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Greatest Track Coach of All Time?

Who’s the best Track & Field coach of all time?

Who’s the best cross-country coach of all time?

It may very well be the same person.

I do not claim to be an expert in these things, however, after reading about this coach, it sure presents a great case that this is the person.

Click here to read Greatest Track & Field Coach of all time .

The statistics are staggering.

I had never even heard of this person.  A quiet and humble dynasty.  Wow!

Makes you realize that one person can really make a difference in the lives of many.  Capre diem,  jeff noel  🙂

Pain, Pain Go Away

Rain, rain, go away, come again another day…..

Remember that song?   I changed the lyrics slightly, substituting pain for rain.

Still can’t shake the left heel pain.  Need to return to Dr Curtis Wagner next week.

This is an enormous concern.   Because, if the pain limits my ability to sprint, then the journey to Finland may be pointless.

Or maybe not.

In my five mile runs, I’m running mile intervals significantly faster than two months ago.  That’s the good news.

Tempered with the reality of almost daily pain.

As I wrote earlier this week, I will keep on going.  After a decade (or maybe a lifetime), I can’t quit now.

What would you do?

Thank you for following Lane 8 and carpe diem, jeff 🙂

World Class?

What does it take to be world class?

Why even strive to be world class?   Isn’t that a bit egotistical?  

And even if we could agree it’s not, couldn’t we agree it’s way too much work for the average person?

The big decision remaining for me is when do I buy the plane ticket to Helsinki, Finland?

It’s a significant investment.   “For what“?, I quietly ask myself.

The answer that surfaces most of the time?  

“You only get one shot at life.  Even if you have to walk around the track, you should do it.   Remember, Jeff, there are no guarantees in life.   You’ve been on this journey, consciously, for over ten years.  But in fact, it’s been with you all your life.   You are not being selfish.  Do it“!

And so it goes.  Day in and day out.  One day after another.   What to do?

We all face decisions that don’t have an easy answer.

We all have to decide.  And even if we choose to not decide, we’ve actually still made a choice.  Seriously.

My choice?   The answer seems obvious.  Yet at the same time, I’m having “buyers remorse“.

For now, I’m going to put on my running shoes and go for a run, pray for wisdom, and hope for no pain.  Carpe diem, jeff  🙂

National Championships

The 2009 Master’s National Championships are being held in Wisconsin this July.

Here’s a link to the site – 2009 Master’s National Championships

It occurs the same time as a previously scheduled commitment.  Most likely, I’ll be absent.  

If you could only pick one, the National Championships or the World Championships, which would you pick?

The National Championships are less expensive in money and time.  Plus, the odds of a higher finishing place our much greater.

The World Championships are way more expensive in time and money.  And, the odds of a high finish are dramatically reduced.

Seriously, which is the obvious choice?

The correct answer is completely subjective, so there is no wrong or right.    Carpe diem, jeff  🙂

Who’s watching you?

Who’s watching me? 

Everyone probably.   It’s the same for all of us, I think.

People like to watch other people.   Of course, there are exceptions to just about everything.  But generally speaking, this is a great truth.

So the question then, to me, is “So What”?

Well, the answer for me anyway, is that I use that fact to be careful.

Careful?

Yes, careful.

Why?

Simple example.  Our son is eight.  I can not teach him patience with impatience.  Being around a young child has a tendency to test an adult’s patience.

By being aware of this fact, I can anticipate losing my patience before it happens and actually develop habits to remain calm, even when “my buttons are being pushed”.

This can help anyone, anywhere.  How cool is that? 

Funny thing.  I’ve even applied this to running and use it to stay motivated and focused.  It’s what has taken me from an amateur runner to a world-class runner.  

While this was never my goal, it’s where the path has led.  

Yogi Berra, a former famous baseball player who has funny sayings, once said, “When you come to the fork in the road, take it“.   Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂