Doctor + Event Director + Triathlete = Busy Guy

Published September 20, 2018 02:04PM

Brent Herron was on vacation in Hawaii when he witnessed what he called the “biggest spectacle in the world,” the 2006 Ironman World Championships.

“I was hooked instantly,” he recalls. “I had no experience in swimming, biking, or running, but after I got back from Hawaii, I registered for Ironman Coeur D’Alene.”

At the time, he was a pre-med student at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Balancing Ironman training with a demanding workload for school was challenging, but rewarding. It also benefited him as he prepared to apply for medical school—”Ironman finisher,” after all, is an impressive addition to any 21-year-old’s resume. But the more Herron became immersed in triathlon, the more he realized he could use the sport to give back to others.

“I noticed every triathlon was sold out or overcrowded, and had little to no charity component,” Herron says. “I decided to start a non-profit triathlon race in which athletes could raise money for the charity of their choice.”

In between studying for finals, going on med-school interviews, and training for Ironman, Herron organized Tri For Your Cause, a sprint-distance triathlon where entry fees were donated to the charity of each athlete’s choice. It was an instant hit, raising thousands of dollars in donations for local nonprofits.

Since that first race in 2008, Herron, now 33, has only gotten busier. In addition to working full-time as a family medicine physician, Herron is the owner of BBSC Endurance Sports, a Las Vegas-based race organization that annually produces eight multisport races and nine running events across Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. All races have a charity component, and BBSC has raised more than $100,000 for non-profits worldwide.

Despite working 24-hour shifts as a doctor and flying between his home in Boulder to Las Vegas, where his business is based, Herron finds time to train for multiple races each year. His philosophy: “Wake up early and make it happen. I think the easiest, most rewarding way to find motivation is to give back to your community. The feeling of giving radiates all the positive energy I need to stay focused and motivated during day-to-day life. As Winston Churchill said, ‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’”

A (Long) Weekend in the Life

Friday
Training Rest Day
Flight to Denver to take fiancée to Taylor Swift concert

Saturday
Bike Day
Up early for a 50-mile ride before a meeting to discuss upcoming race planning

Sunday
Bike Day
Another early morning ride followed by house hunting with fiancée

Monday
Run Day
BolderBoulder 10K, more work meetings in Boulder, and a flight back to Vegas