[Mahler]

Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 29 – A Potpourri of Great thoughts.

I sat watching the closing ceremonies of the Athens Olympics and amazed by the story of Stlylianos Kyriakides, the Olympic champion who escaped execution by the German occupation of Greece and went on to run the Boston Marathon to feed his hungry nation. I definitely have to do some research on this remarkable man.

The Olympics proved to be one of many surprises, many disappointments and many unexpected triumphs. I am sure we are all thankful that the gathering of the world’s athletes was not marred by any terrorism. I am always lifted by seeing the athletes march in together as a world community during the closing ceremonies. If only for a few hours, we are one world nation.

The Olympics is one of achieving goals and breaking records and it was such a rush for me this past weekend when I finished my first stage of Book of Muscle Advanced and the next day stepped on the scale and took out the calipers and found that I had reached my dual goal of 175 pounds and breaking the 10% body fat barrier. I actually measured out at 8.8%. Of course, I celebrated and gained about a pound over the weekend, but am confident that I can shed that.

This is my rest week but I had to get out and run this morning and the feeling was awesome. The moon was full, high and bright, the stars were still out, the air was heavy with humidity and I was sweating like the proverbial pig. With the thoughts of the previous two weeks flashing trough my mind, I felt so alive.

Here are a few words from some greats to start off the week.

"When I played with Michael Jordan on the Olympic team, there was a huge gap between his ability and the ability of the other great players on that team. But what impressed me was that he was always the first one on the floor and the last one to leave." -- Steve Alford

"Before I'd get in the ring, I'd have already won or lost it on the road. The real part is won or lost somewhere far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights." -- Muhammad Ali

"Excellence is not an act, but a habit." – Aristotle

"Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do." -- Dale Carnegie

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." -- Thomas Edison

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." -- Albert Einstein

"Failure is the opportunity to begin again, more intelligently."-- Henry Ford

"The biggest mistake an athlete can make is to be afraid to make one." -- L. Ron Hubbard

"The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus." -- Bruce Lee

"Man's finest hour is the moment when he has worked his heart out in good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious." -- Vince Lombardi

"Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one's levels of aspiration . . and expectation." -- Jack Nicklaus

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Have a great week, guys and train like the champions that you all are.

In Fitness & Friendship,
Mahler