Lane 8.org

Anyone catch the Visa Championship Series – Reebok Grand Prix Track Meet yesterday on NBC?

Tyson Gay demolished the 200 meter field that included Wallace Spearman and Jeremy Wariner.

I mean, he totally destroyed the field.

In doing so, he clocked a PR 19.58, becoming the third fastest man to run 200 meters, behind only the 200 former world record holder Michael Johnson, and the 100 & 200 current world record holder Usain Bolt.

Can’t wait to see the 2009 Track & Field season heat up.

I also can’t wait to go for an easy 5-miler this morning, so I better get going.  Carpe diem, jeff noel 

Steve Prefontaine

Everyone who knew of him called him, Pre.

Jan. 25, 1951 – May 30, 1974

If there ever was an American runner who had courage, guts and vision, Steve Prefontaine would have to be at the top of the list.

Click here – Pre You Tube videos – and take your pick.

One of my all-time favorite movies, in any genre, is Without Limits- the Steve Prefontaine story.

He was a front-runner.  meaning, he went out front, grabbed the lead and held onto it until the finish line.

His coach, Bill Bowerman, at the University of Oregon, tried to get him to hold back and draft off other runners.  Hold back so he could run his last mile faster than his first mile – and probably his overall time would be faster.

Pre, basically, would have none of it.

(Click here – Pre’s attitude – to play the movie trailer)

The only way he knew how to run was flat out, all the way.

Even if he lost, he would always know that he left nothing on the track.

His greatest race was the 5,000 at the 1972 Munich Olympics.  He finished fourth.

But it was still his greatest race.

If I have to explain it to you, then you probably won’t understand.  But that’s OK.  There’s a ton I still don’t understand.

I do understand one thing though, if your goals aren’t impossible, you’re not reaching high enough.  You can quote me on that one. 

Carpe diem and leave nothing on the track.  jeff noel 

I’ll be heading out for a run soon. 

I’m hungry.

Not for breakfast, but for speed.

Life is hard and figuring it all out requires a great deal of effort. 

The past two days were “active rest”, meaning I didn’t do any type of workouts – no gym, no run, no track work.

Actually, I haven’t been on the track in 23 months, since July 2007.

In 2007, one week before Nationals and four weeks before Worlds, I had a sharp pain in my right foot.  It was plantar fasciitis.

Since I’m almost two months away from the Master’s Track & Field World Championships in Finland, I have made a commitment to be on the track tomorrow.

Two months of speed work ought to put me in a decent position to be the slowest of the fastest.

I hope your future goals are bigger than anything you’ve done in the past.  Carpe diem, jeff noel 

Rest sometimes seems counter productive.

Doing nothing could mean we are not advancing towards our goal.

How can not advancing be a good thing?

So we push ourselves.  We compromise.

At least that’s my temptation.

More is better, right?

Well, I’m trying not to make the same mistakes four times, and stay injury free this season.

Yesterday was, and today is, dedicated to rest.

What this also does, is make me hungry for the next workout.

How important is hunger in achieving your goal?

Stay hungry, get some rest, and never let your memories be bigger than your dreams.  Carpe diem, jeff noel  :)

Here is the video story of the fastest 400 meters ever run.

It was done at the 1999 World Track & Field Championships, in Seville, by Michael Johnson.

By the way, Michael Johnson currently holds the world records in both the 200 & 400.

While none of us will ever break a world record, we might ask ourselves, “Have I given it my all?  Have I done my very best.  Do I have any regrets?”

Carpe diem, jeff noel  :)

Derek Redmond was favored to win the 400 meters at the 1992 Olympics.  This video clip shows that no matter what the obstacles before you, you should still try to finish the race.  Never give up.

Derek Redmond 1992 Barcelona Olympics

There comes a point in life, I believe, when we are faced with a tough decision.

But the toughness isn’t apparent.  It’s not life-threatening.  It’s not going to make us rich.  It’s not the end of the world emotionally if it doesn’t happen.  But happen it must.

If you didn’t click on Derek Redmond video clip above, you will probably regret it.  

Live with no regret.  That’s what this video and post is about.  if I have to explain it to you any further, you won’t ever understand it.  

Carpe diem, jeff noel, out in Lane 8.  :)

Today’s post at Lane 8 is actually going to be a post from www.junglejeff.net

Make it a GREAT day.  Carpe diem, jeff noel 

Slow Lane Sunday?

OK, so yesterday morning, as I’m jogging out of our neighborhood, a dear friend and long-time neighbor was walking her two dogs.

This neighbor attended our Son’s first Holy Communion on April 25.  She had dinner with us that night, along with my In-Laws from Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The day before I had just broken the news to my Mother-In-Law that I’d be going to Finland for the Master’s Track & Field World Championships.   She was surprised, of course, and also skeptical.

While celebrating our Son’s major accomplishment, we spoke of many things during that dinner.

Eventually, Finland came up.  I saw it as an opportunity to share a vision of why I am going.  My Son completely gets it.  My wife is right there too.  My In-Laws and my neighbor, not even close.

I had to tell you that so I can tell you this:

Yesterday my neighbor asked, “How’s your training coming?  Are you still going to Finland?”

Here’s the point.  Without even hesitating I replied, “Yes, even if I have to walk around the track!”

That had a haunting revelation, to hear myself say those words.

This is bigger than anything I can explain.  At a gut level, I’m so invested in it, that seeing it through, no matter what the obstacles, is the only course of action

This scares the heck out of me.  Talk about pressure and second-guessing yourself.

Than why?

It’s a platform, a metaphor, a challenge, a childhood dream reborn, a legacy, an impossible goal.

It’s all that.

My son will remember this long after I’m gone.  I hope he will find strength and determination, in my strength and determination.

On Friday a colleague and I were talking about exercise and I asked if he was still running.  He said no.  He explained that it’s too difficult for him to get motivated. 

I suggested his reason to exercise wasn’t compelling enough.  Maybe if he was doing it to show his kids that getting old doesn’t mean you have to get overweight and out of shape.

PS.  Make it a GREAT day. 

PSS.  I booked the flight to Helsinki last night. 

Yesterday’s run was good.  Minimal pain while running.

Afterwards, and throughout the day, some minor pain.  Compared to previous weeks, I think yesterday was a positive step.

I also saw Helsinki flights under $1,000. 

These positive signs are very timely.

I am so thankful I have not given up, even though in the last two months, I’ve thought about it often.

If you don’t currently exercise, I hope you will find a reason to.  If not today, when?  Carpe diem, jeff noel 

PS.  Click here for another related blog post, Blessed Beast

I sure hope so.

Had active rest the past to days, meaning, no exercising.  Not even any stretching.  Complete rest.

I just applied 4 grams of Voltaren Gel to my left foot.  It’s an anti-inflammatory that Dr. Wagner, my podiatrist, has prescribed as another means of attacking this ever present heel pain.

Also picked up a new foot splint at Hanger Prosthetics yesterday.  I sleep with one on both feet.  After awhile, you get used to them.

So anyway,  I’m very excited about running five miles this morning.

Better get going, the sun’s about to rise. Carpe diem, jeff noel  :)