Dear PB Readers,

This week's PB Weekly update is being written in Hamburg, Germany. One of Europe's most important "port-cities" Hamburg is a thriving international locale. One of the hats that I wear is that of Triathlon TV Commentator for the World Wide Television Show that is produced each week. I am continually impressed by the amount of preparation and coordinated work that must occur between hundreds of people to make a single two hour race and a TV show appear organized. Europe knows how to celebrate like few places I have ever been to in the world. Last weekend Hamburg hosted 20,000 (yes 20,000) cyclists of all ages in a mass bicycle race. This past weekend they hosted two days of triathlons with over 6000 people racing in age groups and relay categories. The highlight of the weekend was the ITU's WORLD CUP TRIATHLON RACES. Imagine a downtown major city, shutting all of its streets down for two complete days (Sat and Sunday). Virtually unheard of in North America. The pro women raced Saturday afternoon (live on National Television) with the elite men racing live on television on Sunday.

Conservative crowd's estimates were over 200,000 people. By combining great music, large TV screens and grandstands all over the race course, the city officials truly understand how to make a race become a major sporting event. Whereever I travel I try to observe how active and healthy the community appears to be. Hamburg had endless bicycle and running trails (even though it is a city of over 1.7 million inhabitants). I continually observe how few European restaurants have "unlimited food options" and how much more reasonable the food portion sizes are. While it initially takes time to re-adjust to smaller portions (can I say appropriate size portions?), you end the day feeling less bloated and ultimately less fat. My observations of European life with walking, biking and moderate size food portions suggest that North Americans have plenty to learn from our European cousins.

I would like to welcome our many new first time PB readers. This is our 252nd consecutive week of producing a positive option for people to read each week. In a world that is filled with most media outlets that focus on the negative, our goal is to be one outlet that consistently focuses on the many great positive stories that rarely get told. Feed your mind positive food and you will have a stronger more optimistic soul. Please keep signing up your friends and family to our newsletter and providing us with your new contributions, stories and ideas. Send all contributions to barrie@personalbest.ca and check our site at www.personalbest.ca. Have a great week!

AUG 8th PB HIGHLIGHTS

* SWEDISH PROVERB QUOTE ON "MORE"
* PB EMAIL OF THE WEEK
* YOUR SIGHT MAY BE PERFECT BUT HOW IS YOUR VISION?
* KEVIN SULLIVAN A CANADIAN SPORTING HERO AT THE WORLD CHAMPS
* SO YOU WANT TO BE AN IRONMAN FINISHER?

SWEDISH PROVERB

"Fear less, hope more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Hate less, love more; And all good things are yours."

PB EMAIL OF THE WEEK

Dear Barrie. I just printed off your latest weekly newsletter email. As I quickly glanced over the contents of this week's newsletter, I found some useful motivating items. At this time of year I am planning for my students next academic year, so I always chuckle to myself when people say, "It must be nice to have two months off." Please let us educate the general public that a teacher is like a coach in many respects. When we are not at a competition or game, we are always thinking about the next step; what we can do differently to improve our outcome. We are planning for future events, curriculum, etc. making sure that all will be ready when the important day arrives. Our classrooms will be our home in a short month or so and we want to be sure that it is inviting and academically sound (and clean). Like an interior decorator (I'd like to hire one actually), we must plan to use the limited space to its maximum potential. Sometimes that is in itself a major feat given the numbers of bodies that will be in that particular class. I do enjoy the challenge and will be going to work frequently during the month of August. Delivering the best possible program is a lofty goal, but one that I keep working towards. Similarly with sports, a coach is always (in the true sense of the word) trying to do what is best for the athlete, so that he or she can perform at his or her maximum potential. Hats off to you and all the wonderful coaches out there and to all the teachers who, like coaches, are striving to make a difference in the lives of those around us. Best regards, N.J.

EDITORS NOTE: I am sure that many of you have either joked or thought that teachers have it easy with a lot of time off. Spending many hours in local schools I have a tremendous amount of respect for teachers like "N.J.". Excellent teachers, coaches and parents never really shut off their creative thinking and are continually considering ways to help our students/athletes/children. While there will always be a spectrum of those who don't fully commit to their profession, ensure that you recognize and appreciate those teachers/coaches/parents that do. I know many of my teacher friends are already getting into "pre-Sept-mode" right now. Kudos to those who work with our nation's children and who continually strive to enhance the experience.

YOUR SIGHT MAY BE PERFECT BUT...HOW'S YOUR VISION?

Helen Keller said, "The greatest tragedy in life is people who have sight but no vision." How's your vision? A Hollywood producer scrawled a curt rejection note on a manuscript that became "Gone With The Wind." He had no vision for what that book could become. Henry Ford's largest original investor sold all his stock in 1906. What could have happened had he shared Ford's vision for his company? Roebuck sold out to Sears for $25,000 in 1895. Today, Sears may sell $25,000 worth of goods in sixteen seconds. How's your vision? Do you see what needs to be seen? Orville and Wilbur Wright felt excited. On December 17, 1903, they had finally succeeded in keeping their homemade airplane in the air for 59 seconds. Immediately, they rushed a telegram to their sister in Dayton, Ohio, telling of this great accomplishment. The telegram read, "First sustained flight today fifty-nine seconds. Hope to be home by Christmas." Upon receiving the news of the successful flight, their sister was so excited that she rushed to the newspaper office and gave the telegram to the editor. The next morning the newspaper headed the story: "Popular Local Bicycle Merchants To Be Home For Holidays." Can you see the real story? Are you looking for the hidden potential lurking behind every situation? Do you recognize those obscure opportunities cleverly disguised as glaring problems? Your sight may be perfect, but how's your vision?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks to Stan Cameron for sending in this contribution. A smart coach, teacher, parent or boss is one who continually looks at a child or employee or product and can visualize what it could grow to be. I remember two winters ago standing in the ice and snow in front of the Royal Ambassador Banquet Hall in Caledon. Sitting in front of me at that time was an old-barn-style building, a gravel parking lot, virtually no landscaping and a lake filled with weeds and old trees. Instead of seeing an old-beaten down property, I could see an incredible lake in the middle of Caledon and a property that "could become magical". Last weekend thousands of spectators, 200 volunteers and nearly 800 athletes from 10 countries raced at the HSBC ITU Caledon Triathlon. The site was breathtaking and virtually everyone who came to the site was blown away with the ambiance of the setting. Your sight may be perfect, but how is your vision? I always nod with sincere enthusiasm when people want to tell me about their new career, hobby or charity goals. The more intense they become telling me about their future plans, the more I can feel their "vision" becoming a reality!

KEVIN SULLIVAN WINDING DOWN A MAGICAL RUNNING CAREER

In the mid-1980s, I was at McMaster University and coached running at the high school and university level. The Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford area was brimming with running talent and I just happened to be lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time. Amongst the many talented runners in the local area was a red hair, lanky grade-school boy named Kevin Sullivan. Most grade-school athletes lose their motivation to train after 30 minutes, but this talented runner showed a passion beyond his years. Sullivan amazed the local running enthusiasts by breaking 2 minutes for the half mile track run when he was just thirteen years old. Famous British Running Magazines proclaimed him the "Worlds Best School Boy Runner". Pretty heady stuff for someone so young. I watched Sullivan re-write virtually every 800m and 1500m running record during his five year high school career. Sought after by virtually every major American University, Kevin accepted a scholarship University of Michigan where he led the school to many running victories.

Sullivan has proudly worn the Canadian Maple Leaf more then any runner in the last thirty years. From the Commonwealth Games to the Sydney and Athens Olympics Games, Brantford, Ontario's Kevin Sullivan has raced proudly for Canada. Kevin has won national and international victories around the world with perhaps his greatest success placing fifth at the Sydney Olympic Games 1500m run in a time of 3 minutes 35 seconds. Sullivan is not only one of the finest runners Canada has ever produced, but he has additionally added a Civil Engineering degree to his resume at the same time. I spent a lot of time with Kevin at the Olympic Games and was always impressed what a team-player the thirty-one year old athlete is. While Kevin may be able to hang on for the Beijing Olympic Games in three years, time is starting to work against the popular middle-distance runner. Currently in Helsinki, Finland for the World Athletic Games, Kevin ran 3 minutes 36 seconds to qualify through to the next round of the men's 1500m. Five decades ago the world was amazed at the concept of a sub 4 minute mile. Canada's Kevin Sullivan has run 3 minutes 50 seconds for the mile (nearly a full track straight away ahead of the great Roger Bannister if the two were to race at their primes). If Kevin Sullivan was a European athlete virtually every school child would know his name. As a non-hockey player athletic star in Canada, he has plied his trade in virtually anonymity. One of the classiest athletes Canada and Brantford has ever produced is once again at another International event wearing the Maple Leaf.

SO YOU WANT TO BE AN IRONMAN?

Each year my wife Caron, I and the C3 Canadian Cross Training Club develop an opportunity for athletes to train and go to an Ironman race some place in the world. In 2006 Caron, I and C3 will be taking athletes to three Ironman Races. Ironman Nice, France in June (either the 18th or 25th of June the date to be finalized within 2 weeks), Ironman Germany (Frankfurt) July 23rd and at least one late summer Ironman Race in North America (late Aug or early Sept). The process is simple. You make up your mind that you want to (and will) do the training we provide for you. We email you, your weekly workouts and help plan your next 8-10 months of training, purchase of equipment, travel, and pre-race simulation. Last year we had two dozen people (60% had never done an Ironman). Two years ago we had three dozen people (50% had never done a triathlon and two athletes had never swam a meter before the training began). An Ironman is not an easy task, but in many ways it is symbolic of life. Hurdles, challenges, mountains to climb without any guarantees and a lot of soul searching. I can't describe how amazing it is to see the smiles of the faces of the athletes when they are in their final meters before crossing the finishing line. If you have previously sent me a response about being interested in our 2006 Ironman project and have not heard from me by Mon 8th, please resend another note. If you or your family member/business colleague is interested in Ironman 2006, why not send me a note to just find out more about what it might mean to you (in terms of time, effort and financial commitments).

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF AT LEAST ONE OTHER PERSON.