Leslie Graves, your event announcer.
Thanks for taking the time to visit and learn a little more about my background.
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I am more comfortable hyping others - participants, sponsors, vendors, performers, volunteers and those who organize events - so excuse me as I blush while dishing about myself below. The take away is that I am like many of the participants at an event - I love showing up and participating. That in itself is an achievement.
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Announcing provides me the platform to hype the achievements of everyone. It's truly an honor to be the voice of an event!
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Picture at McGuire's Breakfast Run 10K (2011)
My Story
My athletic experience began in San Diego, CA, as an AAU Swimmer and in High School participating in Cross Country, Track, & Basketball. In College, it was Basketball & Water Polo for the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs while competing in road races & triathlons. I continued running in road races until 2011 when I completed my longest running achievement - The California International Marathon in 3:58:00.
In 1989, a friend gifted me Triathloning for Ordinary Mortals by Steven Jonas which I devoured prior to entering the Fort Ord Tri Series (4 mini triathlons – a race each weekend for a month) where the swim portion was swimming in a zig zag pattern from lane to lane in a pool! As ridiculous as the swim portion sounds, that series was spectacular because you could quickly become more competent with transitions, see your results improve in just a month and make lifelong friends. I went onto compete in several Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons before becoming a USAT certified referee in 2006 and then a certified coach in 2007. After finishing the 2007 Barb’s Race Triathlon (Half Ironman distance), I came back in 2008 to beat my time on the Vineman 70.3 course by 7min, but still 3min shy of going under the elusive 6hr mark.
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Back in 1996, as the Health and Fitness Director at a local YMCA, I jumped at the chance to organize our annual 3K/10K and absolutely loved the experience. Fast forward to 2009, while organizing another local race event, the hired announcer was delayed due to rain, so I stepped up to the microphone to keep the participants engaged through the awards ceremony by pulling on all my experience above plus as a Y trainer of trainers and a spin class instructor. As luck would have it, another local event director was a spectator that day and hired me on the spot as the announcer for their event series.
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Since then, I have had the pleasure of announcing hundreds of events from triathlons to track championships, 5Ks to marathons, mud runs to concerts and in 2024, I was honored to announce local parades including the Sonoma County Pride Parade. Since 2020, I have also hosted and emceed several zoom events and webinars including an ongoing series for our local historical society.
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I am proud to be the announcer as well as sponsor of Cindy's Race 1K/5K/10K/10miler supporting cancer care and research. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes. In May of 2021, I joined the millions of women who have had to endure this diagnosis. After rounds of chemo, surgery and radiation, I received the all clear in August of 2022 and was able to announce Cindy's Race just 6-weeks later. Pease take care of yourself by doing your monthly self breast exams and making your annual mammogram appointment. You are worth it!!!!
For a nearly complete list of the events I have announced go HERE.
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I am looking forward to announcing even more events in 2025. Be sure to contact me today to get on my schedule.