Lane 8.org

It All Comes Done To Attitude

Can’t exercise?

Won’t exercise?

Big difference.

Who Knew?

Nicholas Sparks is today’s Guest Blogger?  Well, sort of – via video clip.

Nicholas Sparks was a track star at Notre Dame.

Who knew?

And it was plantar fasciitis that ended one career and promoted another. Sounds a bit familiar, only different.

Nicholas Sparks wrote his first novel at 19.  Around the same time, (1985),  he and three other half-milers set the Notre Dame two-mile relay school record (7:20.11), which still stands today.

How do I know this?  Facebook led me to this video interview with Nicholas Sparks and he’s standing next to the Notre Dame track & Field record book.

Wonder if he still runs?

Healthy Boomer Blogs are all over the Internet.  This one, Be A Healthy Boomer, picked up the Lane 8 You Tube video I shot and posted yesterday.

Just wanted to capture the moment, the small insignificant milestone.

Do great work today.  Two other posts today at Lane 8, below.

USATF Email Yesterday

How are your exercise goals progressing so far this year?

And what do you do to stay motivated, in spite of all the easy reasons to quit?

After many years of running on my own, with no companions, and no competitions, I discovered the unusually satisfying effect of age-group competition.

First in 5k races, and a few 10k races.  But my body frame isn’t really built for distance – whatever that means.

And then there’s the fact that life can be bittersweet, can’t it?

So yesterday, in the rain, I have a great five-mile run, with virtually no foot pain.  Foot pain is what kept me away from the Master’s World Indoor Championships two weeks ago in British Columbia and what is keeping me away from this month’s Indoor National Championships in Boston.

Life goes on. Some opportunities go past us, and others will find us when we least expect them.

But only if we never give up.

Sometime soon, I’ll decide on if there’s another shot at competing this outdoor season.

PS. There are two posts at Lane 8 today. Scroll down for “health habits revealed”.

Celebrate Our Body, Our Health

There are two ways to look at our bodies.

As a temple.

As a burden.

How is it with you?

Betcha Lane 8 scares, annoys, angers and otherwise does just about everything it can to challenge those few brave souls that have the guts to keep coming back.

A challenge to find a purpose for being healthy.  Don’t look for a reason.  Find a purpose.

Well begun is half done.

Well, I haven’t done everything.  I haven’t ever said it’s acceptable to be unhealthy.

Far Upper Right Corner

Some people are gifted. Mentally, physically, spiritually, financially.

Where do you place yourself in this mix?  Honestly, on a good day, I’d give myself an average at best, and quite possibly a below average in some.

And yet, there s a popular saying that says, don’t judge a book by it’s cover.

And so it goes for all of us. We look inside ourselves for our motives, our values, our determination, and even for the ever elusive indomitable will. And we have varying degrees of success. But mostly, failure.

And a few years ago, while taking a “coffee break” by the proverbial water cooler, two colleagues were talking about the Atkins diet they were following. And so I asked antagonistically.

“Why doesn’t anyone ever ask me what I do for my diet?”  And their ignorant, but honest, reply was instantaneous.

“You don’t need to worry about it.”  To which I replied.

“I worry about it every single day, that’s why I don’t need to worry about it.”

Put up or shut up.  But please don’t judge a book by it’s cover.

Feeling overwhelmed?  We all are.

There is hope.  It’s free.  But it’s not easy.

You must do the five simple steps from Lane 8’s blog post two days ago, if you intend to transform yourself.

You can (repeat, CAN) become conditioned to work on two or three impossible goals simultaneously.

But not until you’ve had some success doing it one at a time.

Look, you won’t find easy answers here.  You’ll find simple answers, but nothing here is going to be “easy”.

Will I ever make it to Lane 8?  No, but that won’t stop me from trying.  And in the process of never giving up, perhaps I’ll stay healthy for the rest of my life.

And maybe, just maybe, if the best runners in the world have their worst day, and I have the absolute best day of my life, maybe the finals in the worst lane, Lane 8, isn’t impossible after all.

And maybe reaching your impossible goal isn’t impossible either.

Lane 8's First Guest Blogger

Today’s Lane 8 post is from a West Chester University graduate, United States Marine, Husband, Father, and a man who understands what common sense means. Skip Gaskill also understands what self-discipline means. And it is an honor to introduce you to him now.  Skip, take it away:

“What characteristic is it that many of us lack on our journey to achieve excellence?

The self-discipline to stick to our chosen paths.

Why?  Because it is often too hard, too difficult, too painful, or down right inconvenient.  Do you compromise your integrity for convenience sake?  Do you rationalize your decision when you know you’re wrong to do so?

Self-discipline means doing the right thing when no one else is looking.  My kids think I’m “Goofy” (pun intended) for driving the extra half mile instead of making an illegal u-turn.  I choose to set the example for my children.

Lack of self-discipline can be conquered if you really want to improve yourself.  Start small, take baby steps if necessary.  You will have great joy and should be proud of yourselves when you actually accomplish one of your goals because you had the self-discipline to see it through.

Whether it is running a marathon, quitting smoking, eating better, or being a better person, self-discipline is a key ingredient in the recipe for excellence!”

The road to excellence has no finish line.

This Everyday Health article basically says what I’ve been saying all along here at Lane 8:

1. Pick one impossible goal, not several
2. Start small
3. Be creative with your motivation
4. Find a million ways to keep it alive
5. Don’t quit

Simple?  Yes.

Easy?  Not on your life.

This Everyday Health article shares six really common sense, and practical, tips for focusing on our sleep.

These things are painful to contemplate aren’t they?

Sleep, fiber, exercise, flexibility, colonoscopy, healthy body weight (BMI), cholesterol.

It is a sincere hope that you will appreciate Lane 8’s daily push (or maybe it’s a pull).  In his wonderful book about living, which he wrote as he was dying, Randy Pausch cautioned us to not hate people who nag us.

They nag us because they love us.  Start to worry when they stop pushing or pulling you to do better or differently.

Do you get that? I’m not trying to show off.  I’m  just trying to show.

It can be done.  You can do it.  But you have to want it. And you have to want it bad.