Triumph Through the Run

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Something that keeps me going as I run up those hills -- physical and otherwise

Keep pushing,                                      

Once a Runner

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  Admittedly, I'm not much of a reader. Definitely not a bookworm, per se. Never have been.

  I've always read out of necessity rather than enjoyment. While I do read my fair share of articles and the like, to stay informed and to learn about the pressing issues of the world, reading for fun is always one of the last things on my to-do list.

  I recently finished a book (that took me WAY too long to read) that I thought would be interesting to blog about. So here goes...

  The title gives it away. Yes, Once a Runner is a book about running. And runners. But it's about more than that.

  Really, it's about motivation. Dedication. And work ethic.

The Story
  Once a Runner is a novel by John L. Parker Jr. originally published in the late 1970s. The story follows the main character, Quenton Cassidy, an elite collegiate runner, through his mission to run a sub 4:00-mile. Through bumps and bruises, trials and tribulations, Cassidy pushes on.

  Eventually, Cassidy drops out of school, and moves into isolation to focus solely on running, and his training. He's training for one meet -- the climax of the book -- the Southeastern Relays where he'll be lining up against the world's fastest miler, John Walton.

  The story really ramps up the last few chapters when we reach the culmination of his training: the mile race.

  As Cassidy prepares for the starter's gun to fire, I was nervous. Maybe not as nervous as Cassidy himself, but my heart was thumping. It was as if I had gone through the training runs with him. I'd seen the sacrifices he made. I wanted him to do well, and couldn't wait for the race to start.

  But I won't spoil the ending. 

Running Equals Real Life

Half Marathon finish two summers ago, with my brother.

  Outside of the story, here are a few 'real life' lessons I came away with after reading Once a Runner. 

Believe in Your Training
  When the chips are down, you must rely on your training -- your habits. You have to believe in the things you have done hundreds, thousands, millions of times. Your training prepares you for the difficult times you are sure to encounter. You have to have faith in the work you have put in -- trust in yourself and your work, 100%.

  In the book, as the race is coming to a close, there's the final kick. The last dash to the finish line. It's when you're the most tired, and will attempt to run as fast as physically possible. Maybe you can't even feel your legs. It's at this time, your stride, your form, your habits, are that much more crucial.

  You cannot go away from your running form in hopes of stealing a few seconds. All that will result is flailing arms and bad form; two things that will surely lose the race for you.

  Trust your habits. Especially when the chips are down. 

  Even with months of training, there will be spur of the moment decisions to be made. Ones that you've never encountered. Go with your gut, and react. Once you've made your decision, you're in it 100%. No second guessing.

Believe it, Achieve it
  'If the mind believes it, the body achieves it' is a quote that can be related a great deal to running, to anything, to be honest. The body can do unimaginable things when you really put your mind to it. If you REALLY commit to it, and want it, you CAN achieve it.

  Cassidy quit school, and moved to the boonies, just to focus solely on his training. He sacrificed things socially and scholastically, just for the sake of being the best runner he could possibly be.

  I, for one, can't imagine the pain and the hurt elite runners endure. What Cassidy describes is nothing I've ever felt, nor want to feel (though, maybe my college days on the track can compare somewhat). But it's inspirational. If you want something bad enough, and you're willing to put in the work, your body will respond with near-miracles.

  The interval workout described near the end of the book, is a prime example. Cassidy runs 60 quarter miles, and literally runs himself into the ground. And for what? It was just a training run!

  It shows what can be accomplished when you wholeheartedly commit to something. 

                                     Visualization

Mo Farah crossing the finish line in the 2012 Olympics.

  The night before the meet, Cassidy goes out to the track, and walks through the entire race. Through visualization, he tries to conjure up the feelings, the emotions, the physical ailments he is sure to encounter during the race the following day. Whether you believe in visualization or not, it's been shown to be a useful tool in achieving successes, in and out of competition.  

Never Give Up

  Don't let up til you've passed the finish line. When human-beings are involved, you never know what can happen.

  Numerous times, Cassidy says the third lap (out of four) of the mile race is equivalent to life's tough times. 'The third lap was to be endured and endured and endured.' You just have to get through it, physically and mentally. You can't allow the third lap (and life's rough patches) drag you down, causing you to lose the race.

  He goes onto say that it's a time for the 'most intense concentration, the iciest resolve.' How does that NOT correlate to the bumps in the road we HAVE to endure in order to come out on top? You don't bow out, or balk when the payoff is just around the corner!

Self Confidence  
  Cassidy was a little uncertain of himself leading up to the mile race. Even though he'd put in an incredible amount of training, he had just the tiniest bit of doubt, wondering if he was ready. I've found this to be true for myself going into games as well (Have I done enough? Am I ready?). And I wonder if it's the same for every competitive athlete.

  I feel like that ounce of doubt, is what puts you over the edge, and allows you to focus that much more. When you're 100% confident, or maybe overconfident is a more-appropriate word, you're not as tight, not as focused as you should be. You're cocky. And it's then, that you might stumble. That TINY bit of doubt in your mind is what keeps you sharp, in my opinion.

  During the race, Cassidy thought Walton, his main opponent, was a machine. That he was unbeatable. In that moment, he was beaten. He had self doubt, and believed he couldn't overcome the strength of his opponent. But then he saw Walton falter down the stretch, just the slightest slip up. And that was enough motivation to give Cassidy life for one final kick.

Out for a jog a few summers back.

Free Therapy
  I find running to be peaceful. Mind clearing. Invigorating. Euphoric at times. Yes, it can be monotonous, boring, and difficult too. But I find the overall positives outweigh the downfalls.

  In the book, Cassidy deals with controlling his emotions and nerves going into the race. In order to be at his best, he must keep them under control. He reminds himself to breathe. The equivalent of dealing with life's stresses, no?

  Sure, Once a Runner is a book about running. And that might not excite a lot of people. But it offers so much more than that. I've found there's a lot that can be related to our lives, in general, from the characters and the story.

  Good story. Great motivator.

  If you have a chance, give it a read!

Game Day = Test Day

France '12.

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  If there's a day of the week I need to be at my best, it's Saturday.

  It's the equivalent of test day back in our school days. We put in the work during the week, to hopefully earn that passing grade, a win, come Saturday.

  It's game day.

  That's when it all matters. Why we put in the work. Why we get paid. Fans are there. Family and friends are there. Media is there. It's your one time during the week to show your stuff.

  With so much on the line, you obviously want to be at your peak, both physically and mentally. Not to mention it's your job to be at the top of your game. If you're not, you're letting your teammates down (not to mention yourself!) and your opponents will quickly take advantage.

  Nothing frustrates me more than not playing my best come game day. Unfortunately it's been known to happen. So I do whatever I can to physically prepare myself for Saturday. If that means I need to do a little extra work, so be it.

Balancing Act
  Each, and every week, it's a constant battle to find the right balance between preparing yourself, while not over-doing it.

  If you do too much over the course of the practice week, you find yourself sluggish, with tired legs on Saturday. Hardly at the top of your game. If you take it easy during the week, on Saturday you're soft, lethargic, maybe even getting winded too easily. Again, far from your best.

Germany '09-'10/

  But if you find that balance, the sweet-spot, you feel like you could play forever. You have a rhythm for the game. Your legs are there throughout, and you recover quickly when you get tired. It's your goal to feel like that every week.

  For me personally, I need to be ready to play anywhere from 35 to 40 minutes a game (of a 40 minute game). That means I need to be in great shape. It's tough to play at a high level for 35+ minutes!

  I've found that taking it easy during the week, and saving your legs, is not going to cut it. For me anyway.

When Practice Doesn't Cut It
  In a perfect world, you get all your necessary preparation in practice. And there would be no need for extra work. But I've found in the last few years, I don't always get what I need out of practice.

  For example, sometimes we don't have 10 players. When that's the case, we're unable to go up and down the court and play five-on-five. There's not a drill in the world that can simulate playing full-court basketball at an intense level, so obviously that is the best way to prepare physically for games.

Sweden '08-'09.

  On those days, where I feel like practice didn't get me ready for Saturday, I have to do a little extra work on my own. That might mean a day of extra shots at game speed, or extra running/cardio, or maybe an extra session in the weight room. Or maybe all of the above.

  It depends on the week, and it depends on how I'm feeling. Over the course of my career, I've learned to trust my body. And think I have a pretty good idea of what I need to be at my best.

Training For a Game, Not a Marathon
  But sometimes it's about mental health and happiness too.

  Since I love running, the easy thing for me to do would be to go out and run 20, 30, 40 minutes. Nothing makes me feel better than being outside, clearing my mind, working up a sweat, while on a run.

  While that might give me a good workout and a mental release, running long distances isn't the most efficient way to train during basketball season. It's probably not in my best interest to be out there pounding on my legs day in and day out. That would be overdoing it. And my time and effort could be used doing something more-applicable to basketball.

  So I've come to realize that I might have to sacrifice wanting to go out and run everyday in order to be ready to play on Saturdays (even when I look out my window and see runners racing by!). While running might make me feel better in the short term (that day), a few days down the line, I might find myself tired. And I can't have that.

2012-2013 team.

  Outside of a recovery run early in the week, I'm trying to stay away from pounding the pavement. And instead, I'm giving interval training a try. Either on a bike or an elliptical machine, simulating short sprints (like you find in a basketball game) with even shorter recovery time. It's a sure fire way to get your heart rate pumping fast (without the wear and tear and pounding)!

  It's something new for me, so we'll see how it goes!

  I'm always experimenting and exploring things I can do to make myself better. I want to be in tune with my body, and always do what's right in order to be at my best come Saturday. I realize it's important to allow time to recover after physically demanding games. And it's an extremely long season, that we've only just begun!

  So I'm working now to find that balance -- to earn that A on game day!

A Workout, and a Recipe

Out for a run.

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  Today, I'm trying something new, a little bit different than my blog norm. Even though I'm fully into the off-season, my day-to-day routine isn't much different than what it is when I'm in-season, in Europe.

  Yes, I'm back home in the US, and I have my family and friends in closer proximity. But my job hasn't changed. I still play professional hoops. So for me, the summertime, the off-season, is a time to get better.

  And contrary to what you might think, basketball isn't just about shooting and dribbling. There are countless ways you can improve yourself: athletically, endurance/overall fitness, nutritionally, mentally. What the off-season allows me to do is be a little bit more daring, a little bit more experimental. I don't have games to prepare for, so it gives me the opportunity to spice things up and try new things.

  I don't have my own trainer. I'm on my own a lot, and I'm motivating myself. So I'm constantly looking for new things to do, new workouts, new techniques, a wacky recipe that I think would be fun to try.

  And that's what I want to share with you today: a workout I recently did, and a recipe I tinkered with this past week.

  Early in the summer, I run a lot. I've made no secret that I actually enjoy running a great deal. As the off-season goes on, I taper down on distance running, and do more basketball-specific running (sprints, intervals, etc...) so I'm in 'basketball shape' for the season. But even when I'm just running, I think it's a mental boost to vary the things you do.

  So here's a 'speed' workout I did last week from Runner's World:

THE WORKOUT: Half-mile repeats at your goal 5-K pace with a quarter-mile jog recovery. "The recovery is long enough to clear most of the lactic acid from your muscles, but short enough to keep the workout challenging," says Kastor. Beginners should do three or four repeats; more advanced runners can run up to 10 repeats. Measure the distance with a GPS or mapmyrun.com, or run by time (for example, if your 5-K pace is 8:00, run four minutes hard and recover with two to three minutes of jogging).

  I wanted to work to increase my pace. So here's what I did (does this link actually work for those of you not signed in as me??? If it does, isn't Nike+ awesome!?!): I tried to run 1/2 mile under a 7:45 mile pace, recover for three minutes at an easy pace, and then repeated it five times. I liked it. It was a tough workout, and I think it'll help me improve my natural pace. I'll do it again, maybe once a week, or every other week for a while.

Great for a quick snack on the go!

THE RECIPE: Power Muffins (a hybrid recipe I did, using aspects of three different recipes: Clean Eating Cranberry Muffins, Flax Power Muffins, Protein Power Muffins)

        Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour 

1 cup oat (Quaker quick oats work fine) 

2 tsp. baking powder 

1 egg 

1/2 cup honey (for sweeter muffins) or 1/4 cup (for not-so-sweet muffins) 

3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk 

1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce 

2 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 cup ground flax seed 

1/4 cup chopped pepitas (raw pumpkin seeds)

(you can add a ripened mashed banana in place of the apple sauce, I've also added a handful of chocolate chips to the mix on occasion!)

        Directions:
Step 1 – In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder, ground flax seed, and chopped pepitas.
Step 2 – In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, honey, almond milk and apple sauce.
Step 3 – Whisk the flour mixture in to the wet mixture and blend well.
Step 4 – Spoon batter in to standard sized cupcake papers until the batter is approximately 1/4 inch from the top of the papers.
Step 5 – Bake at 350F. for approximately 20 minutes or until they just start to turn golden brown. Step 6 – Allow to cool and serve. Eat and Enjoy!
(Makes 12 small muffins)

        Nutritional Information: (estimated at nutritiondata.self.com)
Serving Size: 1 muffin, 97 calories, 3 grams of healthy fat, 3 grams fiber, 4 grams of protein, 16 grams of carbohydrate

  Try it if you're looking for a relatively healthy snack recipe! Pretty good with a little peanut butter on it. :) You can freeze them, if you're not going to eat 'em all up right away!

  Let me know if you try either the workout (that you can do at your own pace, of course!), or the recipe. AND if you have one of your own that you'd like to share with me, send 'em my way. Like I said before, I'm always on the lookout for something new to try!

  So what do you think? Keep posting workouts and recipes (don't worry, they won't always be weird recipes. But hopefully, somewhat healthy and tasty!)???

No Playoffs, No Climax Point

Playoffs in Germany.

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  The last month of any basketball season usually marks its climax point.

  In high school, you were vying for a league championship, and a state playoff berth. Once you hit college, your conference tournament and a prestigious invitation to the NCAA Tournament caught your focus. Finally as a professional, whether in Europe or the NBA, your motivation is to make the playoffs, and for your team to advance as far as possible.

  The climax is what you play for. All the excitement, all the pressure, all the hard work comes to a head come playoff time. That's when you want to be playing your best basketball. Because that's when the games count the most.

  For me this season, there are no playoffs. There is no climax. And I've decided it stinks! It's like reading a book, or watching a movie that has no climax. It just sputters out, and limps to the finish line.

In college, your focus was the NCAA Tournament!

  The league I'm playing in has no playoffs. There is a Final Four 'tournament' for the top four finishers in the league. But unfortunately my team is not quite at that level this season.

  Some teams are still fighting to avoid relegation for the following season (the bottom two finishers in our league drop down to the lower league). Thankfully, as of a few weeks ago, my team has successfully secured its place in LF2 for the 2012-2013 season.

  So essentially, we have nothing to play for. Nothing, that is, except pride, and satisfaction in your own performance.

Playoffs: Bigger crowds to play in front of, bigger games! (Sweden)

  But let's be real, everyone's level of pride can vary a great deal. Just like our ability to self-motivate can differ enormously from one person to the next. Practices can get lackluster (to say the least), and games can feel like glorified scrimmages. My goal is to not allow that to happen in my final two weeks in Dunkerque.

  At the onset of each season, teams usually sit down together and set goals of how they want the season to go. Some might want to finish with a playoff berth and that's it (in most leagues, that means finishing in the Top 8 in the standings). Others might be more specific, and say they want to finish in the top two, or win the championship.

Have to keep focused as season ends!

  The professional season can be very long. You get tired physically, and you can lose your focus mentally. Once you hit that seventh or eighth month, you might find yourself going through the motions. That's where having goals can help keep you and your teammates motivated. Goals give you a way to measure your success, and will keep your eyes on the prize.

  In situations where the season is seven or eight months, I think it's helpful to break your goals down. 'Shorter-sighted' goals are easier to keep focused on, and easier to measure after all.

  While I'd love to be preparing for a a playoff series, or the Final Four, that's not my reality this season. So my motivation remains on my own personal pride in how I play, and how I can improve as a leader. I cannot control those around me, but I can control my effort and my focus on each and every practice, and our final two remaining games.

The Show Goes On

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Power of thought.

  The basketball season in France is rapidly coming to a close. With four games left to be played in roughly four weeks, I'll be packing my bags for the US in no time. But til then, it's important I make the most of these next four weeks. For reasons I really can't delve into in the blogosphere, it's becoming increasingly obvious that my last weeks in Dunkerque will be filled with character-building moments.

  I usually am a "glass is half full" kind of person. But sometimes it can be pretty difficult to find a silver lining, and keep your attitude upbeat. During those times, I often take to a collection of thoughts and quotes I've gathered throughout the years, to help me find the brighter side of things.

  I'm not quite sure when I decided this, but at some point along the line, I came to the conclusion that attitude is everything. Your thoughts and your attitude can make or break a situation. It can turn the best of times into unforgettable moments. And likewise, can turn a difficult situation into something you learn from, that
ends up not being as tough as you originally thought it would be.

  Here are some of my favorites. Skim through them, see what hits a cord with you, and send me your favorites if you have any!

Determination/Work Ethic:

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." - Steve Prefontaine 

"There's no on/off switch. You have to do it everyday." - Unknown 

"Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy." - Robert Half 

"We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act, but a habit" - Aristotle 

"Win or lose you will never regret working hard, making sacrifices, being disciplined or focusing too much." - John Smith 

"Don't count the days, make the days count." - Muhammad Ali 

"Desire is the most important factor in the success of any athlete." - Willie Shoemaker 

"I've failed over and over and over again in my life...and that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan 

"Ambition is priceless..." - Wale 

"And if you fall, stand tall & come back for more." - Tupac 

"If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you'll find an excuse." - Unknown 

"Do things with passion, or not at all." - Unknown 

"Never give up on the things that make you smile." - Unknown

Going Outside Your Comfort Zone:

"A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there." - Unknown 

"If you are afraid of failure you don't deserve to be successful!" - Charles Barkley

Positive Thinking:

"Change your thoughts and you'll change your world." - Norman Vincent Peale 

"Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.” - Gandhi 

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't. You're right." - Henry Ford 

"What kind of energy are you putting out into the world? There is nothing in between." - Unknown 

"What we focus on, we empower & enlarge. Good multiplies when focused upon. Negativity multiplies when focused upon. The choice is ours: which do we want more of?" - Julia Cameron 

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you'll never, ever have enough." - Oprah

Progress in Action:

"Don't miss your promise being passive. Passive people get passed up." - Unknown 

"Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up and knows it must move faster than the lion or it will not survive. Every morning a lion wakes up and it knows it must move faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It doesn’t matter if you are the lion or the gazelle, when the sun comes up, you better be moving." - Maurice Greene 

"We write our story a chapter a day with the deeds we do and words we say. Make your story a good one today!" - Unknown 

"Who is on your team? If they are not adding -- they are subtracting. Cut the weights from your wings so you can fly." - Jason Lester 

"Success is not permanent & failure is not fatal." -Mike Ditka 

"Do your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." - Desmond Tutu

Staying in the Moment:

"We seem to be going through a period of nostalgia, and everyone seems to think yesterday was better than today.  I don't think it was, and I would advise you not to wait ten years before admitting today was great.  If you're hung up on nostalgia, pretend today is yesterday and just go out and have one hell of a time." - Art Buchwald 

"Yesterday is history.  Tomorrow is a mystery.  And today?  Today is a gift.  That's why we call it the present." - Babatunde Olatunji

Miscellaneous:

"No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you." - Althea Gibson 

"Always give without remembering & always receive without forgetting." - Brian Tracy 

"Friends who believe in you when others do not, friends who tell you can do it when you fear otherwise, friends are a gift" - Unknown 

"Never make excuses. Your friends won't need them, and your foes won't believe them." - John Wooden 

"If you're absent during my struggle, don't expect to be present during my success." - Will Smith 

"Just because you CAN doesn't mean that you WILL. You must decide for yourself to take the necessary actions in order to achieve results." - Unknown 

"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles

  But these inspirational sayings can only get you so far. At what point do you turn your thoughts and attitudes into your actions? Granted, thinking positively is a HUGE step, and one you must take. However, making your thoughts your actions is the biggest jump (and the biggest question mark) in my mind. What is the process of making that happen?

  Good intentions are great, but without action ... they're just that -- intentions.

Lupe Fiasco - The Show Goes On (take a listen to the third verse, in particular)

  Lots of things to think about today. But we're making progress! 

  ~ Sabrina

LEMO Foundation

LEMO Foundation

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  I've made the importance of athletics in shaping my life no secret. Without basketball, my life would be on a vastly different course. I wouldn't be living in Europe; seeing its sights, experiencing its cultures, and playing the game I love, all while getting paid to do it.

  My road here has had many twists and turns. Maybe without just one of those twists, my journey would have led me to a different destination.

  Everything, for me, started with a solid foundation. My parents, my schooling, and my coaches and mentors, all helped me along the way. But what if I didn't have that foundation? Or what if I was missing one key piece? Then what? Would I have earned a Division I scholarship, leading to a career as a professional overseas?

  I've always thought that every kid should have the opportunities I have been lucky enough to have, no matter their background, and no matter where they grow up.

  A longtime friend of mine, Allison Magner, has recently gotten involved with the development and growth of a non-profit organization based in the Bay Area. LEMO Foundation is exactly the kind of community that would have come in handy, had my foundation developed cracks in it as a teenager.

  The founders of LEMO, Ali and David Taufoou, wanted their organization to be like no other: based on a family atmosphere. Not just a place where kids could receive academic tutoring, or only athletic coaching.

LEMO Playmakers!

  LEMO focuses on the development of kids (or playmakers, as they call them) as people, as students, AND as athletes. They want 'to empower high school students to strive for greatness and to become responsible, compassionate leaders.' 

  They help develop the skills necessary to become a successful student: organizational, time management, and study skills. SAT preparation is also provided, along with NCAA Clearing House guidance (a must if you want to compete at the collegiate level). 

  LEMO provides a family atmosphere that serves as a safety net for kids if their home-life doesn't provide the support they need. As mentors, earning the trust of, and showing commitment to each and every kid, is essential.

  Obviously the athletic training is what brings it all together. Sport is the common denominator for the playmakers at LEMO, and the motivator for many kids throughout the US. By using that interest in sport, and commitment to becoming a better athlete, LEMO (and organizations like it) has the platform to develop the leaders of the future. Athletically, LEMO promotes all sports, but specialties lie mostly in volleyball and football at this time.

The Foundry

  Maybe the most important thing, is that LEMO provides ONE place where all this can happen.  Every facet of LEMO is operated at The Foundry. Whether it's for a workout, study hall, a tutoring session, or practice, the kids at LEMO rely on the cream of the crop facility for everything. 

  Gym time and access to academic facilities can always a stumbling block when developing organizations like LEMO. Matt Krebs has been generous enough to partner with LEMO to allow The Foundry to serve as LEMO Headquarters.

  As part of their mission statement, and vision, the LEMO Foundation will continue to search for ways to "strongly focus on and help guide the spiritual, mental, and physical aspects of each individual that we serve - Liahona 'the Compass' of LeMo. Success is defined differently for each individual, but LeMo offers every avenue for our youth to reach that path according to their specific goals - Motu 'the Rock' of LeMo."

  LEMO might not be for everyone. The commitment has to be there from the playmakers themselves, and not just in one area. Just because you're involved with a great organization, doesn't mean you no longer have to work. The coaches and mentors will not pull anyone along.

  Surely there are organizations like LEMO all over the country. But from my experience it's difficult to weed through the countless after-school programs that may have various motivations. To me, these organizations should have one thing in mind: put the kids' best interests first -- no matter what.

Fellowship at LEMO

  What's amazing about LEMO is that the kids don't pay a thing. Through sponsorships, donations, and volunteers, playmakers are provided with an incredible opportunity without having to take out a small loan to do so.

  The LEMO roster stands at 22 right now; there are 22 playmakers. However, the foundation is looking to progress and grow, so that more kids can reap the benefits of their organization. In order for that to happen, word needs to spread, and more generous hearts need to be found!

  Regardless of their outcome, reaching the collegiate level (or beyond) or not, kids' involvement in a community like LEMO will only be beneficial to their (and OUR) futures. If kids are a part of something, if they have adults/mentors who care for, and who are invested in them, they can achieve anything. 

  Everyone deserves to have the opportunity to be the best they can be -- in all aspects of life -- and the LEMO Foundation is helping kids in the Bay Area do just that.

  For more information on how to become involved, in any capacity, with LEMO, please check out their website here.

LINKS:

LEMO Foundation

The Foundry

LEMO Facebook Page

The Foundry Facebook Page

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Decisions, Decisions

Playing in Poland.

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  Every Spring, about this time, my anxiety level rises to its yearly-high. Summer is quickly approaching, and my basketball season starts coming to a close. I'm sure you're wondering, what's exactly to be anxious about?

  The end of a season marks the end of another contract. And with the end of a contract comes decision time. Do I play another basketball season in Europe? And if so, where? It's the case where one question leads to another. And then another, depending on how you answer each preceding question.

  Decision time, it seems, is coming earlier and earlier each year. It used to be that I didn't even think about the following season until I was in the midst of my summer/off-season. I would play it by ear. See what opportunities arose, both in the US and in Europe, and go from there. But more-recently, I have found that teams are making inquiries about the next season earlier than they have in the past. Or maybe, it is me that is wanting an answer earlier and earlier every year?

Love my summers!

  On the one hand, it's great to have your destination for the upcoming season in the books. You can enjoy your summer, and not worry 'will I have a team to play for?' as the off-season progresses. Call it job security. You know exactly where you will be come September, so you're able to focus on your workouts, and enjoy spending time with the family and friends you miss-out on seeing seven or eight months out of the year.

  But if you're wanting to see all possible opportunities, both on the court and off, you want to try to delay Decision Day as much as you can. The further you get into the off-season, the more teams have contacted you, giving you more on-the-court possibilities to choose from. While you're fielding inquiries from potential teams in Europe, it also gives you the opportunity to put out feelers into the 'real' world, and see what the working world has to offer.

Beautiful -- Dunkerque.

  Networking and navigating the US job-market is a difficult thing to do while in Europe. The time change (I'm nine hours ahead of my home timezone!) makes direct contact a difficult feat. It's something you really have to be committed to. And relying on email isn't going to cut it. Taking into account the number of emails people receive each day, the likelihood that they want to answer your job-market questions becomes minuscule. So networking becomes far-easier when you're on US soil.

  Are these excuses? Maybe so. Maybe I just need to put forth more effort.

  One thing I can say without hesitation, is that I've always had a difficult time turning down a good contract. If it's a good opportunity/location, the money makes sense, and you still love to play the game, how can you say no? Especially when you have nothing else lined up (as in, nothing solid waiting for you when you return home to the US). I've never thought that was good business to turn down a job. Maybe I'm too cautious that way.

Great teammates -- Sweden.

   So how exactly do I go about making that yearly decision of whether to play another season?

  First and foremost, am I healthy? As a professional athlete, your body is your money-maker. And if you aren't able to cut it on a consistent basis, it might be time to find a new profession.

  Secondly, do I still love what I am doing? If you wake up in the morning, and you dread going to practice, or you no longer have the passion to put in the extra work, chances are you aren't
going to enjoy yourself as much as you should be.

  These are the two major questions I ask myself before I make any sort of decision. There are other factors that affect my choice as well, such as potential teammates, location of team, previous experiences, and so on. But health and passion for the game, will always remain the two deciding factors.

Germany.

  In all likelihood, you're not going to find something that tops the profession I have right now. I have to say it's a pretty great gig. But it isn't forever either. So when does it become the time to start writing a new chapter?

  Some people have their mid-life crises, or quarter-life crises. I, on the other hand, like to have my annual life crises. :) One thing that eases my mind is reminding myself that there is NO wrong decision. Whatever I choose, I will be successful at it, and I will be happy. But with professional sports, it's something that you want to be 100% sure about. When you're done, you're done. There's usually no going back once you've called it quits (unless your name is Brett Favre). So you need to be sure. And the contrary is true as well. You don't want to play a season too long, and not have your heart in it.

Fun experiences abroad -- Sweden.

  For nine years I have chosen to play 'one more season'. Maybe I should make it a nice round number, and go for season 10. What do you think?



 




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To Do: 2012

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  I guess I've shared 'personal' things on my blog before, but putting your goals and aspirations out into the world, for everyone to see, is a little more daunting. A little more intimidating. Cause if you don't follow though and accomplish them, you look a little foolish!

  But I think that's also how you get things done too. You tell everyone who's willing to listen, what it is you plan on doing. And that right there, is sometimes motivation enough to keep you working -- keep you plugging along. Fear of failing is a powerful thing. When I've put my name next something, or said I'm going to do something, chances are, it's going to get done.

  I don't know about you, but I don't want to have to come up with excuses as to why I didn't follow through with 'such-and-such', so I might as well just do it, right (hmmm 'Just Do It')?!?

  And that's exactly what my blog has been, and that's exactly what posting my goals and resolutions for 2012 is about. Giving me that extra push. That extra motivation to get things done.

  A few things I have a hard time making 'measurable'. So I'm still working on my 'to do' list for 2012:

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS AND GOALS 2012

IMMEDIATE:

 -PERSONAL TRAINING CERTIFICATION -- decide if it's for me, and WHICH cert. to get. Then start working towards it. Certified by summer.

 -WORK ON RESUME & CONNECTIONS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK

 -CONTINUE TO BLOG 3+ TIMES A WEEK

 -CONTINUE TO EAT AS CLEAN AS I CAN, & CONTINUE TO EDUCATE MYSELF ON FOOD SYSTEM

 -TAKE MORE CHANCES. PUT SELF 'OUT THERE' MORE -- How do you measure that?

 -FORMULATE GAME PLAN FOR THE SUMMER -- Summer plans if I play another season in Europe, or not.

 -DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT I WILL PLAY NEXT SEASON????

SUMMER:

 -RUN MY SECOND HALF-MARATHON -- Anyone want to join, or have done one that's fun? June thru August.

 -VACATION: 1) SOMEPLACE SUNNY (Hawaii, Caribbean....) 2) NYC

 -TAKE A CLASS AND LEARN SOMETHING NEW (COOKING, MASSAGE, OR???) -- Any suggestions?

 -DRIVE HIGHWAY 101 - OREGON COAST TO CALIFORNIA -- If not this summer, sometime soon. Have heard it's an amazing drive. Anyone done it??

  There's my to do list! Have a good Wednesday! 

  And a quote for the day:

“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift" – Steve Prefontaine

Team Chemistry: Still Learning After All These Years

Singing the CU fight song after a W.

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  As the team bus was pulling up to the gym Saturday night for our game against La Roche, I had an interesting thought: every Winter, since I was nine years old, I've been a member of a basketball team (that dates back to 1990 for those of you doing the math).

  And I thought, each and every one of those years has been like riding a roller-coaster.

  No matter how much experience you have, you never know what to expect because no two teams are ever the same.

  Even after 22 years (?!?!), I've yet to tire of being on a team. The basketball is roughly the same year in and year out, but the dynamics of a team are always changing, and always keeping you on your toes.

Learning Experiences 
  Basketball aside, you're constantly learning about yourself, and learning about your teammates. So that's why, to me, being a part of a team (any team), can be one of the greatest learning experiences you can have. You don't learn just about basketball, you learn about people, and through that, you learn about life.

Easter 2001 with my Buffs!

  I can still remember my first uniform ever--purple t-shirts from the YMCA. I'm sure everyone remembers their Y-ball days. My dad was our coach, and he taught us the basics about the game. You know: the fundamentals (how to dribble, shoot, etc.), spacing, the pick and roll, give and go.

  But we also learned the basics about teamwork, and how to be a good teammate: sharing, communication, encouragement, working together.

  Of course, as we get older, the game gets more intricate, and the personality of a team grows more complicated. But the most-important aspects of playing on a team never change.

  If you don't have the basic fundamentals of basketball honed and sharpened, you can't play the game at a high level. The same goes for being on a team. If you forget the basics of what goes into being a good teammate, chances are, your team won't be as successful as it could be.

Team Chemistry 
  You can never predict what a team's chemistry will be like. Just like you can never take it for granted. Team chemistry to me, is basically how well people get along on AND off the court. It's unrealistic to expect every person on a team to be best of friends. Personalities will clash; that's only normal. When that happens, it's important that differences are put aside for the betterment of the team.

  Many times, a team's chemistry is what allows it to overcome its opponent. Chemistry is immeasurable, but it might be the most-important intangible a team can have.

Having fun with my teammates in Sweden!

  Each team I have been on has been drastically different in that regard. But I've always found, the closer a team is off the court, the better they play together on.

  You'll go that extra mile, and work that much harder next to someone you like and have a mutual respect for, versus a teammate you don't necessarily get along with.

  The same way you can bring friendships and chemistry onto the court, you can also take what happens in games and practices, off the court. You can grow your friendships with teammates through the difficult, funny, or memorable situations that you face together on the court.

  Some of my favorite memories with teammates and friends have come after re-hashing particularly difficult practices, and being able turn those moments into things we can laugh about.

  By comparison, bad team chemistry, would be when you take a negative experience off the court and bring it onto the court, and vice versa. It's not rocket-science, but it's important nonetheless.

  Two of the most successful teams I've ever played on were extremely close off the court, and I believe it led to us working that much harder together, and that much better together on the court.

Close Team = Successful Team

Team dinner in Como.

  My Colorado teams from 1999-2003 grew from being a tight group of friends that lost more often than not (my freshman year), to a team that could get through almost anything together.

  We advanced as far as the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament, my junior year, and the Sweet 16 my senior year.

  The same can be said for the first professional team I played on in Como. Even though we came from all corners of the world, we enjoyed spending time with each other off the court, and we enjoyed working together on the court.

  What started out as a difficult season, losing games we necessarily shouldn't have lost, resulted in a team (that wasn't the most-talented in the league) that won the Italian Championship at season's end.

  Here are some other valuable lessons I've learned through participating on basketball teams throughout the years. Things I will always take with me, in every aspect of my life:

• I've gotten better at learning how to lose (that doesn't sound right). Maybe learning from failures sounds a little bit better. Losing is never easy, but it used to consume me. Now I try to learn from it.
• Win graciously. Act like you've been there before, act like you've done it before.
• While you learn from failures (losing), success (winning) is what keeps you going. You need to experience the positives along with the negatives to keep pushing yourself.
• I've learned what you CAN, and CANNOT control. Usually all you can control is yourself! You can try to lead your team to change, but a leader needs people to lead! Kind of sounds like the old adage: 'you can lead a horse to water...'

NCAA win -- nothing better!

  I've said over and over again, that being part of a team is one of the greatest, most-special experiences you can have.

  The friendships and camaraderie are the obvious benefits. But what you will learn from your teammates, and will experience is probably the most-rewarding benefit of them all.

  Do you think team chemistry can be 'fixed'? Or is just a natural thing, where, whatever will happen, will happen?

Your Experiences With Team Chemistry
  Is there an aspect about teamwork, or being on a team that I missed? And I mean any kind of team. Your team at work; that's a team! What things do you learn from your teammates or co-workers? And how important is chemistry in the workplace?

  I'm also wondering about the differences in the importance of team chemistry within men's teams, versus women's teams. I can obviously only speak from one perspective, but would love to hear the contrary!

CU Alumni game -- still all the best of friends.

  Please, let me know your thoughts and experiences about being on a team, and how it has benefited your life, and how you have grown from it.
 

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