It's Good to Be The King

Did you know that back in high school I was voted "most likely to be famous?"

As a side note, Cindy, the girl who was voted most likely to be famous along with me was the girlfriend of one of the dudes on a 'Making the Band' shows and was on MTV a couple times, pretty cool if you ask me.

Looks like my fellow classmates really could predict the future.

Anyhow, here we are ten years later and thousands of people around the world wake up every day and check out what Ive got to say in my emails and dig some of my favorite stuff on my websites.

They put their faith in the things I teach, they listen and follow directions and they start getting results.

I am honored and humbled to be in a position of such great influence, for so many people to look to me as a resource and as someone they can trust.

Of course, I only try to point people in the right direction, whether it comes to the high quality equipment they need, the training techniques they should be using or even a little spark of inspiration here and there when its needed.

They deserve the credit for taking action.

Let me give you a great example:

"John, About six months ago or more, one of your e-mails contained a bodyweight workout and you said it could be done practically anywhere. I wrote it down on a small post it and placed it in my wallet. While on vacation this summer in Orlando with my family, I did it the fitness room. I got quite a few stares, like, what is he doing , but I got a great workout.

Also, when I go to the park and do my hill sprints sometimes it is cold and windy. I always say to myself, if John can run in the middle of the night, then I can do this.

Thanks John for the great e-mails."
Luis

Tremendous, and thank YOU Luis for being one of the chosen few who makes it happen.

Do I know it all? Nah, but I know a lot, and a lot more than most. And I share the things which matter to me. Glad to hear it has helped you.

Heck, Im just being myself and for that I am truly blessed.

Train hard.
John Wood

Bo Schembechler

They held a nice public celebration in the Stadium today which I attended with a few hundred former players and about 10,000 other folks who braved the cold weather. The speakers were all outstanding and it was avery nice event. We heard from Jim Brandstatter who played for Bo and now does broadcasting and tv work.

President Mary Sue Coleman and AD Bill Martin gave very nice speeches as did my Coach Lloyd Carr, Former Michigan Head Coach Gary Moeller and former USC head Coach John Robinson (who I had talked to years ago when I was still being recruited.)

We also heard from some of Bo's best players: running back Jamie Morris, All-American linemen Dan Dierdorf and Reggie McKenzie. The guy that stole the show though was Bob Forman the former head of the University of Michigan alumni association who you never would have expected to be as funny of a guy as he was.

Here is a look at Bo's Career by the numbers:

13: Big Ten championships that Michigan won or tied during Schembechler's tenure.

17: Bowl appearances by Michigan during Schembechler's tenure.

10: Rose Bowl appearances by Michigan during Schembechler's tenure.

21: Years that Schembechler coached at Michigan.

27: Years that Schembechler served as a head coach (he spent six seasons at Miami of Ohio before getting hired by Michigan).

0: Losing seasons by Schembechler's teams during his head coaching career.

234-65-8: Schembechler's career record.

194-48-5: Schembechler's record at Michigan.

5-4-1: Schembechler's record against former mentor and longtime rival Woody Hayes of Ohio State.

11-9-1: Schembechler's all-time record against Ohio State while at Michigan.

5: Where Schembechler ranked in career wins at the time of his retirement. Only Bear Bryant, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner and Hayes had more wins when Schembechler stepped down at the end of the 1989 season.

96-10-3: Michigan's regular-season record in the 1970s under Schembechler. No team in the country owned a better regular-season mark during that decade.

39: All-Americans who played for Schembechler during his Michigan tenure
(courtesy of www.thewolverine.com)

Glenn E. "Bo" Schembechler (1929-2006)
We'll miss you coach.

Back in The Saddle

Amazing how much things can get all out of whack with a sudden change in schedule. Let me tell you what I mean. Training-wise, things have been going unbelievablely well. I'm stronger now than ever before and hitting PRs every time - but last week I was in Atlanta for a seminar and coudn't stay on my regular routine.

I trained early Wednesday before I left. The seminar ran from 7am every day until well after midnight with all the networking opportunities present. After two days of that and without more than a few 15 minute breaks throughout the day, I was in no shape to train on Friday.

Sometimes an unscheduled break can be the right thing to do. Once I got back though, getting motivated to train just wasn't there - so I did what I always do (and what everyone should do - begin at a managable level and build from there.

Monday's entire workout consisted of 3 exercises and lasted less than 10 minutes - and I didn't feel like doing any of them... But I did anyway.

That was the spark I needed. Last Night's session was back to normal with everything cranking on high gear. If I had skipped Monday, I probably would have skipped Wednesday too and the viscous circle begins. Don't let it happen to you.

Tis a good rule of thumb which is applicable to many things - begin at a managable level and build from there.

Train hard.

John Wood