Dear PB Readers,

Nearly two decades ago I started running my first triathlon training camps in Austin, Texas. Austin was a fantastic university town in the middle of Texas with world-class 50m swimming pools, quiet hilly cycling roads, moderate mid-winter temperatures and a fantastic running trail that follows the river. During the second year of my training camp, a young local triathlete came out to a number of our mid-winter workouts. The confident high school student / triathlete was making a name for himself in the South-West by beating some of the top American Professional Triathletes (even though he was just old enough to get his driver's license). While you now know him as Lance Armstrong the winner of seven consecutive Tour De France races, he was simply known as "junior" in his triathlon days. In the 80's, triathlon wasn't an Olympic sport and the US Cycling Association approached the talented young triathlete to recruit him into cycling. Armstrong desperately wanted to go to the Olympic Games and Cycling was his ticket.

In his early cycling days, Armstrong showed tremendous potential but his muscular body failed on him as soon as he got into the tough mountain climbs of the Tour. A large percentage of our PB readers have likely read Armstrong's first book "Its Not About the Bike". In his autobiography, Armstrong talks about his early triathlon days, his transition into cycling and his epic battle over cancer. Three years ago, I spent hours next to my mother's bed reading her Lance's book as she battled with her own chemotherapy challenges. Sometimes in life you need to get lucky and Lance was fortunate that a cancer specialist (and cycling enthusiast) contacted Lance and told him of an important series of drugs he needed to avoid (if he ever wanted to have any chance of cycling after his chemo was over). Armstrong heeded the oncologist's advice and while his battle with cancer was horrific, he survived AND THRIVED! One of the by-products of Armstrong's cancer battle was 7 kilograms of upper body muscle the chemotherapy whittled off his frame. Left with the same strong legs of his youth, his powerful heart and lungs, and a now 7 kilogram lighter body Lance Armstrong became the perfect cyclist specimen. Soon the mountains that had previously devastated Armstrong in previous Tour De France races were the exact location where he would ride away from his competition.

Getting to the Tour De France is something only the greatest endurance athletes in the world can dream about. Covering 2500km through the mountains and villages of France in just three weeks is acknowledged to be the toughest endurance challenge for any athlete. This past weekend Lance Armstrong won his seventh consecutive Tour De France and showed the world what is possible if you dream enough and back it up with hard work. While cycling is Armstrong's passion, the Tour really represents so much more. Lance's Armstrong Foundation has sold 50 million yellow LIVESTRONG wrist bands since its inception. Much more then just a fantastic athlete, Lance realized during his cancer that should he live and recover he had a higher calling to motivate and help others in need. While other cyclists will have won more World Championship and Olympic Medals, no man has even won six Tour De France races (yesterday Lance won his seventh consecutive title). There were so many kilometers where crashes, illness, flat tires and fatigue could have cost Armstrong one of those seven titles but hard work, luck and determination has put the confident Texan into a league of his own. The sporting world has only one Tiger, one Gretzky, one Jordan and one Ali. Cycling's loss will be the world's gain.

I would like to welcome our regular PB readers back to our 250th consecutive week of newsletters. If you are one of our many first time readers who have been introduced by family and friends, welcome aboard. Our goal each week is to be a source of positive thinking and sharing of ideas. Thank you to our many contributors to this newsletter and many of the previous 250 newsletters we have produced. Keep those contributions coming into barrie@personalbest.ca and registering the important people in your life at our website at www.personalbest.ca or emailing me directly. Have a great week!

JULY 25th PB HIGHLIGHTS

* QUOTE ON HEREDITY
* WILL YOU BE READY WHEN YOUR TIME COMES?
* DON'T MISS THE WORLD'S BEST TRIATHLETES AT THE JULY 3OTH HSBC ITU CALEDON PAN AMERICAN CUP TRIATHLON
* CATCHING UP WITH 84.5 YEAR OLD GORDON SCOTT ON HIS CROSS ONTARIO WALK
* EDMONTON MAINTAINS ITS CITY OF CHAMPIONS MONIKER
* YOU GET MORE OF WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT (REPEAT ARTICLE)

PB QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I can choose how strongly my heredity will influence me" (author unknown).

Editor's Note: How many of you use your past as excuses for your behavior? The opportunities your parents didn't give you? The lack of money spent on your personal needs and goals when you were young are excuses for your lack of satisfaction today? Once a person reaches the age of majority (18 in most countries), I believe you must start to take responsibility for your behaviors and actions. Bad cholesterol? Change your eating and start exercising. Shy and nervous in a crowd? Work on speaking into a mirror or talking out loud in your car you drive by yourself. CHOOSE how strongly your heredity influences you!

A PB READER STAN CAMERON SENT US THE FOLLOWING STORY

Abraham Lincoln once said, "I will prepare, and some day my chance will come." When his chance came, he was ready. During his seminary years, one priest-in-training sported a T-shirt that never failed to bring chuckles. Across the front was emblazoned: "Expectant Father." His chance came and he, too, was ready! When your chance comes, will you be ready? Hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky was always ready. He broke almost every record imaginable and is known as the greatest hockey player of all time. Gretzky is not particularly big for his sport -- he stands at 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs in at 170 pounds. He never skated particularly fast, his shot was not high-powered and he often placed dead last on regular strength tests administered to his team. So what made "The Great One" so great? He was ready. Gretzky attributes his stardom to practice and preparation. He practiced stick handling in the off-season with a tennis ball, as the ball was harder to control than a puck. In practice he innovated. He practiced bouncing the puck off the sideboards to his teammates until that technique became a regular part of his play. Then he worked on bouncing the puck off the net! He became so accomplished at these maneuvers that he sometimes said, "People say there's only six men on the ice, but really, if you use the angle of deflection of the board, there's seven. If you count the net, that's eight. From the opening face-off, I always figure we have 'em eight-on-six." What made "The Great One" so great? Gretzky was always the best prepared member of his team. He was ready. It's been said, "If you want your ship to come in, you must build a dock." When your chance comes, will you be ready?

EDITOR'S NOTE: This important message is something that I try to communicate to my athletes. Many years of consistent mundane hard work are required before success can ever be expected. How many thousands of kilometers did Armstrong have to ride, before he finally won his first Tour De France. Will you be time comes will you be ready?

THE COUNTRY IS HEADED TO CALEDON FOR SATURDAY'S HSBC ITU CALEDON TRIATHLON

Canada's most consistent short-distance Olympian Samantha McGlone and Brent McMahon will be racing in Caledon on July 30th. The day will be a mix of novice participation (in the TRI-COOL CALEDON RELAY RACES) and world class performance in the nationally televised event. With no cost for the spectators to enter the park, they are eligible for many draw prizes just for showing up to watch the pros race. 8am - noon is reserved for the novices with 1:30-5:30pm reserved for the World's Best pros. If you have been inspired by hearing about Lance Armstrong and the best cyclists in the world, why not take an afternoon to come and watch (or even better, participate) in the July 30th HSBC Triathlon Event. To volunteer, participate or find out spectator details check out the website at www.c3online.ca

KEEPING UP WITH GRAMPS

Consistent Newsletter Readers will recall my previous story about 84.5 year old Gordon Scott. Scott was a Second World War veteran who nearly had his legs blown off during the war. Following the war, Scott returned to Canada to become a school teacher and choose to raise funds for the War Vets Amputee Program. To bring honour to the 60th anniversary of VE day, 84.5 year old Gordon Scott started a 1500 kilometer walk across Ontario. Gordon left Peterborough six weeks ago and has pulled a 75 kilogram wagon with him over every step. Inside his 75 kilogram wagon, Gordon Scott has his tent, stove and all his clothing. Dealing with the hottest June/July in Ontario's history the war veteran is trying to do one last positive thing for those who are in need of prosthetic arms and legs. This past weekend I got the following email from Gordon's PR agent (and daughter-in-law) Liz Sauter:

Greetings and welcome to this week's update on how Gordon Scott's 1500 walk for War Amps is going. He has passed 850 km and climbing. Gordon really has become quite the celebrity! I told him that I was having trouble keeping up with all the PR for him as he is in demand for interviews, veteran's wanting to talk to him, TV stations and radio stations covering him locally and of course his famous police escort by the Amherstburg local police as he came through their town. WOW. Please remind folks to go to waramps.ca and put the code 84.5 and Gordon Scott in the comment field or mail a donation c/o Dave Saunders - WAR AMPS - ONTARIO, 1 MAYBROOK Drive, Scarborough, Ontario M1V 5K9. That's all for this week. Keep those cards and letters and pictures coming in for his scrap book and remember let those in London and St. Thomas know he's headed that way. Regards. Liz Sauter.

EDITORS NOTE: Take a second to think about your grandfather (or maybe your great grandfather). Imagine letting him leave your house six weeks ago, with two sets of clothing, a map of Ontario, an old tent and a small stove. Walking down the busy side roads of the province, pulling 75 kilograms of a wagon, without any specific place to stop each night or anyone driving in front or behind you. While Gordon's family has been nervous about their father's dream of walking 1500km and raising awareness for the War Amps, they also respected his desire to help others and challenge himself at the same time. You can see a picture of our Tilley Hat Wearing 84.5 year old by going to my website at www.personalbest.ca

CITY OF CHAMPIONS LIVES UP TO ITS BILLING

Just back from a weekend in Edmonton at the World Master Games and the ITU WORLD CUP Triathlon. The Triathlon event opened the ten day multi-sport event. Over 20 000 (yes 20 000) athletes ranging from 30 to 97 years of age are in town for the ten day event. I saw a 92 year old Hammer Thrower and my airplane was filled with three dozen tall sixty year olds who were representing Russia and the Ukraine in basketball. From paddling to gymnastics, tennis to soccer, Edmonton is hosting the best master athletes from 80 countries and their passion for sport is what keeps them young. Remember our quote this week. "I can choose how strongly my heredity will influence me" (author unknown). Clearly 20 000 master's athletes in Edmonton this week are taking responsibility for their lives.

YOU GET MORE OF WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT

(repeated from May 27th 2002 PB Newsletter)

Ever notice that when you are in a bad mood everything tends to frustrate and anger you. Specialists in pain management have shown that people who talk and think about their injuries live lives that are considerably more restricted. Start the day off with a smile and a realization you have the potential to change your life and you will change your destiny. I was the keynote speaker for a local marathon. The room was filled with many first time marathoners who nervously waited for the next morning to finally arrive. The speaker prior to me was an amazing mother who told her story of despair. In October of 1998, Alicia Snell stood on her home scales and realized she weighed 28 pounds. On second reflection she realized the needle had gone completely past the 300 pound mark and was starting its second trip around the dial. That morning Alicia decided to change her life. She started to walk daily and modified her eating habits. Within three years she had lost 175 pounds and successfully completed the famous Boston Marathon Running Race. Today she teaches Learn to Run Programs at a local Running Room Store and her students can't believe it when they see the pants she once wore just three years ago. Her secret to success was simple. Every day she chooses to make one or two small positive steps. She thinks about being healthy. Instead of feeling angry and depressed about weighing 300+ pounds, she chooses to think about being healthy, getting out for her walk or jog and making wiser nutritional choices. No fancy pills. No dangerous surgeries. No abdominal machines or electronic fat burners. Alicia Snell has lost the equivalent of another person in the last three years by GETTING MORE OF WHAT SHE THINKS ABOUT (being healthy)!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF AT LEAST ONE OTHER PERSON. HOPE TO SEE YOU IN CALEDON ON SAT THE 30TH!