Zee Speed: A life changing experience.

July 29, 2009

It all started one day after soccer practice when my mom was running late to pick 
me up. Zack had come to our practice to help us with our speed and agility, much 
like at his camp.  Naturally, it was pouring down rain as I sat outside the soccer 
field waiting for my mom. Zack and his daughter Avery offered me warm shelter 
in their car as they waited patiently with me. Zack began talking to me about my 
future and what my plans were, and he mentioned his speed and agility camp 
called Zee Speed that he had been running every summer for the past few years. 
He invited me to come and try it out to see if I liked it, and to be honest, I was 
reluctant because I was nervous of what was to come and having to pay for 
another activity. Zack even talked to my mom later on, and she too felt skeptical 
for similar reasons. However, I got over my nerves and went to the opening day of 
Zee Speed during the summer of 2007, and was overcome by Zack’s drive, the 
amazing people there, and the entire camp itself. I unexpectedly, but very gladly, 
discovered that this was nothing to be afraid of, but an experience to take pride in 
and treasure.

Going into this camp, I looked forward to bettering myself as an athlete. I learned 
valuable techniques, skills, and lessons for on and off the field/court. As time 
went on during the camp, I literally felt myself changing for the better: becoming 
stronger mentally and physically, as well as more determined. Each day I pushed 
myself to go 100 percent to receive the full effect of the work I was putting in, and 
have success at the end of camp. When it finally came time to start high school 
soccer in the fall, I was running circles around my teammates because of the hard 
work and dedication I had put forth during the summer. Every ounce of sweat, 
blood, and heart that I put in at Zee Speed, paid off when I stepped on that soccer 
field and that basketball court. I walked with “swagger” like Zack and the other 
coaches told us, because I knew I was at my best—I was part of the “best of the 
best.” For the first time, I had a tremendous feeling of confidence; like I could do 
anything I set my mind to. I wasn’t so much surprised by this feeling as I was 
thankful for the chance to experience this life-altering program and meet the 
people that I call my heroes.

One of the most gratifying and inspiring parts of Zee Speed is the people 
involved. Everyone from Zack’s wife to his co-workers is there to help make each 
kid a better athlete, but more importantly, a better person. Many people say to 
surround yourself with good people, I being one of those firm believers. I 
consider every member of the Zee Speed program as the “good people” I 
surround myself with. They are my second family, more or less; people I look up 
to who inspire me to be a better person every single day. It is heart-warming 
knowing how much Zack and the other coaches love us kids and want us to 
succeed in life. They prove this by taking time out of their busy lives and waking 
up at “o’dark thirty” to set up and manage camp. They also full-on, physically run 
at camp. Zack will be running the Stadium stairs with a third of us kids, while 
Albert is at the bottom doing push ups with some of the other campers, and Vern 
is yelling “C’mon WSU” at me :). Freddy is running through drills at Mt. Tahoma, 
and Marlene is twisting and stretching like a pretzel with us at hot yoga the next 
morning. These coaches, as well as every other, are actively involved. That not 
only inspires me to put in that much heart and dedication in everything I do, but 
also to love unconditionally and take pride in every aspect of my hard work.

Zee Speed has been a savior to me. It has changed me into a more independent, 
focused, healthy, and mentally, as well as physically, zealous young woman. I owe 
a lot of who I am to Zack and this camp, and what both have done for me. I truly 
believe that the best things in life happen when you least expect them to, and I 
don’t think Zack could have come into my life and introduced me to Zee Speed at 
a better time. I have struggled with issues in my life, and I’m thankful I became a 
part of the Zee Speed family because it kept me busy throughout the summer so I 
didn’t dwell on the negatives, but more importantly, it gave me that strength to 
move on to the next level and the assurance that I can with-stand anything and 
make it.

Zack stands out in every way to me because of the kind of person he is. He’s 
driven mentality and the way he encourages everyone around him to be the best 
they can be, portrays the type of person everyone should be. Zack has touched so 
many different people’s lives. I am forever appreciative and blessed that one of 
those lives was mine. Thank you Zack for making such a positive impact on my 
life. Thank you also to both Zack and the Zee Speed staff for making exercising in 
the morning not something to dread, but something to get excited about. And 
THANK YOU everybody at Zee Speed, for welcoming me to camp with open arms 
three summers ago and changing my life. I will never forget the amazing 
friendships I’ve created, nor the valuable life lessons I’ve learned. This program 
genuinely is “Training For Life.”



Victoria (Tori) Lauren Fairweather
South Kitsap High School graduate of 2009
Freshman at Washington State University


P.S. To Zack and the other WSU alumni at Zee Speed, GO COUGS! :)