Hello Freedom (Clay),

I have been reading a book and it posed a very interesting thought... What if we looked at this world as a battle and everything in this world is competing for our attention/ for our souls?  What if?  Then all that is around us is either for our good or for our demise.

I read last night, in this book, about the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz. Long to short he was once a man, flesh and blood.  He loved a woman and he worked long days so he could earn the money to marry this love of his.  The wicked witch saw this love and she despised the Woodsman for his passion.  She caused one accident after another for the Woodsman and with each accident the woodsman was cutting off a limb which would slow down his work.  The Witch thought she was stopping his love.  

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Clay,

Got a quickie story for you. It was about this time 5 years ago. I was given an assignment to train the U of Memphis women’s soccer team.  This team just came off a year where the football team and this team won the same amount of games, 5.  The only difference is the football team had 11 opportunities and this team had 20 opportunities to win games.

This was the worst team on campus.  I got in front of them and spoke with them.The one thing I told them is this: “If you want to be a champion on the field be a champion off the field. It will first start off the field of play and then you will find it happening on the field of play.  Every day when we train you will have the opportunity to win. We have 365 days in a year; every night when you lay your head on your pillows ask yourself ‘did I win today in my life?’ ‘Did I give my best in what I did today?’ We have 365 opportunities to win this year.”  

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Man in the Arena

'It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.'

Clay,

I love this speech. Here is our challenge in this life. I ask myself where do I want to be sitting; in the stands as the critic or do I want to be The Man in the Arena!

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This is a back-and-forth letter with a girl I was training.  Many time we think sports is all pysical, but the mental side is sometimes the harder road to conquer. Enjoy!

(I have changed names to protect identity)

Marcus,

I have been struggling recently. I have found an amazing man (my boyfriend) and someone I think you would get along with great but lately I've been seeing my dad in me and it's scaring me. I have not been treating him like he needs to be treated. Occasionally when I will drink I will say mean things to him or just be mean, the way my dad used to be with me but without the alcohol. I'm not understanding why I would want to hurt someone I care so much about and turn into the person that's hurt me the most in my life? I need some advice because this is NOT me and I know in my heart I'm a better person that what I have shown on occasion. It has made me cry a lot and made me not be able to sleep. I'm scared and you're the only one I know who to talk to about this.

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I wrote this letter in May.. I trained this girl now woman from the time she was 9 years old.  She is now 22 I think.  Since may her whole family has entered rehab for some form of substance abuse or anorexia/bulimia or however you spell it.  Needless to say this relationship ended due to the abuse.  I really care for this girl. I helped raise her.  It broke my heart as i saw this whole relationship go south. the mother was too strong, too dominant.  It is never to late for change as the family is making the effort to do something about it.

__

Hello Jane (obviously not her real name),

Thanks for coming up and saying hello that day you saw the 'bald head'.

I told Joe you would be coming to (SchoolX)... He is a great guy, he will be a friend when you get into town.

As a personal trainer and fitness coach, some of the hardest aspects of my job are the "off the field" challenges.  Motivation, encouragement, fear that grip both my athletes and many times myself. When faced with these mental aspects of the job, I have a choice - give into to fear or turn and run to secure ground in the Lord. Recenly I wrote this letter of encouragement to someone I was counseling.

My hope is that this in some way encourages you.  Blessings. 

_____

Hello Lori,

I am glad to hear you have made a choice to go with the half marathon.  Way to GO!!!  What an adventure you must feel.  I am in the same boat with you.  I moved this week to Santa Monica.  I have had a few auditions and I am plugging away.

One of the interesting things i have found over this last week is once again- TRUST.  I put such confidence in my ability, strength, determination, etc...  When you peel enough layers either fear of failure or love in the Lord is driving me.

What I love about training is when one thinks they are at their last step, they can always find one more, and another and another until the finish line has been reached. To posses the courage to stay in the game, to take the next step no matter the discomfort, fear that may exist.  Love is the most powerful inspiration we can have.  Find the love, run with the love and you will reach the finish line with joy.

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What is it about the Olympics that can produce such great emotions for athletes and viewers?

I think it has something to do when the Olympic Flame is lit, the Olympic spirit begins. There are no contracts for any of these athletes to play an
Olympic sport. It is out of sheer desire to represent something, an idea far greater than a man alone can accomplish. A man can embody this idea but never
truly own this spirit.

The Bible refers to gold being tested by fire. I think when the flame of the Olympics is lit the purity of man to compete at his or her best comes to
the forefront. Proverbs 17:3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the heart.
This festival of competition originated behind the intention to have the youth of the world compete in sports, rather than fight in war.

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What is winning. What does it look like? What does it feel like?

Hopefully the story below will try to answer the questions.

Once upon a time there was a young lady who I had the opportunity to train and her effort defines winning in my eyes. Her name is Noelle Hansen.

I started coaching Noelle her sophomore season of track. Noelle was unique. She had an outstanding personality but was shy around certain individuals, namely anyone who was not in her inner circle, but possessed a flamboyant personality. She was a unique individual but you would have to pay close attention to see this without being in her inner circle.

Noelle finished her sophomore season performing a 72 second 400m. This was my first year with this team. The goal was to turn this program around. I wanted winning efforts out of this team. I desired efforts from the athletes that would merit times that would compete for regional and state titles. After the high school track season finished Noelle made me her best friend. She trained 5 days a week that summer.

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As stated in previous writing I come from the world of track and field. The 2 hardest races in track they say is 400 hurdles and the 800m. I ran both races in college. I began to understand my mind was more important than my body. My mind must rule my body. if my body rules then when it gets tough, succumbing to the pain soon follows.

We all have the ability to conquer and successfully navigate this race. We need to be prepared well physically and mentally. A good coach is imperative. Anyone can tell another to run 1 lap as fast as you can and by the way jump over 10 hurdles in the process. An athlete needs a great coach to lead and guide them, if they are to achieve greatness.

I had the opportunity to work with one of the best coaches of all time in track and field (Tom Tellez). This man coached Carl Lewis and many other Olympians, NCAA champions, All-Americans. One of the things he instructed me to do as i ran, 'when your technique beaks down stop running.' This of course was during practice. In practice building strength to maintain proper technique for the entirety of the race was an important objective . It is amazing what happens to the mind once the body gives. My mind would need to dictate to my body how to run. This revelation dramatically changed me as a runner. As long as i abide by this principle remaining strong throughout the sprint became attainable. This gives me my best chance for success in the race.

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Ecclesiastes 2:10

I have lived a season of  life when I did not deny myself anything my eyes saw.  I found myself eating whatever my eyes set themselves towards, taking whatever I wanted from the woman I was dating at the time.  I found my eyes soon controlled my actions. My inside was telling me no but my eyes were saying yes. I started a civil war inside of my body.
 
Any fruitful season of my life has come under strict organization.  Whether it comes from my own doing or an outside factor.  Right now in the U.S. there is a recession and this is an outside factor that is putting a stop to our over indulgence as a society. I would rather put the brakes on myself versus some outside factor putting the brakes on me. I have a better chance of controlling me than I do the economy or some drill sergeant.