Nationally recognized professional and Olympic athletes, coaches, and industry insiders will share their expertise all weekend during the Endurance University seminars covering cycling, running and tri. National brands and local retailers will be on hand to help attendees find the right equipment for 2012 and offer deals on top products. Cyclists, runners and triathletes will be able to find a great event to train for and a club to do it with. Plus, you can find a non-profit to support amongst both national and local organizations.

The outdoor demo area, weather dependent, will provide real-world test rides. Top major brands, as well as many great ones you have yet to know about, will be bringing their new 2012 models for you to try out.

Get there early for a day filled with fun, and be one of the first 750 attendees each day, to receive a sweet bag full of swag. To see a full exhibitor list, find out about the courses offered at Endurance U, and buy advanced tickets for $8 ($10 at the door) check out www.endurancesportsexpo.com

I received an interesting one today about a program whose mission was stated as follows: “Campaign celebrates unsung heroes among Philadelphia’s black men and boys.  Knight Foundation and Open Society Foundations’ Campaign for Black Male Achievement launch campaigns to amplify black men’s and boys’ positive community impact…”

The program had nothing to do with triathlon and I politely responded to the sender explaining that. However the more I read the release, the more I felt like we were taking a step backwards in society. So I added a little additional commentary to my response that I will share with you. It was another situation where I could have and probably should have kept my opinion to myself but … it WAS Monday morning so ….

Hi Marc,

Thanks for your email. Our publication is entirely in the multisport genre focusing on swimming, biking, running, and triathlon. While I appreciate the work being done here, I don’t think I can find the tie in to our magazine.

As a personal and side editor’s note from me, the sport of triathlon thrives itself to be all inclusive, accepting, and we tend to not see our athletes in color. Rather we see them as one; a unified band of athletes rich in camaraderie who support one another whether they are green, alien, male, female, etc. Our hope is that the rest of the universe is slowly finding their way to this same way of thinking and acceptance. I would never want to create additional barriers by highlighting a black/white/male/non male type of a program.

I want to see more promotion of “people” helping people and being roles models for other “people”. Not people of color or gender… just people. We should be providing positive role models for everyone, regardless of their race, gender, economic backgrounds, or other restrictive or limiting group classifications. We are all in this together, and so should be our solution.

Our youth today need to understand that while we live on a plane of living and abundant color, the reality is we need to all exist in a world that is gray…. seeing each other as all being the same. The success of our future will be determined by how quickly and universally the collective WE accept that blended color for all mankind and stop trying to categorize.

The message that these kids need to take away is that THEY CAN ACHIEVE. But that role model can be anyone of any color living anywhere.

As an example, we work closely with many groups who run sports programs for inner city kids in repressed economic areas, and we will never refer to that as a “black” or “African American” thing or program. That reinforces the very barriers we should be trying to break down.

I could go on, but I think you get my point.

Feel free to submit any future releases relating to triathlon.

We’ll all just people Marc.

Regards,

Steve Brown
Contributing Editor – Liberty Sports Magazine

Check them out.

I keep catching headlines regarding the state of actor Charlie Sheen. I am a pretty compassionate guy who understands the evil grip that addiction can have on a person. But I just can figure Charlie out. I really feel that he is perfectly content to self destruct; and self destruct as publicly as possible. Maybe it’s a ratings grabber but it sure is sad for those left in the wake of his destruction.

I have been biting my tongue on this one because I don’t really want to give it time or justice but feel the need to make a couple of comments. I was both taken back and intrigued by the recent blog post by “Charlie”. I encourage you to check this out:  http://charliebroadway.blogspot.com/2011/01/triathlon-is-stupid-sport.html. Charlie basically goes on a rant and blasts everything related to triathlon and triathletes in his post “Triathlon is Stupid”.

I actually do agree with a couple of his points that the sport has become way overpriced by certain entities and race directors. But where he spreads hatred and distaste for triathletes as people, I have found the exact opposite to be true. The triathletes that I am attracted to and surround myself with are among the most supportive and positive people I have ever met. While it spurs me to ponder why all of the negative people are attracted to Charlie, I think I know the answer to that question. I guess we’re all entitled to our opinions.

In quickly glancing at some of his other posts, I see a general theme of negativity loaded with expletives intended more for shock value than anything else.  I look at the post, and the author as an interesting sociology project that adds, detracts, or speaks of very little significance to the sport of triathlon or to triathletes. But, it’s passionate, and passion can be good.

Keep you eye out for the latest Liberty Sports Magazine. The February issue will be out any day and I have a feature article in there on a great guy named Andy Holder.

And on the subject of Liberty Sports Magazine, don’t forget the Endurance Sports Expo February 26^th and 27^th in Oaks PA. As last year, this will be a great two day expo of all things multisport, with speakers, demos, samples, etc. At noon on each day Todd Wiley and I will be presenting on the topic of “Balancing Life and Sport’. Come check it out.

And lastly, my next episode of Make it Count can be heard live on February 17^th at 6:30 PM where I will chat with Anne Mahlum, founder of Back on My Feet.

Enough rambling for now. Enjoy the snow, or ice, or warm sunshine if you are lucky enough to be in that climate!

The larger space will be filled with even more cycling, running and tri than in 2010. The active sports companies, retailers, coaches, events, clubs and associations will help you to plan and prep for a great season. Keep checking back for announcements of national personalities, exciting seminars and more.

Motivation & Perspective are independent but not mutually exclusive. They both need to share space and play nicely in the same sandbox. Ask 10 people why they are involved with multisport events and you just may get 10 different answers. Some good ones and some not so good.

I have learned is that if you want longevity in this sport, and if you want longevity without ticking off everyone around you, there are a handful of universals worth sharing. I don’t think there is anyone in this room who will not be able to feed themselves or their family if they fail to win prize money at a race.

Although I am talking today about endurance sports racing and training, you can really apply these ideas and ideals to anything in life…

Did you ever stop and ask yourself WHY you do this stuff. Knowing that answer will help with your motivation & perspective.

Why do you race? Why should you race? Why shouldn’t you race?

Don’t race purely for the medal.

Don’t race for bragging rights.

Don’t race for praise.

Don’t race for results.

Race because you want to challenge yourself.

Race because you aren’t sure if you are capable, and want to prove you are.

Race because you want to meet new people and share experiences.

Race to enjoy the journey of getting somewhere … not merely for the glory of the finish line

Race for better health.

Race to expand your comfort zone and gain self confidence. BUT (BIG BUT) wear that confidence graciously under your coat. You don’t need to advertize it. If you carry yourself properly, you can be a role model just by “being”.

If you race for the right reason, the medals, the praise, etc. just happen as a byproduct. The people who say the least about their accomplishments seem to just inherently gain the most respect and admiration and the exact opposite holds true as well.

I want to share a few tips that have helped me keep things in perspective and have also helped with my own personal motivation.

1 – It’s OK to lack a little motivation from time to time!! Just like it’s OK to have a bad run. You can’t set the bar too high and expect to maintain that 12 months a year, 7 days a week. You need to understand that physical, emotional, and mental downtime is not only OK, it is necessary. And if you can remember that, you will put less pressure on yourself, which will allow you to lighten up a little while you work through the process and come full circle.

2 – Enjoy some junk miles. Sometimes just making a little forward progress will rekindle you. Enjoy a barefoot beach walk or run, or a boardwalk bike ride. Take a relaxing ride to your favorite park with a book (not a training manual). Back off of “training mode” and just enjoy the passing of time on your bike. Many people are in overdrive every time out and that leads to burnout. Combine some errands with fitness. A convenience store run with a backpack, take the dog for a run, or the baby stroller.

3 – Always have a plan B. Most people set out with a goal. You would like to do “X” but what happens when something goes wrong? You need a backup plan. You need a plan B. It’s not a sign of failure. It’s a sign of resilience. Consider the “what ifs” and think about how you might react and respond to them.

4 – Know who you are. We are not all Olympians but that shouldn’t minimize or diminish your goals. Someone will always be faster, slower, richer, poorer, etc. Set realistic goals that are meaningful and challenging for YOU and don’t worry about the next guy.

5 – 10 minutes is better than zero minutes but zero minutes is ok too. I know how tight schedules can be. And sometimes it seems impossible to get that workout in., maybe you don’t have enough time and just don’t think it would be worth it. Do SOMETHING whenever possible, even if it is a brief 10 minute jog. And in those times when you simply cannot squeeze in that workout – it’s OK. Life goes on. Make the adjustment the next time out and move on.

6 – Channel your passion. Volunteer at an event, start your own event, volunteer with kids, etc. Offer to do a talk at your local YMCA or youth group. This can do wonders to kick start your motivation.

7 – ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have a work out bag packed. You never know when you may have an opportunity to sneak something in.

8 – Involve the family. Mix training in with quality family time. Talk to your significant other about your goals and why they are important. In 1993 I told my wife over New Year’s Eve dinner that I wanted to run a marathon. I had been racing for years but that was my first jump into the marathon distance. I told her that I “just needed to get it out of my system”. That was 20 marathons ago – it still isn’t out of my system but my point is I’ve been married for almost 24 years. My kids have crossed many finish lines with me. My new granddaughter soon will as well. So, something that I have been doing must work. I have involved and engaged them every step of the way whenever possible.

9 – DO NOT live and die by your results or your last effort. If you have a bad day, pick yourself up, assess the situation, make the adjustment, learn the lesson, and look ahead. By the same token, don’t ask a person “what was your time”. Rather, ask them “how was your day”. Measure the quality of the race or workout by the EXPERIENCE, not merely by the result. At the 2009 ChesapeakeMan Ultra Distance Triathlon, I experienced my very first DNF in a racing career spanning more than a couple of decades. But I found inspiration in that failure because I had a plan B. In that situation, my plan B was to return to the finish line (after an ER trip) to help out and cheer on the rest of the finishers. I still felt involved and engaged even though my race blew up.  I had a disappointing race result; but a great race experience.

10 – Get involved on a deeper level. Connect with organizations that are making a difference such as the MS Society, Back on my Feet, American Cancer Society, and Susan G Komen. These are just a few examples of organizations tying fitness to finding cures. They offer group participation, honored patient heroes, etc with a fundraising component that helps save lives. I have done countless events with some of them over decades. It gives all of this more meaning and great perspective – that word again. And this is something else that I have been able to share with my family.

There is one organization that is very near and dear to me on many levels; The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. On February 24^th 2006 I was diagnosed with leukemia. A week later I was on board as a triathlon coach with TEAM IN TRAINING. In May of 2006 I hit remission. In July I was back to racing. In September I finished another ironman. Because I needed to prove a few things to myself, my cancer, and to anyone else who feels limited in what they can do. Today, I continue to be as active and involved as I can with this organization. I have the chance to work with athletes of all walks of life – and I love people, and they are raising funds and awareness for my blood cancer. It doesn’t get any better.

If you think about even half of the things that we talked about today, it will help you keep things in perspective. Also, sometimes the nature of some of these activities, or by balancing that perspective – the motivation miraculously falls right back into place.

Setting examples, growing the sport – not just in numbers of people and events but in the quality of individuals should be everyone’s objectives.

I am certainly not the fastest guy out there on the course, and I don’t claim to be an expert. But I promise you that very few people have as much fun out there or enjoy this stuff as much as I do.

I will also be speaking on Saturday at 11:00 AM on the subjects of Motivation and Perspective where we will discuss ways to maintain or restore motivation while keeping your racing and training in proper balance and perspective.

The event is being held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center out past Valley Forge.  The address is 100 Station Avenue, Oaks PA 19456. 

For more information visit: http://www.endurancesportsexpo.com/index.html

The mission of the Endurance Sports Expo is to have an event unlike any other in the Mid-Atlantic region where attendees can see, experience and buy the latest products; attend seminars and clinic to learn how they can enhance their performance and experience; and find a new club or non-profit to be involved with.

The Endurances Sports Expo is idea for athletes in the Greater Philadelphia region who are looking for ways to enhance their multisport performance and experience. At ESE you will have the opportunity to no only see, but demo the latest gear for 2010.

This years Expo will be held on Saturday and Sunday March 13-14 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA.

For more information please visit www.endurancesportsexpo.com