I had quite the nice opportunity This week.  One of the world's most prominent sports physicians came here to Idaho State University to put on a clinic/seminar about Lactate Threshold training and how to apply the resutls into functional training. I know for most this isn't something very interesting, but I was quite surprised by what one could possibly learn to apply with such a simple fitness test.  Dr. Max Testa, you should all look him up and take heed to his training advice. One of the coolest aspects to this seminar was that afterwards I was able to just sit with him and discuss some business opportunities and training philosophies.  I was quite impressed and learned a lot more than I was expecting going into this.

On top of that I have turned in all my paperwork and application material to perhaps begin a mjaor research project following Spring Break! I am excpetionally excited for this.  It isn't every day that you come across somthing to put together a legitimate clinical research project to formulate a dissertation and perhaps get published as an undergraduate student.  As I have been talking to some Doctors in my department and some potential connections for future endeavors, this research has the potential to open up some real serious doors to my future as an Exercise Physiologist. Exciting stuff!!

My workouts have been going well, I need to just be more disciplined with my schedule. The other day I was doing my bench workout and I improved again. I know it's nothing special, but I was able to put up 170lbs 5 set of 6 reps.  Next week it will be 6 sets then I'm up to 175lbs and so on. My squat is by far my best lift I was able to get 325 up 6 sets at 6 reps.  And Then there's my Deadlift.  I never have done much deadlifting, but as I've looked into it, it seems to have some serious benefits to strengthening the hamstrings for sprinting, so I'm going to give them a try.  I'm right now able to pull 225 6 sets of 6 reps.
I am certainly looking forward to when winter ends, I should just get tough and do some running outside, but I always get nervous esspecially when I want to do intervals that I might pull something with how cold it gets.  I'm sure I'm just being a panzy, but for now, the treadmill and indoor soccer seems to be doing enough for the moment.

Right at the moment, I'm trying to decide which way I want to eventually take my training, I'm leaning towards trying to get onto a soccer club and maybe even push to try out for a pro soccer club.  I know it's a ways off right now, but I'm still young, and the only one keeping me from anything I want to do is myself.  I'm beginning to see the real importance to have major goals in life. There is some real truth in the well known saying that if you don't know where your going how will you ever get there.  Now is as good a time as any to set some paths to follow and blaze a new trail that will be my life. As I look back on my life and the things I've done, I will be the first to admit, I was never the best, I never was the top of the team, the top of the class, nor have I ever been one that others marvel at. At the same time though I was never the worst, I excelled at the activities I persued, I did well and have always been a solid reliable participant being a good support to those around me.  And as I have looked at these things, I also noticed that no one ever pushed me, I wasn't the raw sack of talen that attracts attention, and because no one ever pushed my to see what I had I in turn never pushed myself more than I needed to, to succeed. I remember getting close to having that mentality that every great athlete has, not just trying hard, rather making a habit of greatness, of pushing beyond the limits. Kowing this, it's time to find that drive that will bring me to that point.  So many people have transformed their lives in a matter of just 2 or 3 years from being sedentary and overweight to elite athletes, forces to be reckoned with. Why can't I?

As Michael Johnson once said, Life is often compared to a marathon, but I think it's more like being a sprinter; long stretches of hard work punctuated by brief moments in which we are given the opportunity to perform at our best.

Hard Work and Taking Every Opportunity to be Great, This is success!