Check out the recently added "Videos" section of Improve Your Vision, Improve Your Game to gain relevant and useful information from International Vision Expo West (http://www.visionexpowest.com) in Las Vegas:

Matt Killen, Professional Golf Instructor and Swing Coach

Dr. Larry Lampert, Sports Vision Specialist

Gerald Goodman, Tournament Director, Transitions Championship

Connie Falvo, Director of External Affairs, Transitions Optical 

There is a danger in athletics of overestimating our own level of fitness. Linda is 50-pounds overweight and has never run around the block, but is confident that she's ready for a competitive marathon right now. Joe is six feet tall, 112 pounds and doesn't lift weights, but has a vision of being the new Mr. Olympia by next week. 

These are obvious examples of having a false impression of current fitness level.

Now, consider the woman who ran a fast 10K race a couple years ago, then redirected her priorities to the arrival of a new baby or a business start up. Or the guy who remembers being able to bench-press 270 pounds in college ten years ago and has in his mind, "I'm still there!"

If we fail to accurately assess our starting fitness level, progress is easily missed and we'll be disappointed because we see more failures than gains. It's dangerous - physically and mentally - to operate where we think we are - or wish we were.

If I get lazy for a few months and my training pace slips from seven minutes a mile to nine, it will bug me. If I get stuck in regret, I will do nothing and my condition will continue to deteriorate. If I stubbornly and ignorantly hold to the idea that I am still able to run seven-minute miles, I will either hurt myself or quit trying out of frustration.

There is good news. Although the front-end fitness inventory is a bit disappointing, it sets the stage for genuine improvement. By accepting that a nine-minute mile is where I am at that time, improving to eight-and-a-half becomes a reason to celebrate and keeps me motivated.

I encourage you to take an honest inventory of your current fitness level, accept it for what it is and move forward with setting milestones to help you achieve that ultimate goal. The distance from where you are to where you want to be is an exciting journey that you get to undertake.

Seeing your own improvement is rewarding and one of the keys to seeing that improvement is knowing exactly where you started! Be honest about your current abilities, and then make a plan to take you where you want to be. Put the plan into action and enjoy the results! 

My name is Dr. Steve Gander. I have been an optometrist for over 22 years and am excited to be partnering with the people at Transitions Optical. 

My goal is to a run a marathon in every state. It is a lofty goal, but I have already run 25 marathons in about a dozen states and two Canadian provinces. If I can average 3-4 marathons a year I'll be, healthy and young and 60 years of age when I achieve my goal.  

The 50-state goal, as well as the idea of partnering with Transitions, came to mind as I ran a marathon in Des Moines, Iowa last fall. It just so happens that having lenses that automatically adjust to varying lighting conditions and, that protect your eyes from UV rays, is beneficial for runners, as well as anybody else that spends time outdoors.  It also just so happens that Transitions believes that each of us should have a goal or a series of goals that we are striving for. 

I got my relationship with Transitions off to a running start - no pun intended - this past weekend as I ran the City of Trees Marathon in Boise, Idaho. It was a beautiful course along wooded trails and residential streets. The temperature was just over 40 degrees and there was a continual drizzle. The volunteers along the course were freezing, but warm and encouraging. The race was nicely organized and the hot soup at the finish line made it all worthwhile. The fine hospitality I received from my sister's family who lives in the area was an absolute bonus.

With the help of Transitions, I plan to chronicle my progress toward running a marathon in every state. I'll share with you my stories of setbacks and distractions, as well as victories and triumphs along the way.

It is my hope that you will benefit from my lessons learned. Whatever your vision may be, I challenge you to take time to flesh it out, to weigh it against your other activities to make sure it is workable and then take the steps to accomplish it. You may have already discovered that as you move toward one goal, new goals come to mind and challenge you to put your own lessons learned to good use. Sometimes it is strenuous, but it's always a blast and the payoff for achieving one, if not multiple goals, is very rewarding. 

This blog has been a great source of information for me personally as it relates to my golf game, but I think it serves as a great platform to talk about the impact that your vision has on athletic performance regardless of your sport.

In the coming days and weeks, we will expand this dialogue to include perspective from Dr. Steve Gander, optometrist and marathon runner, who is "living his vision" by reaching a personal goal of running a marathon in all 50 states. Dr. Gander will share with us some great insights from the road on his training regimen, tips for runners of all levels and his professional perspective as to the role and advantage your vision can have as part of an overall healthy lifestyle. As a runner myself and someone who enjoys many different outdoor activities, I look forward to participating in and following the conversation!

Check back often and please feel free to share your relevant comments and questions! 

I'm back blogging after a very busy couple of months working with clients as the 2009 PGA TOUR season wrapped up. And I am happy to report it was a great season!

Now, out at International Vision Expo West (http://www.visionexpowest.com/)  in sunny Las Vegas. I’m out here doing more Transitions’ Improve Your Vision, Improve Your Game workshops which are always fun—working with folks on everything from swing mechanics and putting, to course management.

Tomorrow, I’ll join sports vision expert, Dr. Larry Lampert, at the Transitions booth to conduct skills sessions with golf tips and we’ll discuss using sports vision as a business-building tool for eyecare practices. It’s great working with Dr. Lampert and we’re pumped to talk about a viable and exciting way of merging sports vision and eyecare. And, if you’re not actually in Vegas yourself, check out the Transitions Lenses: Healthy Sight Professionals Facebook page for video clips from our presentations.  A putting tip is a putting tip… even over the internet.