing that I couldcome up with is that I believe
that God equipped me with theright, like I believe there's
purpose to everybody's life,right, I just believe he gave me
the tools to be able to dealwith this.
Like I said, I have my daysbecause my father was 43 when he
(06:19):
died of this.
He died my senior year of highschool, so that's all I knew of
the disease was that.
Hey, you know, you only livedto about 40.
So I'm 51, outlived him, butyeah, I don't really have the
answer.
I mean, I've just always beenthat way.
You know, looking at thepositive right, like you can
always find that, and it's true,like mindset really is very
(06:40):
important, because if you havethat mindset of positivity, you
know, look at what's good.
You know I still find thingsthat are wrong.
You know I still get down, butfor the most part, 80% of the
time, I'm focused on what I cando, not what I can't do.
And that's the thing with thedisability community is like we
find ways.
You know, when you havesomething happen, you got to
figure out ways to beindependent, right, or make
(07:02):
things happen.
So that's kind of what I'vedone.
I don't know if it'snecessarily like I don't look at
it as me being special and likeyou know, or I just believe
God's kind of equipped me withthe right tools to be able to do
this, where maybe somebody elsedoesn't have that, but yet I
can inspire them to hey, if hecan do it, you know, they can do
(07:22):
it as well, right?
But I also know that somepeople don't come out of it and
I can't explain why.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
That's fair.
I mean the.
The word purpose stands out tome in what you just said.
And we talk, we talk all thetime like that.
That's a pretty.
If you, if you were to take yourteam through the MTP Academy,
if you were to work one-on-onewith us, purpose would be pretty
early on.
Because if we can get you tosee that life is about way more
than how well did I do in thisone particular game, how well
(07:57):
did I do in this one particularrace, you're even now getting
bigger into real life.
This doesn't just impact you.
Competing Like this impactsyour ability to go to the
kitchen and make a sandwich,Like things are different now,
but being able to know, hey, I'mhere for some reason and I can
(08:21):
go accomplish this purpose, andI can go accomplish this purpose
.
Talk, talk to me maybe a littlebit about now as we, as we
shift into you know the, thehand cycling.
You've won gold on the on theworld stage.
Like, in your mind, what, whatdo you think maybe separates the
best from the rest when itcomes to your sport?
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Well, so you mentioned purpose.
So actually, one of my shirtdesigns on the back says enough
purpose makes disciplineeffortless, and it's so true.
If you have purpose, justenough, you don't need a ton.
You just have to have enoughpurpose in your life to be
disciplined at something.
So, you know, with regards toracing, hand cycling, but any
(09:06):
sport you know, I'll meet peoplein the beginning that you know
maybe I meet somebody new,that's, you know, riding or
whatever, and they have they'relike, oh, I want to, you know,
be a Paralympian or I want toget to that level.
I usually know within a couplerides whether they have the
ability, right.
So I think it definitely takesthe mental side is very
(09:28):
important, right, you have tohave that mentality of with hand
cycle racing.
But I'm sure any sport, like Ialways say, like you, you, when
I race, like a time trial.
So time trials, an individualeffort, right?
So maybe I'm riding a 10-miletime, it's all about time, you
go as hard as you can.
So they call it the truth, therace of truth.
So you're right at that redline, right?
(09:50):
So my thought process duringthat ride is I'm trying to kill
myself, I'm trying to literallybury myself, right.
So the mind eventually willtell you, you know, it'll say
stop, because you're going todie right, but you're not going
to die Now.
Maybe you could push it to thatpoint that you really could,
but that's.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
That's just probably pass out first, Right?
Speaker 2 (10:10):
I mean realistically, you're right, yeah, you're not
going to die.
That's just the way your body,your, your mind, you're trying
to protect yourself.
So, yeah, I try to literallypush myself to that.
And that's what I find inracing, even in a road race, if
you're racing with a group ofguys, it's the guy that's
willing to delay that thought,right.
So when everybody has it atsome point in their race or game
(10:33):
or something they're going towant to quit, they are.
That's just the way humannature is.
So it's that guy that can kindof delay that three or four
times, right, that's ultimatelywho's going to get there and I
think, to get to the top level.
I think, you know, I think someof it is genetic, you know, I
think you have to have a littlebit of genetics, because you
(10:54):
could take two guys and say oneguy's a really hard worker but
he just doesn't have thegenetics.
Well, he could still get up.
You know, he could still dovery well.
But if you have thatcombination of you know, uh, you
see a guy that's just gifted,right, and then it also, he has
a good work ethic.
When I was young, you knowyou're, you're a high school
(11:15):
coach and stuff I didn't havethat work ethic.
I was not, as, uh, you know yousay you wish you could go back
now with the mind I have now andgo back, man, I would have been
a really good athlete butdidn't quite work out that way.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Sure, and you know we had.
We had Don Thomas on here a fewmonths ago who was, you know,
literally talking about what'sthe difference between the guys
that you know come to the NFL,combine and put up insane
numbers and it's like, oh man,this guy is going to be elite at
the next level, and thenthere's kind of a split after
(11:53):
that.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Sometimes they live up to those expectations,
Sometimes they don't live up tothose expectations, but it's
interesting to hear youliterally say the exact same in
your sport yeah, I mean it's,it's universal, I think, right,
it's uh, you know and I don'treally have always the answer of
why some guys make it, and Ithink, even in the NFL, like you
(12:17):
know, football you probablyhave a better understanding of
and I would be like want tounderstand that why do you like
some quarterbacks?
You know, is it really workethic or is it?
You know, the genetic thing?
I mean you got to have geneticsand gifts, right?
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Sure, and then also incorporate into it, you know,
preparation piece, incorporate,you know, leadership, decision
making, your ability to performunder pressure, you know all
those certainly certainly playinto it.
But let's get back to maybe,maybe, your preparation.
Heading into a big race likewhat, what's the, what's your,
(12:54):
maybe mental routine or what'sthe preparation look like for
you, when you know, hey, there'sgoing to be a lot on the line
here and I'm going to push my Iknow I'm going to push myself to
that super uncomfortable placewhere my mind is going to want
to shut down to preserve my life, my mind is going to want to
(13:16):
shut down to preserve my life.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
So there's a thought that comes to mind with that.
So in training, when I'mtraining, I think you have to
train like you're going to race.
And there was Alan Iverson,remember.
He used to say practice, thisis practice.
Well, I think he was actuallywrong.
Practice is where you preparefor the race.
So if your practices or yourtraining is not mimicking your
(13:40):
actual events, then you're notgoing to be prepared.
So when I train, right, there'sdays where I'll have like an
easy recovery ride right, likemaybe I go out just recover
because you have to have that.
But then there's days where I'mgoing to do some intervals and
I'm talking like physicalintervals, so you push your
limit right, as if you're racing.
But then also you have the themental side of where, say, we're
(14:01):
leading up like this race,we're going to race next weekend
, next, next Thursday is ourfirst race.
So right now, you know, maybeevery once in a while, once a
day, I'll just kind of prepareand I'll visually see myself
right Like, hey, I'm feelinggood, I see myself on the bike,
I'm feeling strong, fresh, readyto go, and then ultimately you
get to the start line and I'vewon I don't know how many races,
(14:25):
but I've won a few just by guys, because sometimes they put you
know, they see me right andI've won a lot.
So I've already beat them atthe start line because they're
already saying to themselveswell, I can't beat him, he's the
national champ, right.
But that's where I think thatbelief has come in, because I've
looked at.
When I first started out, Ilooked at those guys and I was
(14:46):
like man, I'm excited to racethese guys and then, of course,
you want to beat them.
So then you try your hardest.
So, yeah, I think the physicalpushing yourself in training, uh
get you prepared for the race,cause if I don't push myself,
I'm not when I get into the raceand I'm not going to be
prepared.
Um same way for the mental.
So just kind of you know,visualization, uh.
And then I do a lot ofmeditation, like I'll take an
(15:09):
hour out of my day.
I have like a little massagetable, I'll just lay on that and
just lay there.
You know, I really don't thinkabout much.
Whatever comes into the mind,comes in and it goes, and I feel
like it's a way to relax mymind but also my body.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
I love that you brought up Allen Iverson.
I would venture to say thereare not really that many
athletes who have gotten to thathighest level and have just
kind of had the attitude of Idon't really need to practice,
I'm just so good.
I mean, we're talking apercentage, of a percentage, of
(15:44):
a percentage maybe.
And you know, here we are.
Game four of the NBA finals istonight and you know, on the
other side of that you've got aTJ McConnell.
You know the opposite maybe ofthat Allen Iverson example,
(16:06):
where practice isn't important.
And I mean you've got a guy likehim who is only playing in the
NBA because of how hard hepractices.
He was in an interview you knowinterview talking about how
he's undersized, he's under this, that and the other.
He's not Allen Iverson for sure, but because he worked so hard
(16:27):
and trained so hard and justmade a living and made an entire
career out of, I'm going topick you up full court, the
entire game, the whole time I'mon the floor and I'm going to
pick you up full court, theentire game, the whole time I'm
on the floor and I'm going toplay to a point of exhaustion
and, like you said, the practiceis so important.
In order to be able to do that,he has to practice at that
(16:47):
level.
He has to push himself at thatelite level all the time.
Talk us through your side ofpreparation Like what?
What does the practice looklike for you?
What's the practice look like?
You know what?
Knowing I need to push myselfto a point where I'm going to be
able to do this longer, harder,faster than anyone else I
(17:11):
compete against.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Well, so for me it's it's, it's me, it's not hard
because I have a coach.
So my coach uploads theworkouts to the website or
whatever.
I log in, I see what's there, Igo, do them and then I just
download them back in.
So tomorrow, I mean, it varies.
So if I have to do intervalsand when I say an interval so we
(17:38):
would do so 30 seconds startsoff right.
We do 30 seconds and you're,you're putting in the power and
then you back off a little bit.
Now you're at threshold and youdo like a two minute effort and
you do two and a half minutestotal.
Then you get like a three,three minute rest, then you do
that same thing and then you dolike four or five of those, but
over the whole ride.
We're talking it's like two anda half hours, but there's days
(17:58):
where I do like I'm on the bikefour to five hours.
So I'll do the.
Uh, my longest ride has been 81miles and that's a long ride.
That's a long time to be on abike, but that's more like now.
That's a hard ride, that'sendurance pace.
So meaning you know you'rebuilding your base cardio,
you're just getting that aerobic, you're not going anaerobic,
(18:18):
but about two hours in you startto feel it.
But you're just building yourbody.
You know that stamina to beable to be like all right, I've
been on the cyclist that has thebest aerobic base usually will
win.
But you also have to have theanaerobic you know, being able
(18:44):
to go above your threshold forthose few seconds or whatever,
for sure.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Talk to us about pressure moments.
What tools or mindset shiftshelp you perform when it matters
the most?
You know whether that's beforecompetition, during competition,
coming down the stretch likewhat's that look like for you?
Speaker 2 (19:06):
So good question, like being national champ.
So the world championship whenI won that in 2018, so that one,
there was pressure because thisis the biggest stage.
This was in italy, so I didn'tfeel I was nervous, but there
was no expectation really on theus at the time because we had
(19:26):
never beaten italy.
Italy was literally the teamthat had won most of those races
.
So when we did beat them and itwas an, uh, awesome
accomplishment, um, butindividually.
So, you know, being nationalchamp and the way people will
look at you, that's pressure,that's coming from them, but
ultimately, it's about us, howwe perceive ourselves.
So there have been times that Ifelt pressure, especially when
(19:48):
you're on top right.
You, you want to stay there.
Um, it's very hard to staythere.
Now I'm older, um, but what Iwould do is like when I'm racing
, I would think about my family.
So my dad that passed awaydoing it for him.
You know if he still sees me andstuff like that uncle, family,
(20:09):
pride for myself and, like Isaid, when those moments come
that you're, you're wanting togive up and I don't really know
if, like I said, I don't know ifthat's me I believe God has
equipped me with this, likeability to be able to do that
Right, um, and, and I'm thankfulfor it.
I mean there's, there's nothinglike.
There's not a day that goes bythat I'm not thankful for, for
(20:31):
what I can do.
You know, even though I've beenthrough a ton of stuff, I'm
still here.
And if I live to be 80 and I'mgetting off topic but if I live
to be 80, I'd love to be 80, 90years old, old man in a
wheelchair.
But if I die tomorrow, I'm ahappy man.
You know that's a really highfield.
I'm a happy man.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
You know, that's really how I feel, and you
brought up, you brought up God.
I'd love to just dive in alittle deeper.
You know, how, how is yourfaith shaped?
This competitive mindset thatJesus is, this 1970s painting
(21:09):
holding a lamb with featheredhair and wearing flip-flops, and
that that's, you know, a littlebit, if I'm being honest, like
the painting that I think ofthat's hanging in my gram
grandmother's church, the dudelooks soft.
So how, how does your faith,you know, tie in with this
(21:34):
competitive mindset?
You know what's, uh, what,what's that look like in
preparation and in performance?
Speaker 2 (21:42):
So I think it's a big part of my life.
Um, it's, it's where I draw mystrength, uh, you know, or
purpose in life, you know, yeah,it's very hard to describe.
I mean, I wasn't raisedreligious, you know, which I'm
kind of thankful for.
You know, I had gone to churchActually my best friend when I
was younger.
His dad was a Sunday schoolteacher.
(22:03):
So when I used to go stay thenight Saturdays with him, I'd
have to go to church Sunday andI'm like a kid, you know, like
eight, nine years old, and he'dmake us read out of the Bible
and I didn't know how topronounce half of those words.
So I was often embarrassed.
But I had heard about Jesus andyou know he'd always talk to me
about it.
I'm like, oh, you know, I don'twant nothing to do with it.
And then, and then in 2000, Istarted having some things.
(22:25):
There was just something,something on my heart.
I felt like I was missingsomething.
And, yeah, one night it wasn'teven church I went out one night
to a club with some friends andI came home that night and I
just came home and I startedcrying and I don't even think I
prayed to Jesus, I just prayed,I guess, to God, and I was like
(22:46):
there's got to be something moreto life.
I woke up the next day and I'mtelling you I had like clear
eyes.
It was bizarre man, I mean.
It was like stuff that had beenon me had been gone.
My vision was and I'm talkingabout spiritual right just new
life.
And then I, you know, fell intosome stuff again, but he's
always been there.
And then, ultimately it's ajourney, right, like you know,
(23:07):
2000,.
April of 2000,.
Now we're 25 years later.
It's been a long journey, buthe's been there and he's close
to us all.
He's not far, like you said,that painting is a painting and
our Jesus, our God, is a warrior.
He's tough, you know.
He can be soft, but that's whata man can do.
He can be soft, but he can alsobe firm when he needs to.
(23:30):
And I feel like that's who heis and he's always been there.
Every surgery I've had, youknow, if I've had a worry or
whatever, he's been there.
And I always hear that voice ofsaying it's going to be okay,
no matter, and I'll getemotional now, but it's just
going to be okay.
That's the thing we know.
Whatever you go through, he'sthere, regardless of who you are
.
He's very close.
You can feel him.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
And even at times you don't feel him.
He's still there, yeah, andthat you know that that feeling
of it's going to be okay, Iassume has to be tied in with
the alive day apparel.
I mean has to be tied into.
You know there's purpose.
You're still here, like there'sstill something to fight for.
Talk to us a little bit about,maybe.
(24:18):
Why is that mission so personalto you and what impact are you
hoping this brand makes?
Speaker 2 (24:26):
Well, so yeah, a live day has a lot of purpose.
So it's about resilience, right, you know, telling people that
now.
The thing with a live day,though, is some people, it's
that moment, right, because itis this moment that changed your
life.
So some people don't celebrate,and that's okay, you know, we
stand with them regardless, buta lot of people do figure out a
(24:48):
way to move forward, right, andthat's what we're about.
We just felt like you know thisbrand, the designs that we have
, the statements that we have.
One of my favorites is adversityintroduces a man to himself,
and it's 100% true, because whenadversity hits, you find out
very quickly who you are, youknow.
So those are statements that Ilive by.
(25:11):
The comeback is always strongerthan the setback.
Very true, you know, we allhave something right.
You don't necessarily have tohave a live day.
We all have something that'shappened in our life that we had
to come back from.
That's just life, you know.
So I feel like you know, thisis just the start.
I just launched this and I'm onthe road.
We've met a lot of peopletaking pictures.
(25:33):
I was actually in PlanetFitness two days ago, and I
rolled in with not this one, butI had another shirt on and the
girl that was working the frontdesk said I love that shirt.
So we got talking.
So then two of the girls endedup buying shirts and we got
pictures of us together and uh,you know, that's where I, you
know, just out racing hoping topromote, uh, and build a, build
(25:55):
a community.
You know that, uh, that we canstick together and support one
another, you know?
Speaker 1 (26:01):
yeah, I love that.
So let's say there's someonelistening right now.
Who's who's hit this, you know,maybe it's their own alive day,
or or maybe it's just they'restill stuck in that that
negative, deep, dark place.
What, what's?
Maybe something you would sayto them, or what advice would
you give to that person facingthis life-altering setback or
(26:27):
event or diagnosis?
Speaker 2 (26:30):
right.
So I think I think you knownewly injured vets very hard.
So say, a veteran is comingback from you know service and
he got injured.
I've met some.
So you're in that state ofshock, right, you think your
life's over.
I was there, you know.
When you have something happen,you think, oh, what am I going
to do?
How am I going to find somebodyto love me?
Am I going to have kids?
All those thoughts are goingthrough your mind and that's
(26:52):
normal, it's OK.
You know that's the way it'sgoing to be.
But know that there is hope,because that's the thing.
Like the wheelchair people thinkand not everybody's in a
wheelchair, but the wheelchair,you know everybody wheelchair or
something happens like that.
You're not going to be no, likewe're in 2025, technology's out
there, so it's getting better.
Accessibility's better, youknow.
(27:18):
So things like that definitelyhelp.
I think the biggest thing I'dsay is just talk to somebody you
know and understand that it'sokay.
If you're feeling down, don'tjudge yourself, because you can
do that.
You can, you know.
Like say we're feeling down orI'm feeling down, then you beat
yourself up for feeling down.
So you're now you're just doinganother double you know thing
and it's like no, stop doingthat, you know, just let it be.
And then too, I think thespirit like for me.
(27:46):
If so, say somebody that I metis not living their life and
they're just depressed andthey're in the house, I'm living
for them.
So say, I met them right andthey're just not getting out,
well, I'll live for them.
That's the best thing I can dois live the life, because
they're, for some reason,they're not getting out and
doing it.
So I will live for them.
Same way with, like my you know, my family has passed away.
You know, I think they'd wantme to live life right, like,
(28:14):
continue to live.
And then I have the thought of,like no, they're not here
anymore.
My best friend just passed awaylast October from prostate
cancer and he was part of thisalive day thing.
Um, and it was sad, cause wethought, you know we'd be around
together doing this, but he'snot here.
So, like, the best thing I cando is just keep moving forward
and keep him in spirit and livefor him Right.
So I think, uh, if somebody isin that spot, you know we're
here for him.
That's what we're trying to dois build a community, reach out.
(28:36):
I mean uh, you know, go to theInstagram or Facebook and uh,
you know, reach out.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
I love it.
What's the?
We're just got a few more quickquestions.
Just want to, just want to firesome off at you.
What's the hardest thing you'veever done mentally?
Speaker 2 (28:55):
Oh mentally, um, I would say, uh, man, mentally,
well, I would say, brain surgery, um, well, I don't know.
Is that mental?
Yeah, I mean, you know,preparing, yeah, I mean I think
it was 2014.
So for some reason, 2014, Icould not, and this is really
(29:17):
weird.
I could not see my life afterthat surgery.
I kind of in the most positiveplace I could have been, whereas
other surgeries I was a littlemore confident.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
That's fair.
What's one mindset skill youthink every athlete should
master?
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Perseverance, perseverance, I guess.
Well, no, I'd say, uh,resilience, you know, just being
able to come back.
You know, hurt yourself, comeback, do it again, do it again,
do it again what do you, what doyou think at age 51?
Speaker 1 (30:02):
keeps you hungry, keeps you going the most to beat
the 20 year olds.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
We got young guys on the circuit and I like being
cause you know they look at meas old, but hey, that's just a
number.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
I love it.
Finish this sentence.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
Greatness is achievable If you well.
So I'd say achievable If youput in the work.
I love it Well.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Dave, this achievable if you put in the work.
I love it.
Well, dave, this has beenfantastic.
Just getting to talk with you,learn a little bit more about
your story, your journey.
I know that you're passionateabout building up this community
.
If there are people listeningto this that are saying you know
what I want to be part of thatcommunity, to this that are
(30:50):
saying you know what I want tobe part of that community,
what's the, what's the best wayfor them to either reach out to
you or find you on social mediawebsite, what's that look like?
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Yeah, they can reach me, you know, through Instagram.
Alive Day Apparel on Instagramor Facebook, or they can email
me at david atalivedayapparelcom.
So yeah, reach out any of thoseplaces and I'll get back to you
.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
Well, Dave, it's been an absolute joy.
Can't thank you enough.
Appreciate you taking the timeto chat with us today and tell
us a little bit about your story, your insights.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Yeah, I appreciate it Ben.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
As always, if you have questions and want to reach
out, head on over tomentaltrainingplancom, reach out
to us at ben atmentaltrainingplancom, or fill
out the form on the website and,until next time, make your plan
and put it to work.
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