KIM GARABINO VS. THE GREAT WHITES........

I noticed in the papers the last few days that the Sharks are still hanging around the beach in Chatham (Cape Cod) and I have a theory.........They may have wished to come to the North Shore but they changed their mind when they heard "The Kim" was in our local waters....who is that you ask ?

Probably the toughest guy I know......Kim Garabino is a probation officer at Lynn District Court and one of his responsibilities is serving arrest warrants on the "bad guys"......and guess what....he loves his job.

I have known him for years and I have observed him at various gyms ......He can throw the weights around.....do marathons.....you name it ......He loves it.His laugh, enthusiasm, and positive attitude are infectious.....

He was at the Marblehead-Swampscott Y twice this week and you may have caught the story about him in the Lynn Item.......

In March,2008 he got serious about swimming......and he recently completed the 8 mile 100 year old swimming race from Boston Light to Carson Beach, South Boston.The water temp. was 58 degrees and wet suits are not allowed......He told me the jump into the water from a boat was numbing......but he was focused on finishing what he started........of course he did.......

He said the only thing that concerned him was that his childhood friends from the "Highlands" of Lynn who were driving his support boat and were suppose to be giving him navigational help would actually make it through Boston Harbor...........without Coast Guard assistance !

Kim had no worry of Sharks.........and for their sake lucky they stayed away.........The "Good Guy" won again......with his DRIVE AND DETERMINATION.....

DETERMINATION......FOCUS........ONCE A RUNNER

I read the classic fiction book of running; ONCE A RUNNER (1978) by John Parker this past week.It is a story that you can relate to if you have ever "run" competively or are hoping to in the future.It also leaves you with quotes and thoughts that may carry you in your daily living and help you conquer the " hills and valleys" of your everyday life

The plot involves a college miler hoping to run a mile under four minutes with the help of a true friend who had won a Gold Medal at the OLYMPICS in another event.The reading I will leave to you,but let's ponder.............

Cassidy,the runner,at a party was asked many questions relative to how he could train so hard
and be so good.....They all wanted to know the "SECRET".His answer was one that he did not know if they would understand.........or were prepared to hear...........
"it had not so much to do with diets,chemicals and zippy mental tricks as with the most unprofound and sometimes heartrending process of removing,molecule by molecule,the very tough rubber that comprised the bottoms of his training shoes " . Trial of Miles;Miles of Trials

In thinking of the last straight away at the end.........winning and losing did not leave much fear or surprise since it had been settled much earlier on the training fields and the morning workouts missed here or made up there...........

It is the focus .......determination.......YOU KNOW IF IT WAS EASY EVERYONE WOULD DO IT!!!!!!

The runner in the picture is a UMASS LEGEND........WITH NORTH SHORE ROOTS......