Dear PB Readers,

I don't know about you but one of the things I am constantly trying to master is the balancing act of challenging myself to be "my fullest" while also accepting my flaws and unique weaknesses. We often "crave" the thing(s) we are least likely to achieve and for me one of those "cravings" was athletic excellence. I know that part of my fulfillment of those cravings was what attracted me to coaching in the first place (living vicariously through others). This past weekend I traveled to Hamilton for the AROUND THE BAY 30km Road Race. Many of my athletes (young and not so young) participated in the historic old running event. I had the 30km running race on my own 2003 training schedule, knowing it would be a good indicator of my early spring fitness on my way to my July 6th's Ironman Austria. Groin and hamstring problems have plagued me for years and despite some aggressive physiotherapy the last two months, I knew I wasn't ready for the rigorous event. One side of me started to get depressed knowing that while I had the desire, my body was letting me down. Its easy during those low moments to question "why me" and give up. Watching my mom brave her incredibly tough cancer battle these past months have continued to teach me to "get the most out of each day". I could either stay at home and complain about my minor misfortune or I could try to find a way to maximize my "less the optimal situation". The world works in strange ways and the night before the race a wonderful world class master triathlete stopped by my swimming pool to get a fix of "positive energy". Winter surgery had stopped this multiple Ironman finisher from training this winter and she showed up on my door step to find some good karma. Before the swim workout ended, I challenged my pal to join me in Hamilton and together we would "power-walk" (rather then run) the course. By the time we started our walk on Sunday morning a third friend agreed to join us, and together the three of us "walked" as fast as we could over the legendary run course. Leaving 30 minutes before the first racers, we had the opportunity to be past by all 4650 participants. At first the Olympic Champion Kenyans ran by us with the grace and speed of a jungle cat. Next the local running stars puffed by us, still light on their feet as they tried to set new Personal Bests. Over the next sixty minutes we had the unique opportunity to watch thousands of young, old, lean, not-so-lean and down-right heavy runners go by us. My two partners and I powered our way through the same streets, realizing that we could either be home sitting on the couch, complaining about our specific ailments, or out here on the streets "living life to the fullest". Over the years I have met many talented people who will only participate in life when they are sure the outcome is balanced in their favour. Together the three of us cheered nearly 5000 people who ran, jogged and sprinted by us (what a celebration of life). When we finally got back to our car three hours later, we were unanimous in our agreement of how lucky we were to be alive (minor ailments included). While it wasn't as fast or in the manner any of the three of us had envisioned doing the Around The Bay Race six months ago, we played the cards we were dealt. The next time your dealt a set-back ask yourself how you can find a way to "participate in life" rather then sitting on the sidelines complaining!
Every week I am totally pumped to get emails from people who wish to add their friends and family to our newsletter. Our goal each week is to be a small positive force for each of you (acknowledging that you take that positive energy and pass it onto others - who do the same). Play your role in the passing of energy by sending us the email of a friend or co-worker who could benefit from a free weekly gift of energy. If you would like to have us sign up a friend or co-worker, please email Barrie@personalbest.ca
Enjoy your week. Barrie

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS WEEK'S PB. NEWSLETTER

1. MARK VICTOR HANSEN QUOTE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF IMAGINATION
2. TWO LESSONS ON HOW TO TREAT OTHERS
3. PB EMAIL OF THE WEEK
4. HUMOUR #1 (WHY MOM'S WOULD HAVE ENDED THE WAR)
5. QUOTE ON CRITIZING OTHERS
6. HUMOUR # 2: (WHATS IN A NAME?)
7. THREE POSITIVE LIVING ACTIVITES TO SEE BARRIE IN APRIL

MARK VICTOR HANSEN QUOTE ON IMAGINATION

"It doesn't matter what is happening to the economy, government, or your industry: it matters what is going on in your imagination. If you've got a rich imagination you're going to have a rich experience."

TWO LESSONS ON HOW TO TREAT OTHERS

CLEANING LADY: During the second month of college, a professor gave his students a pop quiz. His final question was "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. The students had seen the cleaning woman many times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would she they know her name? The class handed in their paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello". Many have benefited from that lesson (her name was Dorthy by the way!).
OBSTACLES IN YOUR PATH: In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand! Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve your condition.

EMAIL OF THE WEEK

Hey Barrie, Just wanted to wish you a happy be-lated 40th birthday! I am sad to hear that Don Mills passed away. He helped coach a middle distance runner that went through high school with me. I will always remember Don sitting beside the wind gage at meets across Canada. He was also good for (every now and again) a quip about "hey Jeff! wanna go pick up some chicks?" If not for your newsletter I wouldn't have found out about Don's passing for quite a while. On top of all the positive energy that your newsletters bring each week, they are also a way for me to stay connected to thing back home. Sometime Tallahassee feels like a world a way from Canada. All the best. Thanks Jeff
EDITOR'S NOTE: Jeff is one of Canada's top elite runners and we are proud that he uses our weekly newsletter as one small method to help him achieve his goal of the 2004 Olympic Games in track and field.

THE UNITED NATIONS SHOULD HAVE SENT YOUR MOM IN

Did you noticed anything fishy about the inspection teams arriving in Iraq? They're all men! How in the name of the United Nations does anyone expect men to find Saddam's stash? We all know that men have a blind spot when it comes to finding things. For crying' out loud! Men can't find the dirty clothes hamper. Men can't find the jar of jelly until it falls out of the cupboard and splatters on the floor.... and these are the people we have sent into Iraq to Search for hidden weapons of mass destruction?
I keep wondering why groups of mothers weren't sent in. Mothers can sniff out secrets quicker than a drug dog can find a gram of dope. Mothers can find gin bottles that dads have stashed in the attic beneath the rafters. They can sniff out a diary two rooms and one floor away. They can tell when the lid of a cookie jar has been disturbed and notice when a quarter inch slice has been shaved off a chocolate cake. A mother can smell alcohol on your breath before you get your key in the front door and can smell cigarette smoke from a block away. By examining laundry, a mother knows more about their kids than Sherlock Holmes. And if a mother wants an answer to question, she can read an offender's eyes quicker than a homicide detective. So... considering the value a mother could bring to an inspection team, why are we sending a bunch of old men who will rely on electronic equipment to scout out hidden threats? Mom would walk in with a wooden soup spoon in one hand, grab Saddam by the ear, give it a good twist and snap, "Young man, do you have any weapons of mass destruction?" And God help him if he tried to lie to her. You want the job done? Call our moms! Author Unknown

QUOTE

"Don't criticize someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes....that way when you criticize them you are a mile away and you have their shoes"

HUMOUR # 2

The famous American Olympic skier Picabo Street is not just an athlete, she is a nurse. She currently works at the Intensive Care Unit of a large metropolitan hospital. She is not permitted to answer the telephone, however, as it caused simply too much confusion when she would answer the phone and say, "Picabo, ICU."

UPCOMING ACTIVE LIVING EVENTS WHERE BARRIE WILL BE AT

1. Caledon Kids of Steel - Adult Pool Triathlon and 5k May 25th. Join Barrie Shepley, 700 kids (3-18 years of age) and 300 adults (novice to experienced) for a fun day of active living and fund-raising. To sign up or to help volunteer www.c3online.ca or 905-951-3725

2. 2nd ANNUAL HARTWELL FUN-RUNS AND 1/2 MARATHON APRIL 13TH IN AURORA. In memory of one of Ontario's greatest supporters of active living. For more information www.hartwellchallenge.org

3. 1st ANNUAL PARENTS / COACHES CONFERENCE FOR HELPING KIDS April 12th in Toronto. Join Coaching Association of Ontario and some of Canada's top coaches, lecturers and researchers for a guaranteed day of learning and challenging on how to help kids get active and stay active. To sign up for the day or find out more about the Toronto area course, contact www.coachesontario.ca ,email events@coachesontario.ca or contact Rebecca Orr at 416-368-5851.

TAKE TIME THIS WEEK TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AT LEAST ONE OTHER PERSON'S LIFE! Barrie