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Show -NEWS- Spanish Fork B8 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2008 Covering what matters most Going for the Gold: From HUGHES • B l didn't have anyone to gauge the speed off." Hughes participated in several runs last summer which included the 400 and the 200 meter dash. He finished second in the 200 (24.4 sec) but interestingly, he shined the most in the 400 which wasn't even his best race in high school. Not only did he beat the rest of the pack in his age group (30-34), he also broke the Summer Games record for the 30-34-year-olds with a time of 54.6 seconds. At the beginning of 2007, Hughes wanted some advice on certain exercises he could do to prepare, so he contacted his High School Coach via email. "Coach Boyack emailed me back with some tips to help me train," he said. "Last year I didn't meet with him but this year I needed some help with starting blocks because I didn't have much experience using them before. I'll be running the 100 for the first time so I needed help because when I show up to the races I'm not 'Now how do you set this thing up?'" Hughes has been faithful to train before and after work. At the end of his shift, "To be competitive, I know in my mind I've got to train hard." - Mike Hughes he changes into his running gear and heads to the track to put in a work out at least three times per week. He also spends two days per week at the gym weight training to build leg power. Exercises such as the squat, dead lift, lunges and some upper body workouts have helped improve his burst of quickness for the shorter races. It has been a while since his glory days but the early lessons of hard work and discipline learned in high school athletics have benefited him throughout his life. "You put effort in and you know you're going to get it back," he said. "To be competitive, I know in my mind I've got to train hard. I'm real competitive. I didn't want to go and run in the Summer Games and look silly. I looked at the record times for my age group and I kind of put those out there as goals. It has pushed me and motivated me because like in work, if you work hard it pays off for you kind of the same way it does in the real world." After his stellar rookie year at the Utah Summer Games, Hughes will be looking to add upon his accomplishments of last year's record setting performance this Friday. And like Roy Hobbs in the movie "The Natural," he too is displaying amazing determination to never give up on childhood dreams. hometown newspapers Spanish F do you get it? JL .I x • Since 1985 Barber Bros, in Spanish Fork has sold Did you know that the Barber Bros. Service Department is the choice of the VI w Utah Highway Patrol, Provo City Power i # | i_: and County vehicles?... Its true. if i On all Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles, (see dealer for details.) Dodge Chrysler Jeep COACHMAN CYCLE OF SAVINGS: We make your 3rd/6th/9th/12th Payment or $1,000 gas coupon 08 Cobalt Sport N89660 08 Cobalt N89650 DOMTORC.KI TO LISTENIX) 1 Hi: BARBER BROTHERS CAR TALK SI KHV EVERY SATURDAY AE10 AM ** ON 1280 AM! ^ 1341 North Main Street, Spanish Fork 801-798 7431 • 800-798 7430 08 Cobalt LS N91230 T R A C T O R S from $14,999 27 HP, 4x4 with Loader BARBER |