Best of the Best 

Best of the best! Yea, that's me. ZEE SPEED gave me hope, made me believe.
	
I remember when I was young I would run from my grandmothers house in the "Hilltop" area of 
Tacoma, WA down to Stadium High School to run stairs. During my middle school years I 
would do this pretty frequently. I remember seeing a small group of young athletes and a guy 
that looked like Wesley Snipes working out in the Stadium Bowl. This small group turned out to 
be one of the best training camps in the nation, aka ZEESPEED. The guy I was talking about, the 
one that resembles Wesley Snipes, turned out to be Zak Smalls. Years later to my surprise, not 
only ZEESPEED, but Zak Smalls gave me a new found hope.
	
Going into ZEESPEED, I had goals I wanted to reach just like any other camper. I have reached 
a lot of my goals today, but still have a ways to go. For me it's hard to talk about ZEESPEED and 
not talk about Zak. ZEESPEED has been good to me, but it's the relationship I have built with 
Zak that has changed my life. When I was young my mother passed away, and my pops was 
never around. All I really had was my grandmother and two bothers to turn to for advice. 
Growing up I didn't have much money. I was always bitter, and blamed God for taking my mom 
away from me. When I met Zak he taught me how to turn that bitterness into motivation. He is 
more than a trainer to me. He is a father, a friend, an advisory, a teacher, and a motivator. I can 
call him up and ask for anything, if I'm in town and want to get a good workout or if I just need 
food, he will be there for me. I have a tremendous amount of respect and love for Zak because I 
know he not only wants me to succeed in athletics but also in life. 
  	
Zak Smalls is one of my great living heroes. From the first moment I met him and started 
ZEESPEED, my life has changed. In the world today I have a few living heroes, my two 
brothers, and Zak would be the other. He has helped me take the trials and tribulations I have 
endured and use those things has motivation. ZEESPEED is more than somewhere I go just to 
work out. ZEESPEED represents hope for me. It gave me hope, hope for today, hope for 
tomorrow, but most importantly hope for life.
 		
Thank you ZEESPEED, and everyone that has ever been involved in it.
		
Thank you Zak Smalls for reaching out when no one else would.
	 
I thank you, and pray for you. GOD BLESS!
	
With Grace,
		-John Gaines 24
P.S. 24 hours a day I will keep my mind on God. 24 hours a day I will stay focused on my Goals.
This is the reason I wear the number 24. (one more thing Zak helped me realize)
												 S.C.C.