The Bell Curve

This is how I liken the Olympics to an IF training session:

The Opening Ceremonies vs. The Warm up

• Both are dynamic and set the tone


• Both awaken the senses (muscles)

Our Favourite Events vs. The Meat and Potatoes

• Sometimes difficult and challenging to participate in and witness


• Can both be fear-inducing and exhilarating


• Both can involve cheering, encouragement, yelling and pride


• Occasionally both can involve tears of joy

Socialtime (Downtime) vs. Cardio

• A chance to reflect, gear up for the next event/block


• Both can resemble tabata intervals, (tm running/eating & drinking)

The Second Week vs. The Second Block

• Fatigue setting in but eagerness to push through


• Close attention must be paid to every detail so nothing is missed

Gold Medal Games vs. Recovery Cardio

• We made it this far, let's see it through to the end

The Closing Ceremonies vs. The Stretch

• Deep breaths are taken


• Exhilaration and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment


• Reflection and Celebration

However, unlike the end of an IF training session 75% of Vancouver is hungover and exhausted. Yes we are full of national pride but the stuff that makes us Canadian (hard work, clean living, sportsmanship and valour) has bee shelved to make way for our free-spirited, fun-loving, rowdy twin who took two weeks to watch the world's athletes work hard, live clean, be sportsmanlike and display valour.

My final comment on the matter - well done Canada and the world. I was a naysayer concerned about traffic, government cost overruns and selfish distractions. That being said, I am having an amazing Olympic experience, I could not be more in love with OUR city and our people and once Monday March 1st hits, I will invite all to get back to business.

- Angela Tames

Own the Podium...?

You're probably thinking, given my cynical history, that I'm about to go off on the amount of money we've spent on amateur sports since 2004 - especially when the results of our Olympics fail to show any significant results thus far.

You'd be wrong.

While I think the slogan "Own the Podium" is perhaps a touch arrogant, and possibly puts forth the wrong impression of both our athletes and our country - I am worried that the lack of medals will result in the cutback of this funding... which would be a significant mistake on our part.

Sports may actually be the "grassroots", or "foundational" solution that we're looking for in regards to many of the problems that have befallen our society. And while I know that there are a lot of people out there who would say that "we should be using the money for the homeless/healthcare/education/(insert cause here)" - to those people I say "try to see a bigger picture".

Consider the following statistics in relation to girls participating in sports (according to the Women's Sports Foundation):
Female high school athletes are 92% less likely to get involved with drugs.
Female high school athletes are 80% less likely to get pregnant.
Female high school athletes are 3 times more likely to graduate than non-athletes.

This is just a small example of the benefits of sports and doesn't even begin to go into how sports teaches children the about right way to win and to lose, about fair play, about teamwork, about focus, about commitment, about integrity...

All things that are essential requirements if we want to see some of our other, larger societal issues begin to resolve themselves.

So let's stop quibbling over how many medals we've won - and instead, consider the passion that these Olympics have inspired in the children of the country. I'd hate to see us lose this momentum and take away their opportunity to grow and develop in a healthy and beneficial way because we've decided that our lack of medals means that sports have somehow failed us...

Seriously, let's think long term, people.

~Guy

Destinations

A specific focus that has a tangible result within a specific timeline. We must stop thinking that a destination is something that we sign up for and that we need to get participants into for the sake of increasing participation numbers.

In regards to a destination, we know that if there is no purpose then there is sure to be no point…meaning we all need a reason to train. We can’t just do it because our neighbour is doing it or that we want to be fit. Define what it is for you and let’s create a plan and therefore have a purpose.

As for engagement and customers, we know that engaging customers is similar to engaging a teammate. Therefore it all starts with self…for example, we need to commit – take the step which means getting into the driver’s seat and following through. Direct what you want to happen.

With customers, it means aligning ones goals with theirs.

· The coach who is training for a triathlon trains with a customer training for a bike event one day, trains with a customer training for a swim event another and trains with a customer training for a running destination on another day (a coach is able to complete a busy personal training program by engaging customers on their training – ez)

· We as coaches always need to be training out of our comfort zone. Every time we step out of our comfort zone we are then able to lead and challenge customers on new levels (we can’t just think there will be a limit to our customers abilities because they will pass us by if we limit ourselves – common sense)

Our mission statement is to facilitate personal reinvention through physical challenge, adversity and victory. These means creating a plan and following through until completion and revisiting throughout to ensure that we are on the correct path.

So, what’s your purpose?

Too funny

So on a lighter note, I was watching the Men's Figure Skating the other night and came across Johnny Weir, who I'd never heard of until then. He is a rather flamboyant character who seems to be more cartoon than reality and upon researching him for this blog I came across a couple of amusing quotes:



"Camille: For his short program in the 2005-06 season, Weir skated to Camille Saint-Saens’ “The Swan” wearing an elaborate costume that resembled a swan. On his hand, he wore an orange glove that represented the beak. “His name is Camille – two ‘l’s,” Weir said about the glove. “I think he’s my evil side. When I skate badly, I blame it on my glove.”

Now if this isn't high drama I beg you to not smile and shake your head.



Quotable: Weir’s mouth has made him a favorite with journalists. Never one to hold back what is on his mind, he once described a competitors program as “a vodka shot and a snort of coke kind of thing,” a quote that got him in trouble with U.S. Figure Skating. “I don’t worry about what other people think,” he also said. “Everyone else worries for me.”

This leads me to my point, if we take ourselves too seriously then we end us looking like asses.

Taking the RIGHT Stand

With the Olympics in town, the potential subject matter choices are innumerable - and all very tempting. However, given the overall tone of what's going on, I have one group in particular that have raised my ire:

"Protesters" (and please, note the quotations).

Note: I should say that this particular blog is specific to CANADA - in other countries, some of what I say here doesn't apply because their government or their society has forced them to work outside of the normal rules and laws.

To be clear, I think that some of these protest groups (though perhaps a minority) actually have valid concerns - truly. The problem is that those that do are getting lost because of the media hungry imbeciles that actually are really just a bunch of rich and spoiled children searching for a cause to give their lives a purpose. It seems that every week, there's a new group of people complaining about something else in what is generally one of the best countries in the world to live. Now, I know it's not perfect, and by no means do I think we should sit passively back and allow ourselves to be told what to do with no sense of accountability or participation. Nor do I think people should keep their mouths shut if they have a legitimate concern or want to enact social change - but there's a right way and a wrong way to go about it.

So, in the interest of seeing our society continue to move forward, rather than get stuck in a hamster wheel of bureaucracy and moronic behaviour, I offer the following five rules that every group should follow in order to prevent the destruction of your credibility in the eyes of other sociey:

5) There's no need to interfere with the normal flow of your city to make your point known - it's laziest thing way to make your point. That being said, if you delay me from getting to work, or getting home at the end of the day. Firstly, it will only piss me off, and secondly - once I'm pissed off, I don't give a rat's ass what your protesting.

4) Make it clear what your protesting. I don't want to have to try and figure it out.

3) Property destruction is not protest. It's a crime, and it takes away any degree of credibility you may have started out with.

2) If you really believe in your cause so much, you shouldn't be hiding behind a mask, nor should you have the "Comments" section of your useless blog turned off. Stop being a coward.

1) Finally, no matter what else you do - actually understand the issues that you're supposedly standing for/against - because if challenge you on your position and the best you can do is recite back the exact same drivel that's plastered on your sign and nothing more... then you've pretty much given up your right to an opinion on anything.

~Guy

Via de sharing

At 9:13am yesterday morning the telephone rang at the West Van facility and to our surprise, a coach for the French ski jump team was on the other end. The coach was inquiring about a gym he could come to a train his ski jump team. We jumped at the opportunity and allowed the team to come by to utilize our space.

Within a couple hours we were treated with the 5man team taking part in their training regime. There was heavy weight being used and a plyometric session that would have any knee or joint tremble.

Quite simply, there was electricity in the air as the customers and coaches witnessed the session and enjoyed some real-time Olympic action with front row seats.

Within minutes of the team leaving we had updated our facebook page with photos and shared the information. For the rest of the day the storytelling was taking place. Everyone and anyone was experiencing it first or second hand.

This is a real-time example of how we would like information to flow. No bottleneck and no holdups. We were great at mainlining the message to everyone and creating a buzz of excitement from what we have happening within our doors today…but we need to be consistent.

The meaning here is simple…share the excitement and don’t keep anything a secret. Whether it’s a company update, contest or companywide initiative, we need to do a better job with delivering the message.

The fact of the matter is that everyone is interested and nobody will know if we keep it hush-hush.

Via de sharing!

You Get Out What You Put In

In chatting with a customer a few days ago we began to once again revisit the goals she has set for herself and her lack of success even though she is in to see us three times a week, insists that her eating isn't too badly, and that she otherwise leads a healthy and active life.

With a little prodding I asked to her to outline what a typical day looks like and she went on to say that her first meal is at noon (she is up at 7am), she has little to drink in the day other than coffee, even though she is a vegetarian and she consumes mostly mostly greens and veggies her downfall is carbs, particularly pasta. When I asked what she truly expected to change when she was unwilling or (her words) unable to change she just said that she is frustrated because she works so hard when she is at IF.

Well, true, sometimes. When she is on time and actually comes three times per week, and isn't travelling or tired or not feeling well. But it is amazing to me that the connection between lack or success and lack of change don't correlate with some people. I truly want her to find success! It is frustrating for both of us when her profile numbers are the same and she is unhappy. But, the thing is you can't want for others what they don't want themselves, or are willing to work for.

On another note, I encourage you to have a look at the link below for some amusing posters that have been put together from the Beijing Olympics. Now those are some people who worked hard and got results!

-Angela Tames

http://nuttersmark.com/blog/sports-and-fitness/beijing-olympics-motivational-posters