Character traits
figure in fitness

A scorpion was travel-
ling across land when

he came upon a stream.

Not being able to swin:
he appreached a frog and
asked him if he would coa-
sidez offering a lift by climb-
ing on his back while the
frog waded across the boc«

: of water.

The frog looked at the
scorpion with caution “If !
carry you on my back hov
do T know you won’r sting
and kill me?”

“The. scorpion said that he
wouldn’ t be foolish enough
to do that because if he

- stung the frog, he too woul!
drown and dic. This made

sense to the frog so the scor- .

., pion hopped on and off they
set.
:. Abour half: ay across-the
“scorpion indecd stung the
-. frog and as he was dying the
frog blurted out “Why-
. would-you do such a thing,

new we will both surely dic!”
_ The

“into the frogs’ eyes | and said,

, “Iesin my nature!”

- 2. The point of this story is
-to illustrate how we are |
a" genetically programmed to

:-: have certain character and :
. personaliny traits which allow

‘ us'to. bemore or less happy

in ‘the endeavors we choose -

‘ato invoive ourselves, includ-
ing. sport, ‘health and exer-

ae cise.

Shane
0llins

ae

I'm convinced the person
who believes everything in
moderation is appropriate,
can probably live that
lifestyle because be or she is
most comfortable with that
attitude. :

There are also those that -

feel everything in modera-
tion — including moderation
— is more their litestyie and

_ this will often be reflected in

the sports they most enjoy.

Right at the end of the
scale are the people who”
believe that anything, worth:
doing is worth overdoing
and you will often find these
individuals spending their
sporting lives immersed in
very demanding physical
challenges like triathlons or
otiier ultra endurance events.

The point is not to get
involved in a sport or pas-
time for fitness if it doesn’t
mirror your own sense of
yourself just because it’s pop-
ular or someone you know
happens to enjoy it.

Decide on the level of
energy you are really com-

‘Advertising Feat

_ __.. Wednesday June 3 |

fortable expending on a reg-
aiar basis and start from that
point. For some, it may be
three acrobics workouts per
week ora 5km run mixed up
with a littl weight training.
Others will need 2 more
challenging goal in order to
get their “fix” and that’s just
fine.

If you do adopt this con-
cept in your training you are
much more likely to make
the commitment a lifelong
habit and are going to enjoy
the journey as much or more
than the goal itself.

It’s interesting to note
that individuals who start out
with moderate goals often
leapfrog inte more and more
demanding events until they
finally arrive-at the level most
suited to iheir physiological
and psychological srate.

Wherever you are on this -

emotional ladder is irrelevant
— what matters is that you
are aware of your threshold
and get involved with a pro;
gram that will enhance and
build your health and well-
ness rather than breaking it
down.

Remember: Mere is not
better; less is not better; bet-
ter is better!

Shane Collins is a physical
trainer.and athletic coach as
well as an accomplished ultra
endurance runner and
marathon swimmer. He can
be reached at (604) 921-0720,

“Our third feature 0 on the great game
of golf i in the Pacific Northwest

| ” Wednesday June 10

. A feature full of suggestions about
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Wednesday June 24

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Sharpening skills

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