WAYNE’S WORDS
NOVEMBER 2007
TOPIC: TO PERSEVERE> verb, continue in a course of action in spite of difficulty or lack of success.

If you want a perfect example of perseverance, you need to look no farther than Columbia, Missouri and the Mizzou Football team. Now stay with me on this.

I want to brag/celebrate the Tigers win over Kansas, a #1 ranking in the B.C.S., and the possibility of going to the National Championship in New Orleans. After enduring 34 years of average to poor football at Mizzou, the future is certainly looking bright in Columbia. Seven years ago, when Gary Pinkel came to Mizzou, we were lucky to win 3 or 4 games a year, but Coach Pinkel had a plan.

He started off with achievable goals for his new team. First, he wanted a winning record. The next goal was six wins and a bowl game. He then wanted a better record with a better bowl selection. Now finally his hard work, planning, tireless effort, and, bingo, perseverance, has paid off..... big time. His Tigers have achieved their goal of winning the North Division of the Big 12.

Sometimes you still need to persevere even when things are going your way. Now he’s looking at the Big 12 Championship, and if that goal is achieved, then the National Championship. When interviewed about what he tells his players, two things are always present:
1. Prepare, no, over prepare to reach your goal for that week, and the season.
2. Have fun, enjoy the ride.

You still there??

Now take his coaching philosophy and apply it to your training and racing. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Make personal, achievable goals, daily, weekly, monthly, and for your season. Prepare, no, over prepare, to reach those goals. Always have fun, during the training and the racing. Celebrate every goal you achieve, learn from your previous mistakes, and enjoy what you are doing. Persevere in spite of setbacks, and injuries, and things that happen in life that throw a monkey wrench into your preparations. But don’t become complacent, either, as you’re achieving your goals. As Coach Pinkel might say “ You just never know what you might achieve if you persevere”

Until Next Time,
Train Smart, Live Right
Wayne
whuckshold@yahoo.com