20 — Sunday, April 12, 1998 —

Something call

HAVE you ever won-
dered why a particular
athlete just seems to
have what it takes to
become successful?

Whether it occurs at reere-
ational, club or elite levels

. there is usually *something”
that allows one or more indi-
viduals to stand out from the
crowd,

Obviously some have
genetic traits that can help in
the developmental stages of
their sport and others have
the opportunity of superior
‘or more experienced coazh-
ing, but the most important
quality that is shared by most
successful athletes is the atti-
tude and mental toughness
that dwells within themselves.

Having actually coached
adults in competitive sport
for some years now it still

: ‘amazes me how easy it is to

<., Sée the people that really

” want to compete and the

a others thar think they want

North Shore News

to, but-only.under certain
conditions. Others want to
convince you they’re serious
about improving but only if?
(a) it doesn’t hurt; (b) they
don’t have to get to traning
on time; and (c) yeu carefully
nurse their sensitive egos.

I'm talking about adults
here, folks, warm bodies who
in other areas of their lives
are considered somewhat suc-
cessful. Imagine what these
same people could do wich
their lives if they really gor
their s*** together!

A couple of years ago I
had occasion to talk with nvo
athletes at similar levels of

ather’s prints —

WHILE locked + up in a Texas

jail in November, burglar. Bill

Wells, 40, met.up with burglar’

corey, Hillger, 22; for.the first
in “about, 22 years.

; pole dances.

. In January, Ladson’s Jerry

: Colombo converted his Club

2010 into the “Church of the
Fuzzy Bunny’s,”: (sic) featur-
ing Bibie-reading followed by

. 1a procession of pastie-wearing

hice driven by:anoth

drunken, driver, his’ ‘son.
and Francois,;
d

$450, 000 by’ claiming dis’: J

ability benefits from a World

War’ 11 hand injury while ;
vorking full- time, asa house 7

ce, got into.a: wheelchair,

d reported to the local fe
eral -building to pick up h
“paycheck.” (The. jury delib-
rated 12: minutes betore
ding hi him m guilty.)

: urek California — In
tder..to’ get around. local

rdinances that’ shutdown J
ir stripper. bars, Ewo entre-".
reneurs converted their busi-. .

Tom? Razooly’s Tip: Top’ >
club” became. a ‘recreational -

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ability and with the same
goals. I was discussing train-
ing concepts and pain thresh-
olds and it really was remark-
able how different their
responses were.

One of the individuals,
Ebeneezer Chubbleduck (not
his real name) Jistened care-
fully with fire in his eves and
just couldn't wait to get
started. He had already pre-
pared himself mentally for the
work required to reach his
goal and relished the oppor-
tunity to “experience” the
journey.

The other chap, Sniveley
Wimpalot (again not his real
name) had a face as long as
an wundertaker’s overcoat and
I could see immediately this
guy was going to struggle
with his inner demons to ger
anywhere near reaching his
target.

mental fortitude

Not surprisingly,
Ebencezer was successful in
his venture, while Sniveley
didn’t even make it to the
start line. He was beaten
before he ever laced up a
running shoe or put on a pair
of swim goggles.

The really neat thing
about developing mental for-
titude along with a positive
attitude is that you don’t
have to do it ali alone. Join a
group of people whose cups

of water are half-full (not half

empty) and feed off their
enthusiasm and commitment.
It is contagious, and once
yow’re hooked you’ll start
secing sport and everything
else in your life a different
way.

There is an interesting
story about a man who had
just arrived at the Pearly
Gates where he met God.

“Come, | will show you
hell,” said God as ‘they
entered a room where a
group of people sat around a
huge pot of stew. Everyone
was desperate and starving.
Each held a speon that
reached the pot, but cach
spoon had a handle so much
Jonger than their own arm it
could not be used to get the
stew into their own mouths.
The suffering was terrible.

“Come, now I will show
you heaven,” said God and
they entered another roum,
identical to the first — the
pot of stew, the group of
people, the same long han-
dled spoons. But everyone
was happy and well nour-
ished,

“I don’t understand,” said

_ the man. “Why are they

happy here when they were
miserable in the other room

INF ORMATION ABOUT

and everything is the same?”

God smiled and said, “It’s
simple. Here they have ;
learned to feed each other.”

So, whether you're just
starting our, are hallivay.
down the road or are enjoy-
ing the second half, get out
there with your positive opin-
ion and attitudes and enjoy:
the experience. Remember
that life is not a dress
rehearsal:

A thought: “Few people.
in their lifetime ever come.
close to exhausting the
resources withia them.”

Shane Collins is a physical >>

trainer and athletic conch as:
well as an accomplished ultra -
endurance runner and -
marathon swimmer. The West
Vancouver residentis the presi
dent of Pacific Bodyworks and:
can be reached at (61 Ay: 921. -
0726. ae

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