Marathon Update - Lowestoft, Greenwich Park, Bloody nose, Bloody treadmill and a great day that reminded me of why...

My marathon training is starting to slowly ramp up and I thought that it was time to give an update.

While I was away in England during the first two weeks of January, I was pretty dedicated to my plan. I went for some awesome runs in Lowestoft (a few with my old coach, Tony Smith, until his busted back starting acting up) and got to see some beautiful scenery. Exploring a new place by foot is always the best way to uncover little treasures. It was also a great way to decompress after the intensity of being involved in a high stress situation with Olympic qualification on the line. 


The biggest issue for me while running in the UK was that I narrowly avoided being hit by a few cars. In fact, once I literally jumped out of the way with my hand on the hood of a car. I am so accustomed to look to the left while crossing the road that having to look the other way completely threw me off. I actually got to the point where I would stop at almost every street crossing and hold both of my arms out like a traffic cop and quickly tippy toe across the road while darting my head from side to side. It looked ridiculous, but seemed to give the cars ample warning that a dumbass Canadian was trying not to get nailed.


One thing I found to be super helpful with my running commitment and motivation was to do it right when we got back to our hotel after lunch. There were no ifs, ands or buts - I just walked in the door, changed into my running gear, grabbed my stuff (toque, mitts, ipod and GPS watch) and hit the road. I didn't give myself any time to talk myself out of it. I didn't allow a jet lag induced nap occur. I needed to run and I made it happen. Sure, some days it didn't feel perfect and it was hard to get going, but I always arrived back at the Broadland Holiday Village feeling energized and satisfied. 


London was definitely harder to fit in my runs as the days weren't quite as scheduled. I have to be honest; I missed a couple of them…and I could totally feel my entire being transform for the worse when I did.


What I realized in London was that exercise is essential for me to maintain a positive state of mind. As soon as I skip just one day, I can feel my optimism decline. Guilt sinks in, my gut starts to bloat, my saboteur starts to bark and people become more and more difficult to stand. My friend Kim once told me (while we were in Hawaii) that my energy and mood completely changes when I take care of myself and exercise. Kristin sometimes kicks me out of the house with my running shoes in tow. How is it that the people around me know that I am more tolerable when I've exercised, but I haven't quite put it into daily practice?? This is definitely something I need to keep in check for the rest of my life - an exercised Kyle is a happy Kyle. No excuses. If I don't have time for it, I need to make time. If I don't have the energy for it, I need to shut the hell up and just do it anyway. End of story.


The runs I had in London were incredible. One night I ran through Greenwich Park and found this awesome ass burning hill. I ran up it 6 times and then sat on a bench, crossed my legs and stared at the breathtaking view of the entire city. Another day I ran with the wonderful Karrie (physio for the men's team and my new buddy!) and we ended up on some random plot of land where more than 100,000 bodies were buried during the Great Plague of the 1600's. That was a little eerie feeling…


After having missed a few runs in London, I vowed to get right back into the running routine as soon as I got home. Sadly, the weather took a dip to the chilly side and Calgary became a deep freeze. The temperature was a bone chilling -35C. Brrrrrr. I was forced to hit the treadmill in our building's gym - and one thing you should know about me is that I am not a huge fan of running on treadmills. I'll do it when I have to, but that negative voice inside my head will do everything in it's power to try and detract me. Perhaps I should have thought it through more when I committed to running a May 6th Marathon. I knew I'd be running through January, February and March (Calgary's coldest and snowiest months), but I guess I didn't fully consider the ramifications. Oh well, it is what it is and I am in this for the duration, but treadmill running kills me. And it's even worse when the weather is cold and dry because I am prone to nose bleeds. 


For 3 days, I would run about 2 miles and then my nose would start to gush. In fact, one day it bled so hard and fast that nearly the entire treadmill running surface was covered in blood. Ick. That was not fun to clean up. I was beginning to think that the universe was trying to put a wrench in my marathon training plan…


Luckily, the weather started to warm up a bit and by Sunday I was able to hit the pavement again. Man, was that ever refreshing! I felt a total sense of joy and I instantly reconnected with my running goals. Cooper and Kristin came with me for the first few KM's and it was great to have them trotting along. After they were done and I had a few KM's left, I let my mind completely free-fall. I wasn't trying to solve or be attached to anything and I could feel ideas, motivation, understanding and creativity sloshing though my mind. It felt amazing and it made me excited about this upcoming week. There's nothing like a good run to feel grounded and alive.


So, the major lessons learned so far are:


1a. Run. Even when you think you don't have time or you don't feel like it. Just STFU and Run.
1b. Running (and exercise in general) always changes your mood for the better.
2. Run with cool people in cool places. 
3. The world is best discovered on foot.
4. Burn your ass off on hill runs and then sit back, relax and enjoy the view.
5. Stay committed and be patient. Around the corner from a few bad days is often a really great day. 
6. Bring kleenex and clotting apparatus when the air is dry ;)
7. Download some awesome tunes and podcasts to help make those deadly treadmill runs a little more managable…as much as I hate it, I can pretty much guarantee myself that there are a few more cold Calgary days to come.




105 more sleeps until I'm 30 years old and I run 42.2 KM's!


Kyle

Scratching my 2012 itch

Since returning from London on Saturday the 14th, I've felt really itchy about something…

This time of year, mid-January, has always been an interesting time in my world. I often feel compelled and inspired to dig deeper, grow and evolve. It's at this time of year when I feel like I really gravitate towards making change, taking risks and seeking out the missing parts of my perfect equation. I can look back on past journal entries from January of 2009, January 2010 and January 2011 and a very common theme emerges - I want to cut out the noise and start following the voice of that best version of myself.

I'll be the first to admit that I sometimes suffer from the 'grass is greener' syndrome. Things would be better if only…I try to be really aware of this and realize that discontentment is just part of my DNA. I have to work harder than a lot of people I know to be present in my life and to feel like life is fulfilling. I'm a perfectionist and I am often left feeling like I could have done more, been more, seen more and felt more. 

My personal life is A+++. I am gleamingly happy at home. Kristin and I become more solid each day. We are a team who are completely in tune with each other. We dance in our living room. We bake dog cookies. We snuggle on the couch. We call each other names like "porkchop face" and we talk about what we want for our future. Cooper is our greatest gift of 2011 and he brings us an incredible amount of joy, responsibility, balance and laughter.


I am blessed with close friends whom I adore and everyone in my family seems to floating through life with minimal amounts of 1st world problems. I am mostly committed to eating well, running, stretching, yoga-ing and meditating. I am making time to write (like right now!). The only thing I wish I was doing more of personally would be making more time for fun with friends. It feels like it's been a while since I've had one of those nights that you will remember forever, but wish you could pass on the hangover ;) One of those debaucherous nights needs to happen soon...

I do, however, feel like there is a very important piece of the puzzle missing in my professional life.

One area that I am really struggling with right now is the environment in which I work. It feels like it's the missing puzzle piece. My work environment often leaves me feeling frustrated and less than inspired. It makes me feel very curfuffled (is that a word?) and distracted. You see, I am one of those people who has a slim separation between work and home. And fittingly so as the line between the two often has me tripping over a dog or rinsing off the dishes. Work and home for me are the same place, and I am beginning to come to terms with the fact that, after 3 years of having it this way, I am NOT a big fan and it needs to change.


I have an incredibly difficult time spending my days working from home because there are so many distractions abound. I can unload the dishwasher, I can take Cooper for a walk, I can watch that episode of Modern Family I missed, I can check facebook, I can throw in a load of laundry etc, etc, etc. Hell, I can get away without showering until 5pm if I really want to. That's not cool. Not that I succumb to the distractions everyday, but I always feel procrastination pulling.  

I've also found myself really craving daily human interaction. People give me energy. I like having someone to compare my efforts to. I like having someone to bounce an idea off of. I like being able to ask a question and not having to open a new email message in order to do so. 


Having a place to be has always made me better. It infuses my willpower and helps me be way more productive. 

I remember back to being an athlete and realizing that willpower wasn't always my strongest suit. I needed to set myself up for success in this realm. Here's an example: If everyone was away on the weekend and I was the only guy left in town, I would do the right thing and get the key from my coach so I could go in for a weekend training session. I would make a plan, I would go to bed early, I would eat a solid breakfast, but still, no matter my efforts, if there wasn't someone else there, I always came up short of executing my plan. I just couldn't hold myself accountable to it. Now, on the contrary; If I had a coach there, even if they weren't in the gym with me the entire time, I would complete my plan and execute it diligently. I wouldn't leave until every 'i' was dotted and every 't' was crossed. I came to realize that a part of me craves validation. I need someone to notice when I am doing good work. I need someone to acknowledge my efforts. This fuels me and drives me - always has and always will. I thrive when I have accountability and a reward.

So, I feel like I need to inject some of this into the 2012 version of me. I need a place to go. I need a space where I can focus on my professional projects so that I can appreciate the time I have at home. I need to be around other people who are creative and trying to make an impact. I like having someone to compete against and someone to bounce ideas off of. I want to be a part of a team. I don't like to be micro-managed, but I do appreciate having someone check in on me from time to time and recognize my efforts. This helps me hold myself accountable and to stay committed to doing great work. 


In order to scratch this 'working environment' itch, I know it's up to me to create a new landscape. It needs to be made a priority and I'll have to make an investment of some kind - whether it be money or time or even discomfort for the first little while. I still need to investigate some options (I have a couple of very appealing opportunities in the works), but whatever it is, I'm prepared to do it. Stay tuned for developments ;)  

Exploring life through the lens of...

In Anusara yoga, there is a concept of focusing on a single phrase or word during your practice. Doing this allows you to stay centred and focused while on your mat. It also allows you to go on a path of self-discovery as you explore how things are affected when you approach them through the lens of __________.


My ________ word for this week is "kindness".


Not only will I be exploring my yoga practice through the lens of kindness, but I am also going to explore all aspects of my life through this lens. It will be as if I'm wearing a pair of magic sunglasses and the only attitude I can approach the world with is one of kindness.

• When I send an email or converse on the phone, I am going to do it with kindness.
• When I talk to myself inside my head, I am going to be kind (This will be a real challenge as I can be pretty harsh to myself inside my head…)
• When I run, I am going to try and be conscious of taking each step with a sense of kindness.
• When I eat my cereal in the morning, I am going to do it with kindness (Not too sure what that experience will look like, but I'm hoping it's meditative and enjoyable ;) )
• When I walk Cooper, I am going to fully approach it through the lens of kindness. If he pulls a little bit; rather than get frustrated and try to gain control, I am going explore how I can be more kind in discipling him. Then I will move on.
• When I interact with anyone, whether it's the grocery store clerk, the cashier at a coffee shop or with Kristin, I am going to open my heart to radiate kindness.

The reason I am doing this practice, this week in particular, is because I came to the realization that I can be quite controlling and when I get frustrated or stressed out. The anxiety that comes along with that can come across as anger and harshness. I don't like I'm projecting that and I want to change it. I want to be softer and more accepting. 


I think that this is an exercise that, for so many reasons, can be very beneficial to anyone. Firstly, a focal point allows us to feel centred. It's the whole philosophy surrounding meditation - always return to the breath. Having a blissful place to land when things begin to spin out of control is good for the heart and soul (and your blood pressure). Secondly, it's an exercise that can help develop self-awareness. I am firm believer that we, as humans, should always be aiming to learn, improve and evolve ourselves and this can help us reach a higher level of consciousness. Lastly, the world that surrounds you will be uplifted because of your choice to evoke something really positive into the air. Doing good things is always a good thing... 


So, now it's your turn: What lens will you explore this next hour, day or week through?

Gym Revolution Video Challenge

Attention all Canadian Gymnastics Lovers: The Gym Revolution Video Challenge is officially open!!! Check out the video above and visit www.nationalgymnasticsweek.com for more info on how to enter. 




I'm excited to see what kind of videos roll in!

An emotional roller coaster ride...

When I retired from gymnastics three-years ago, I thought that attending a gymnastics competition was going to be a stress free experience from that point forward. What my "already retired athlete" mentors forgot to inform me of was that I would still feel every ounce of the competitive emotion from the sidelines when the pressure was on. I'm blaming fellow Olympic analyst Marnie McBean for the complete exhaustion I'm suffering from right now. Come on Marnie, you could have at least given me a warning!

As I found out this week at the Olympic test event and final Olympic qualifier in London, apparently that "stress free" existence was wishful thinking. Watching the Canadian teams vie for the final team spots here launched me on an emotional rollercoaster ride that I may never recover from.

I experienced one end of the emotional spectrum on Tuesday when the Canadian men, in an absolute heartbreaker, failed to qualify a full team of five to the Olympics. Needless to say, everyone in the Canadian camp was devastated. It was a huge blow to the program that sideswiped everyone.

It was crushing to observe Team Canada slowly fall apart during the competition. It was even more painful as they had to watch "CANADA" drop down the leader board as the day progressed. I couldn't help but feel sick to my stomach because many of the members of the men's team here were former teammates of mine. I know how much they've invested into this dream. All of these guys have spent nearly their entire lifetimes dedicated to this moment. Earning a berth to London 2012 was the goal they all were chasing. It wasn't supposed to end this way…

The harsh reality of the situation here is that they blew it.

They had a phenomenal opportunity in their grasp and they didn't deliver on the one day it counted. The team could make up a million excuses about why they came just 0.5 shy of that coveted spot in the top four, but when all was said and done - they simply messed up too many times and that left them in fifth. There's no other way around it, the reality of that result just simply sucks.

Personally, I know that I felt like I was hit with a ton of bricks afterwards so I can only imagine the sentiment they were experiencing. As they spent the afternoon watching, waiting and hoping that they would squeak through. When the inevitable occurred, you could the air come out of the room. Not even an afternoon pint (or two…) could ease the heartache.

It was an extremely quiet night that followed in the Canadian men's camp as everyone tried to process what happened, why it happened and what happens now. The only certainty is that the team had been relegated to one individual spot at the Olympics. Who takes that spot is yet to be determined. It makes me sick to think about all the Olympic dreams that are going to go unfulfilled because of a bad day at the office. Sport can be so unforgiving sometimes. I'm sure many of the guys are thinking, "Can we have a do-over?". Sadly, gymnastics is not a sport where you get a second chance.

The very next day, after a restless sleep and a million-and-one questions floating through my mind (surely, team replayed each routine over and over in their mind all night too); the Canadian women took to the floor for their chance to shine.

The women's competition was a completely different experience as the Canadians came out with guns-a-blazin' and looked ready to attack every single performance. They started on floor exercise and it was as if each routine provided them (and all of us watching) with energy and momentum – and in gymnastics, momentum is a nearly unstoppable force. I found myself tweeting live updates and bouncing up and down in my chair as I did it. I was willing on each athlete on each routine and each element, and generally reacting like a teenage girl who just met Justin Bieber any time they landed their dismounts. I'm sure I was annoying everyone around me on press row and for that, I apologize.

Nothing gets me more excited in this world than seeing a team come together and achieve their potential. I love it when athletes dig deep and fight for every single tenth of a point. I love it when you see determination and aggressiveness in the eyes of a competitor. I love it when you can feel the intensity in the air. With the Canadian women, there was plenty of this to go around.

It was a special treat to sit back and watch the reactions of everyone in the program when they surpassed their top team score by nearly six points and secure their spot as a team to the Olympics.

The girls spent the afternoon thinking about the wonderful possibilities these next seven months will hold. They were giddy with excitement. They did their job and they knew it. They were one step closer to being an Olympian! Their faces beamed with satisfaction and you couldn't help but to soak it up and feel it too. It was an infectious sense of joy that was so refreshing after the devastation the previous days' events brought.

At the end of the day, when the last of four subdivisions concluded, the Canadian women placed second overall and earned five spots to this summer's upcoming Olympics Games. In addition, I feel that this experience opened their eyes up to their true potential. This team is capable of a top eight finish at London 2012 and I have a feeling they all believe it now. If they don't, they should. They are that good.

I'm really looking forward to coming back to the O2 Arena this summer. It's been awesome to get a sneak peek into the gymnastics venue and to feel a hint of the craziness that will ensue. After going through emotional experiences that covered the entire spectrum here in London, I am, as the English say, completely knackered. Some fish and chips and a run through Greenwich Park should help that a bit, but who knew that being on the sidelines would be such an adventure? Marnie McBean sure didn't…or at least if she did, she sure didn't tell me!

Mentor

I've been hanging around the Calgary Gymnastics Centre quite a bit these past few days acting as team mentor for the Canadian Men's Gymnastics team. They have 25 days left until their final shot at Olympic qualification. The pressure's on.


Check out this article from the Calgary Herald about the team and the final push towards their Olympic dream...




Canadian gymnasts prepare for Olympic qualification

 

Shewfelt mentoring squad as they sequester in Calgary to train for next month’s competition in London

 

BY JOHN DOWN, CALGARY HERALD DECEMBER 16, 2011

 

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• STORY
• PHOTOS ( 1 )

 

 

Former Canadian gymnast Kyle Shewfelt is lending his expertise as a mentor to the national team.

Photograph by: Stuart Gradon

Kyle Shewfelt knows what a difference it can make to have teammates at the Summer Olympics.

“I was by myself in 2000 and it was like, blah, and in 2004, when I won (floor routine), I had all the support of the team. You’re so much more into it ... it just makes such a huge difference.”

Shewfelt has long packed up his golden gymnastics career, but he’ll be close by when the Canadian men’s team travels to London, England next month to try to land one of the last four-team berths to the 2012 Summer Olympics in that country.

If they qualify, they can send a team of six (five compete). If not, only one can carry the flag.

Seven members of the team have gathered for a weeklong training camp at the Calgary Gymnastics Centre to fine tune their routines. They’ll get their chance to land a spot Jan. 10 in London against France, Great Britain, Spain, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Italy and Belarus.

Those countries, along with 12th-place Canada, finished between ninth and 16th in the recent world championships, where the top eight automatically qualified for the Olympics.

“Based on their past results, the front-runners are Great Britain and France,” suggested Shewfelt, who serves as a mentor to the Canadian team. “They have a lot of veterans and have really high difficulty scores, but Canada factors into that group.

“They just need to be consistent and really hit because this is cutthroat. It’s your last shot, it’s urgent ... do or die mentality.”

Two-time Canadian Olympic team member Nathan Gafuik of Calgary knows of what Shewfelt speaks.

“We went into worlds hoping that was the place we were going to make it ... went into that one thinking that was our last chance and then, whoops, we got this chance,” said the 26-year-old member of the University of Calgary Gymnastics Club. “The last two times we qualified, we did if from the worlds, but the rules have changed so now we have to do a secondary qualifier, which is a bit of new thing, but we should be OK.”

Gafuik has been to the past two Olympics, in 2004 as a standby reserve on the six-man team, and as a competitor in 2008. His high-bar and vault routines are world class. Perhaps even good enough to find an Olympic podium finish at London.

“(High bars) is such a hard event to do perfectly every time with all the different manoeuvres that we have to do,” said Gafuik, who has 20 years of gymnastic experience. “If I can ever figure out how to be on every single time, it’ll become one of my good ones.

“As you mature and you get all the skills you need to challenge for that (medal) position, then it’s all about perfecting them, being confident in competition situations, consistent in competition situations, so a lot of the last couple years has been aimed towards doing that.”

Gafuik is joined on the team by 2005 world championship medallist Brandon O’Neill of Edmonton, up-and-comer Jackson Payne of Edmonton, Ken Ikeda of Abbotsford, B.C., former NCAA champion Casey Sandy of Brampton, Ont., Jayd Lukenchuk of Saskatoon and Kevin Lytwun of Stoney, Creek, Ont.

Although there’s still that big test event to get through, Shewfelt believes Canada has a big shot at landing a couple of Olympic medals next summer.

“Brandon O’Neill on floor,” he said of the 27-year-old. “Very talented, world champion medallist in 2005 who has struggled with injuries the past few years, but he’s back and looks really, really good.

“Then Nathan Gafuik ... he’s always been so great on the high bar. I know right now he’s focused on team qualifications, so he’s taken out some of his difficulty, but once the team qualifies he’s going to add in a lot of new skills, give himself the best shot to get to the finals.

“Once you get to the finals, it’s anybody’s game. That was proven in 2004 when I won. You just have to get past that first phase and be perfect on the day.”

jdown@calgaryherald.com

Read more:http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Canadian+gymnasts+prepare+Olympic+qualification/5868655/story.html#ixzz1gjuzsIYC

Marathon!

A few days ago I signed up to run my first MARATHON!


I am going to run the BMO Vancouver Marathon on May 6th - conveniently on my 30th Birthday. My brother, Scott, and I are going to train together and it should be a gruelling yet super enriching experience.


I've started back on the running train and it's been a different experience compared to when I trained for my half marathon in October. First and foremost, I now have to watch for black ice! This invention below has been very helpful though…

They are called YakTrax and they are a life saver when running on ice and snow. I highly recommend that every winter runner gets a pair!


It's also been different because I've been doing a lot of my runs solo. Can you say boring?? CBC Radio and I are becoming very close friends ;) My bro and I are going to start making it a priority to meet for at least one run a week, but as he put it, "he hasn't been in shape for 20 years", so he has some pre-training to do in order to create a foundation. He's in his own personal boot camp at the moment and he should be ready to train with his little bro by mid-January. They say that slow and steady wins the marathon training race so slow and steady we shall be...


My body is feeling awesome and I have made sure to stretch well and keep up with my yoga. I am following a self-prescribed combination of a couple of different programs (Hal Higdon's, Bruce Deacon's and John Stanton's). I wanted to have some flexibility in the program because I am going to be away a fair amount in the new year. I also didn't want to be running 6 days a week because I am hoping to simultaneously train for a June 9th Triathlon in Wasa Lake (we'll see if I can manage both ;) ). I am going to do most of my long runs on Saturdays, even though the race is on a Sunday, because I like starting my weekend off on a really positive note. Another factor in choosing my training program was that I wanted to be able to take Cooper (and Patch when he's here) on runs with me, but I won't take them for more than 10K (I won't take Coops for more than 5K right now, but he'll be a year in February and then we can up his distances). I wanted a program that offered some shorter runs in the week so I could be with my doggies because that's a really enjoyable experience for me.  


REAL training starts on January 2nd and then it's 18 weeks of suffering to reach the goal. I'm excited about pushing myself far beyond my comfort zone and about taking on a challenge that seemed literally impossible to me 6 months ago. It will be a good way to set myself up for a productive and fulfilling 30th year.


I will be keeping a training journal here so please stay tuned for updates.


Here's to creating new limits!


Kyle

The beginning of the road - CTV Olympics

Preparation. Preparation. Preparation.


Today, the journey began for my role as analyst for the 2012 London Olympic Games with CTV Olympics.


Rod Black and I had our first "rehearsal" today and it went pretty well. I wanted to nail it out of the park, but I left with a lot of really constructive things to work on. I am so excited about the next 8 months of prep and I realized today that I have a lot of work to do in order to get to where I want to be.

courtesy of @carolynwaldoCTV

This process is eerily comparable to the prep that I went through as an athlete. I found myself visualizing being in the O2 arena with the 10,000 people in the audience. I could feel the tension and the storyline's unfolding. I also felt thankful that we still have 8 months to go before the big show…


I don't want to just be a commentator. I want to bring excellence to the role. I want to have the viewers at home feel like they are out there on the floor with the athletes. I want them to have the butterflies and I want them to completely understand the sacrifice and dedication it took to get there. My role as an analyst is to explain the WHY's and the HOW's. Simple, right? Well, not so much…


But this is where my focus needs to be. And it's great to have a focal point.


Over the course of the next 8 months, I am going to be vigilantly watching hours and hours of gymnastics on VHS, DVD and youtube. I'll be playing with language. I am going to listen to the best of the best (any recommendations?) and see what they say. I am going to be constantly recording myself while explaining WHY an iron cross is difficult. I am going to make lists and lists of flavourful adjectives that describe certain characteristics of skills and routines. I have a goal of never being tongue tied…I want to be so 'ready' that I don't have to try.


In Athens and Beijing, I remember stepping on to the floor feeling like I couldn't have anything more to be more prepared. I want to feel this same way in London - I'll just be on the other side of the camera.


Today, this incredible role I have with CTV Olympics started to feel a little more real. I have a lot of work to do. But with that being said, I am so psyched about doing it!


Next stop: London. I'll be there in January for the final Olympic qualifier (Go Canada Go!). I apologize in advance to the person who has to sit next to me in the stands. They'll be getting a running commentary of the event whether they like it or not!

A visit to Okanagan Gymnastics Centre

At the end of October, I paid a visit to the Okanagan Gymnastics Centre. Here's a great clip highlighting the day!

To be a gymnast...

I got a note from a young gymnast who quit a year and a half ago, but is considering a comeback. He asked for my advice. Below is what I wrote to him. 


This is what it takes to be a gymnast:

Here's the deal - it requires a lot of effort, passion and love of the sport to be a gymnast. You have to be physically tough, mentally tough and be great with time management. There is no shortcut to the top. You have to show up everyday and pull the most out of yourself. You have to do it when you are tired, sore, injured and bleeding. You have to do the hard things even when you don't want to. That's the hardest part. 

I would say it's the sport that takes the most time and dedication. You don't get days off - even when you have a day off, you need to live the lifestyle of a gymnast.

So, I'll ask you this: Why do you want to return to gym? Is it because you miss it or is it because you know you have unfinished business and you are ready to commit to being great. You have to really want it to make it worthwhile. I've seen a lot of guys quit and then want to come back after a year and a half because they realize that something feels missing without being in the gym. What you are feeling is normal - I urge you to search really deep for the reason WHY. That will tell you a lot.

I hope that this resonates with him. I hope he is able to find the WHY and to make a decision that is the right one for him.


Good luck.

Hall of Fame Induction - 2011

One year has passed since I had the incredible honour of being inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Since that induction ceremony, I have been to the Hall on numerous occasions for various events and it's an amazing venue to explore the wonders of sport. Each time I go, I discover something new and I am always humbled to know that my gymnastics legacy will be preserved and celebrated. 


When you are inducted into the Hall, you get a snazzy suit jacket encrusted with the Hall of Fame logo. It makes you feel like you are joining some exclusive club and that you are being weaved into the fabric of Canadian Sport history. Unfortunately, the jacket doesn't get worn too often (quite frankly, it doesn't match any of my outfits), but last night was an exception…


November 8th, 2011 marked the 2011 edition of the induction ceremony. Kristin and I attended the dinner and it was inspiring. 


The newest honoured members into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame are:


Ray Bourque - Hockey
Andrea Neil - Soccer
Lui Passaglia - Football
Lauren Woolstencroft - Para-Alpine Skiing
Peter Reid - Ironman
Dick Pound - Builder


2 quick stories:


1. I went to elementary school with Lauren at Queen Elizabeth and we were in the same class. I remember one day when she showed up to school and she was about 5 inches taller. She had been to her doctor and they had outfitted her for new legs! She walked a little taller that day…


2. I thought that Peter Reid's speech last night was the best of the bunch. He spoke about how he was never a super talented athlete, but he had incredible work ethic. He got into triathlon because his buddy was too scared to do one alone. He did a few, but wasn't super passionate about the sport and decided to stop. Then he was at home for a family get-together and he was talking to his mom about how he felt like he had left something on the table - he hadn't given his triathlon career 100%. She told him that she never wanted any of her kids to feel regret in their lives and she encouraged him to give it one last shot. He moved to Victoria, started working with a coach and committed 100% to the plan. Next thing he knew, he was winning triathlons and then half Ironmans. And then he became a 3 time World Ironman Champ. Not too shabby ;) 


The moral of the story was: When you have a plan and fully commit to it, goals become achievable. Work ethic is more valuable than talent any day.


This resonated with me and made me feel a spark inside. Who knows, maybe an Ironman is in my future? Anything is possible. Thanks Peter! One quick question though: how and when do you eat while doing an Ironman? I've never fully understood…









Congratulations to the class of 2011. Welcome to the Hall!




Kyle

Gold Medal Plates

Photo © @JesseLumsden28

Last night I was in Edmonton for Gold Medal Plates - an annual gala fundraiser for the Canadian Olympic Foundation.

I, of course, did my customary handstand on stage. Always a good party trick that helps sell auction packages! Last week I attended the event in Calgary and I didn't have as much success holding it - in fact, I think I was about 2 glasses of wine over "handstand" holding capacity ;)

I am super excited that I will be traveling to Napa Valley in California in April, along with Alex Bilodeau and Colin James, to host a group of guests from these GMP events. It is going to be an amazing trip where we will drink lots of wine, go on some amazing runs and relax in the California sunshine!

Thanks to everyone for coming out last night and congratulations to the all of the chefs on some incredible food!

www.kyleshewfelt.com

Finally, after months of tedious work, I have a new website!

Please check out www.kyleshewfelt.com and let me know what you think ;)

Rewind: A problem with ARTISTIC Gymnastics

With the current code of points demanding crazy amounts of difficulty, the gymnasts on floor exercise are now packing in 6 tumbling passes in 1:10 and they have no time (or energy for that matter) to show any sort of artistry or style. 

Thomas Gonzales from Chile is an exception. At the recent 2011 Pan Am Games, his floor routine really caught my eye (the moustache should probably go though…):

I loved this routine because he pays attention to the little details. He holds his chin up, his arms moves purposefully, there are little subtleties in his routine that make you want to press rewind. In fact, I did rewind this video multiple times after every pass because I felt compelled to analyze it more closely. This routine is awesome and I strongly believe that there needs to be some sort of way to reward a gymnast for their style other than just with youtube hits ;) 

Now, for a comparison, take a look at this routine from the 2008 Olympic Champion, Zou Kai:

Sure, he can tumble like the wind, but a cardboard box has more style. His head is down, his arms are lazy and he looks like he's going for a walk in the park on a Sunday afternoon in between passes. There is no ownership of innovation and no attempt to be eye catching - it's a stock routine that gets great results because he has a higher difficulty score than everyone else (of note, Zou was 2nd at Worlds and Thomas was 6th). And, to me, it's boring and I have no desire to watch it again after it's done. Don't get me wrong, I think Zou is an amazing athlete, but I'm also a purest who believes that style should be equally, if not more important, than the big tricks. His gymnastics is not the gymnastics that I fell in love with. I wouldn't want to go back into the gym after watching Worlds on TV and pretend that I was Zou Kai - I would want to learn the cool corner part that Thomas Gonzales did and add it into MY routine.

I am becoming very frustrated with the lack of artistry in gymnastics these days! It's not called Extreme Gymnastics…it's called ARTISTIC gymnastics and the art of the sport is being lost.

A while back, I made a proposal to one of the FIG men's technical committee members to restrict the number of passes on men's floor exercise to 5 and to add 10 extra seconds to the length of a routine in order to encourage time for a little bit of artistry. I believe that this could make a huge difference in preserving the "artistic" part of the sport. Unfortunately, I'm still waiting to hear back…

All I know is that something needs to change and it needs to change fast. Routines like the one from Thomas Gonzales should become the norm and not the other way around. Artistic Gymnastics needs to start encouraging artistry again. It's a core value in the sport (it's in the NAME for goodness sake!) and having fans wanting to press rewind is how we keep the sport alive and vibrant. We have to think of the next generation who are watching at home and we have the responsibility to show them that attention to detail, artistry, innovation and uniqueness are as important as learning the big skills. A jump full turn with elegance and control is much more impressive than a full-twisting 1 3/4 roll out (and the former is something you can try to do in your living room - a place where many gymnastic dreams are initially discovered!)

So, what's your thoughts? Do you have any suggestions on how to bring back the "artistic" in artistic gymnastics? Which routine do you feel more compelled to watch and which one would you rewind and watch again?