ZeeSpeed offers a positive environment for personal growth…

July 24, 2009.

         ZeeSpeed has affected me in so many ways. I knew this summer needed to 
be different for me in that I needed to be in the best shape ever to prepare me 
for my freshman year of college soccer.  I have always worked out really hard in 
previous summers preparing for my club and high school sports teams, but I have 
never really reached my personal goals that I set for myself.  When I first 
heard about ZeeSpeed from Zak, I was hesitant to join. I am not exactly the best 
when it comes to endurance running.  Yet, I knew that I wanted to push myself so 
that I could earn as much playing time as possible in college. From the way Zak 
described ZeeSpeed to me it sounded like the perfect way to get ready for 
college soccer.  What I didn’t expect was that ZeeSpeed would do more than just 
prepare me physically.  There were aspects of this camp which helped me to grow 
as an athlete and an individual. 
         
	From the first day of camp, I was amazed at how positive the environment 
was. It started with the coaches introducing themselves. Each staff member had a 
different, yet equally inspiring story. It was made evident that every single 
one wanted to help us become better, to push ourselves and become the best that 
we could be. Knowing that each leader was here to help us made me have a 
positive outlook on the camp and on the conditioning. Even if it was my first 
time working with a staff member, they were there supporting me as if they have 
known me for a long time. Another aspect that really helped was knowing that 
every kid out on the field was choosing to come to the camp. ZeeSpeed is not 
something required or forced on us. Every individual has the same personal goal 
in mind: to improve. Like Zak said every day, while our competition was in their 
beds sleeping and taking it easy, we were pushing ourselves to get that 
advantage and become better. Since everyone at ZeeSpeed wants to be there it 
made the camp even more challenging, but in a good way. With everyone wanting to 
improve, the intensity of the camp is set at an even higher standard. I found 
myself on the first day pushing myself to the point where my knees were shaking. 
And when I thought I couldn’t run another 110, I would see everyone step up to 
the line. There I found the motivation to keep going. I developed mental 
toughness that I never knew I possessed. The next work out day, I found myself 
excited to run twice the amount of 110s, to see how far I could push myself. 
Mental toughness is such a strong aspect to anything you do in life. I am 
confident that with the mental toughness I have developed because of ZeeSpeed, 
it will help me not only on the field but also in the classroom. Mind over 
matter can be all it takes to beat an opponent.

	My athleticism has improved drastically because of the correct running 
mechanics I received from ZeeSpeed. I found myself being able to burst of the 
line quicker and adjust directions sharper. Not only did my technique improve, 
but so did my overall body strength. From ZeeSpeed I grew stronger both on the 
inside and out. Every day we talked as a group about the importance of proper 
nutrition. Our body will take care of us just as well as we take care of it. I 
know ZeeSpeed has made me a better person and athlete. I never thought I would 
find myself saying this, but I really wish I could continue doing this camp. 
Honestly, I have never had so much fun and taken so much from a camp as I have 
from ZeeSpeed.  I look forward to the first day of soccer practice, when I can 
surprise everyone with not only my hard work physically but as well my 
encouraging attitude. I will keep everything I have learned from ZeeSpeed with 
me until next summer when I hope to revisit the entire experience again. As a 
camp, we trained together and pushed each other. We worked through physically 
tough times and encouraged each other to keep going. We were all one heart, one 
team, striving to be the “best of the best.”

Ciarra Pederson
High School graduate of Bellarmine Preparatory 
Attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona
	Field of Study: Global Security Intelligence Studies