Dear PB Readers,

There are not many things that I regret from my childhood, but not following through on learning a second language is one of them. Communication is one of the greatest assess in the world and for the last two weeks I have been in Europe announcing the International Triathlon Races in Hamburg, Germany and Hungary. I am a fan of life long learning and watching interesting people from different cultures speak passionately together made me envious of their multi-linguistic skills. Few North Americans speak more than one language. Many of the athletes and coaches I spent time with during the last two weeks speak at least three different languages.

Tiszaujuaros, Hungary is a small town of great contrasts. Built in the classic communist era, there are many old-block apartment buildings designed to cram in as many people into as small a space as possible. In contrast to the old-cement buildings is the world-class sport complexes found in most communist towns. Just 18,000 people live in Tiszaujauaros, but they have a 25m and a 50m swimming pool (something most towns in Canada 10x their size still lack). Located 200km from Budapest, Tiscaarious is not the first place you would consider for the International Triathlon Union and it's 70 countries to pick for their World Cup stop. For one week each year this community shuts down it's streets and becomes seven full days of bike races, running races, kayak competitions and multi-sport events. Every evening during the festival week the entire town comes out to the local city square to enjoy the live bands. Friday night I found myself sitting in the square listening to a Hungarian band playing Reggae and just enjoying the faces of the people who for so many years were under communist control and not able to enjoy a warm summer night celebrating with their friends.

Race Day Sunday turns into pure chaos. Fifty huge music speakers line the downtown streets. Grandstands filled to capacity on both sides of the finishing line area. A local mascot dressed in a green alligator outfit dances at the finishing line while virtually every person in town shuts down their shops for the big event. As the buses start to leave the town the local kids are standing at the street side waving to the athletes who have signed autographs, left pins from their countries and inspired youngsters to dream about one day themselves racing in front of the large crowds. While I can't speak their local language, the smiles on the faces of the local kids tell me all I need to know about the positive impact of sport on kids.

I would like to welcome our many new first time PB readers. This is our 253rd consecutive week of producing a positive option for people to read each week. I believe you get more of what you think about, and my goal each week is to be a positive contribution to your thinking. 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 15th PB HIGHLIGHTS

* HELEN KELLER QUOTE ON TRUE HAPPINESS
* PB EMAIL OF THE WEEK
* THE ONE DRUG OUR KIDS ARE OFTEN MISSING! IMPORTANT PLEASE READ
* BARRIE'S ONCE PER YEAR BEG FOR HELP - PLEASE DO IF YOU CAN
* SO YOU WANT TO BE AN IRONMAN FINISHER
* CANADIANS SETTNG RECORDS AT THE WORLD TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

HELEN KELLER QUOTE ON TRUE HAPPINESS

"Many people have the wrong idea about what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."

EDITOR'S NOTE: Research shows that people who have a project, hobby or charity that contributes to the betterment of others are less likely to become ill. Helen Keller, who had so many initial reasons to be bitter at the world, understood on a much deeper level the importance of giving to others.

PB EMAIL OF THE WEEK

Dear Barrie, I expect Gordon Scott will be between Oshawa, Bowmanville and Orono along Taunton Road by Monday Aug.15th. We are taking him to Goderich on Sunday Aug 14th for a ceremony with WWII Planes such as the Lancaster as he is one of the honorary guests for the day. We have been creating a scrap book of his journey and it has grown to over 200 e-mails, pictures, articles and news items written on him from the local small town and big newspapers. It has been simply AWESOME for him, meeting complete strangers who have taken him in to their home and then phoning me about the inspiration he has given to their families. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE COVERAGE IN PERSONAL BEST ... it has been a tremendous boost to the e-mails. Thanks for your continued help and that of your many readers. Liz Sauter (Gordon's Daughter-in-law).

EDITORS NOTE: Gordon Scott's 1500km long journey is quickly coming to an end. Over sixty years ago, the man who nearly lost both of his legs in the Second World War made the same 1500 kilometer ride on his bike ride through southern Ontario. Now 84.5 years old, Gordon decided he wanted to bring honour to the WAR AMPS CHARITY by pulling a 150 pound trailer with all of his belongings, food, tend and clothes across Ontario's sideroads to raise awareness for a charity that has fallen off the radar screen. Imagine someone older then most of our grandfathers, each day pulling a 150 pound cart across Ontario's roads in the hottest summer on record. Helen Keller's quote on true happiness could certain have been written about Gordon Scott. See a picture of Gordon and his 150 pound GRAMPS TRAMPS FOR CHAMPS trailer by going to our PB website www.personalbest.ca.

THIS IS THE DRUG MANY OF US ARE MISSING

The other day someone told me that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farm house. He asked the question why didn't we have a drug problem when we were growing up. I did have a drug problem when I was growing up. I had a drug problem when I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather. I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher. Or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me. I was drug to the kitchen sink if I uttered a profane word (I do know what lye soap tastes like.) I was drug to pull weeds in mom's flower garden and in dad's vegetable garden. I was drug to the homes of family, friends and neighbors to help some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline or chop some fire wood. And if my mother had even known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness should have drug me back to the woodshed. These drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack or heroin, and if today's children had this kind of drug problem, North America might be a better place today.

BARRIE'S ONCE PER YEAR BEG

For 253 consecutive Sunday evenings I have donated 2-3 hours editing articles, looking up motivating quotes and attempting to create a positive contribution for our many tens of thousands of readers. From the very beginning I had web-editors giving me advice on how to charge for our newsletter to make a profit. My response was always the same. This newsletter is an honour to connect with so many positive people and I can often feel their positive energy pouring through the web-lines. The emails that come back to me indicating our newsletter has helped change a person's attitude from negative to positive or having a Gordon Scott's spend a night at my house has been payment enough. My wife and I have been blessed with great friends, amazing family and the best town in the world to live in. We need little else.
As many of you know, I spend a tremendous amount of my time coaching young athletes and raising much needed funds for their equipment, race entries and travel. One issue each year I do my BARRIE'S BEG FOR ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT. The process is quite simple. If you are tight on coin, don't think twice about my request for a financial donation. Next year when I ask for help I am sure you will be there. If you can help with a little donation I ask you to do so immediately this week. I am in need of funds to help athletes get to both the National and World Championships. These are kids who I have spent nearly every day with over the last 12 months. Through cold winter nights and hot humid summer training days, I have seen commitment which is inspiring. They have risen to the top in the country and with our limited government funds their journey will stop unless I can raise additional funds for their last major events of 2005.

If you have enjoyed my weekly contributions, instead of paying a fee for the newsletter, I ask you to make one donation by check at whatever level you can afford. Last year my smallest check was $10.00 and my largest $7500.00. Anywhere in between would be awesome. For $100.00 or more I will send you an autographed picture of my athletes for your office. Please make all checks out to Triathlon Canada C3 Elite Athlete Training Program and send your checks to our Inglewood Club Office. Canadian Cross Training Club 104 Maple Ave, Inglewood Ontario, Canada, LON 1KO. Please include your home mailing address and name on the check so we can ensure a tax receipt is sent out to you. I will not ask again, so if you are in a position to help please send your contribution this week, because it is needed in the next few weeks. Please mark C3 High Performance Program on the front of your envelope.

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, myself 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 colleagues are 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). barrie@personalbest.ca

CONGRATS TO OUR MEDALIST AT THE WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Twenty-one year old Tyler Christopher didn't care that few Canadian athletes have ever won a medal at the world track and field championships. The Chilliwack, British Columbia Native was only four years of age when Ben Johnson had his medal taken away at the Seoul Olympic Games. Tyler Christopher didn't go to Helsinki, Finland worrying about the fact that the USA has owned the men's 400m track race for the past four decades. This past weekend, Tyler Christopher set a Canadian record of 44 seconds 69/100ths and won the bronze medal in one of the toughest running distances in the track world. "I came in here to win a gold medal and my determination may have cost me silver in the end, but I wouldn't have gotten this far without my determination," said Christopher. While most track coaches would have told the BC kid to forget trying to beat the YANKS at a distance they own, he was wise enough to dream big and then do what was required to achieve those lofty goals. Tyler's Canadian Teammate Jacque Martin won a gold medal for Canada in the Wheel Chair Javelin event. Congrats to all of the Canadians who set Personal Best and Canadian Records in Helsinki.

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