“Trifecta”

About the Book

This memoir chronicles the life of a runner celebrating the completion of twenty-six years of 26.2 mile marathon races. His “Trifecta” comprises over one hundred marathons, one in all fifty states, and a finish in the coveted Boston Marathon. He shares a veteran’s personal journey of overcoming life’s challenges and disasters to achieving daily victories with a focus on a runner’s why. “You are a runner, a marathoner, the master of time management, meticulous planning, logistics, and travel. You are extremely versatile and adaptable. Somehow you make it all fit. Your WHY drives your WILL . . . it all comes back to your WHY.”—David Hamel

About the Author

David Hamel is a retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant having served over 30 years on active duty in aircraft maintenance and as Director of the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Research Institute in Montgomery, Alabama. He is a past Alabama State Commander of the Korea Defense Veterans of America and past Eastern District Commander of AMVETS, North Carolina. He has performed over 170 Prisoner of War-Missing In Action (POW-MIA) table presentations and has served as the state POW-MIA Chairman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Departments of Alabama and North Carolina, and is a past National Aide-de-Camp. Dave is an Eagle Scout and has been active in scouting as a Troop Chartered Organization Representative, Eagle Scout advisor, and has served as State and National Scouter for the VFW. Completing 30 years of marathon racing, and locally known as the “Ray Road Runner,” Dave has finished 127 marathons in all 50 states, as of this writing. Nicknamed “Scrappy” in the Fort Bragg hockey community, he cross-trains playing aggressive ice hockey. Dave is a motivational speaker on fitness and self-preservation, and Air Force enlisted history and heritage. He has also earned dual Master of Art degrees: Human Resources Development and Computer Resources and Information Management (Webster University), and a Bachelor of Science degree in Technical Management with a Secondary in Psychology (University of Maryland). He resides in Spring Lake, North Carolina with his wife Gloria, of over 26 years.