Section 8. 2-Way Interpreting

Interview 1 Interview with Dr. Glenn Gero (Board-Certified & Licensed Doctor of Naturopathy Registered Nutritional Consultant, Master Herbalist, NASM personal trainer, Certified Fitness Therapist) Q. What is your (or your athletes) biggest training obstacle and how do you surmount it? A. The biggest obstacle with many fitness enthusiasts is maintaining focus and enthusiasm in regards to their training regimen and overcoming physical and mental stagnation. By having access to a variety of quality fitness equipment, varying training routines, maintaining a training log and continually challenging oneself are keys to sustaining optimal fitness, transcending performance blocks and maintaining robust vitality.

Q. Who has been the most influential person in your career and why? A.Forty-four years ago when I was twelve years old, I overheard an unknown woman telling her friend, "look how fat that boy is." That woman changed my life forever. I then discovered the magazines published by Joe Weider. The next year I broke the junior high school record in the 60 yard dash. I've been an athlete and fitness enthusiast ever since.

Q. What would you recommend as the ideal functional workout for general fitness? A.It depends on one's individual physical demands and capabilities. My favorite workouts include: butterfly and breaststroke movements, pull-ups, alternate bicep curls, tricep extensions, chest flyes, shoulder lateral raises, presses and one-legged plyometric squats. I constantly vary my movements, speed and resistance settings to avoid adaptation. I never rest between sets or exercises to enhance muscular endurance.

Q.What's your advice for staying motivated and focused on goals for training and racing? A. Write down your long-term and short-term goals. Keep these written goals in a convenient location and refer to them on a regular basis. Recite positive affirmations which serve to motivate and maintain focus. Keep goals realistic, but challenging and have a vivid visualization of their attainment. Additionally, have access to a variety of quality fitness equipment, vary training routines, maintain a training log and continually challenging oneself are important keys to sustaining optimal fitness and performance.

Interview 2. Interview with Gay Games Athlete Reggie Snowden By L.K. Regan.

In the lead-up to the Gay Games, we are interviewing a few of the inspiring athletes traveling from the U.S. to Cologne, Germany to compete at the end of this month. Today we're introducing Reggie Snowden, a 45-year-old track and field athlete from San Francisco. Read our interview with Reggie, get to know him, and get in the spirit of the Games!

A. Can you tell us a little about your background?

Q. I am originally from Portsmouth, Hew Hampshire and born in Kittery, Maine.Currently I call San Francisco my home after attending Yuba Community College and California State University, Chico.

I have always been athletic. I play football, volleyball and tennis besides running. I love track and field and have been competing for 30 years..

A.Can you tell us a little about your family? How do they feel about your sexuality and your participation in the Games?

Q. I am a military base brat! I was raised on an Air Force base (Pease AFB), and I have two brothers.

I am the middle child. My family has always been supportive with my being gay. My parents always attended all sporting activities I competed in and I was thrilled to have returned to Boston to compete in the US Masters Track and Field indoor Championships.

A. What does being in the Games mean to you in terms of your athletic experience? Q. The initial reason I chose to compete was so the world could see decent times achieved that will compare to the best times in the country. My bigger goal is to see the Gay Games get to the level where more individuals, gay or straight, want to attend the games for competition. While it might not be the Olympics, and the theme is participation, I still want to win!

A. What, to you, is the spirit of the Gay Games?

Q. The true spirit of the Games to me is simply "Friendship." I held onto one of my medals from the Gay Games in Amsterdam for a keepsake, but I have given some of my medals away to people that have great significance in my life. I think of the Olympic torch that burns every Olympics and of what it represents: purity and perfection. For me, the only difference is purity and participation.