Spring is almost here. Time to get the two most important tools for
racewalking and life tuned up and ready for action.
The tools all of us have to work with are our mind and our body. What kind of condition are they in right now? It’s time to clean off the mud and lethargy of winter. Start making plans. Activate your mind. Shake off the cobwebs the winter doldrums caused. Get happy; get out and walk.

How is your body looking and feeling? Get out a pair of walking shoes and the lighter walking clothes you put away last fall. & if you are really daring try on last year’s bathing suit. If it doesn’t fit, you still have time to get active & lose some of those pounds.

Like spring cleaning, spring into exercise but do it sensibly and praise those cool days. Bless them for only getting you out for a short time to retrain those muscles of body and mind slowly and steadily.

If you start now you still have time to train for the WAVA Games in Gateshead, England or whatever other goal you have set up for this year. If you start now you can change the shape of your mind and body into a newer more sleeker and wiser you. 

Take a lesson from my gardening friend Max Green. Doing a little bit each day prepares his garden and him for the summer. Sensibly now, not all in one day or one weekend.

Spring is the time for rebirth and rebuilding; a time when all of nature begins anew and we choose to do so too.

We all know about those winds of negative adversity either from the outside as gale force winds or our own internal doubts gnawing away at us. Those ones that tell us we will never go faster than our competitors.  That the winter has been wasted and now the time is too short and besides.... 

Stop!  You CAN do it. Your mind and body need the positive words of encouragement. You need the joy of knowing that you will succeed if you but try.  With intelligence, with a good training plan, with someone to work out with... All winners know it is at least 90% getting out the door and starting every day or at least every other day...

Do your best. Let the others fool themselves in their minds that they can’t win. You start with a positive attitude; you can win, and by making the positive effort fun you have already won the most important event, the control of your own winning mind.

Spring is the time for rebirth, a time for all of nature to begin anew and you are part of nature. With the help of this new spring, you can bring about a new you - a champion—the best you there has ever been.

How exciting to watch the transformation of the apparently dead tree branches! How much more exciting to watch us sleeping people stir back into action and life!