Is Lane 8 impossible?
Yes. Absolutely impossible.
That’s what I told a friend yesterday at lunch. We were at Hartsfield International Airport, on our way home from Pittsburgh.
She asked, “Why is it impossible”? I smiled and answered, “Because there are so many people who can run faster than me. Plus, I was never a great runner”.
Then I added, “But because I’ve been focused and disciplined for a decade, if the best runners have their worst day, and I have my best day, I could be in the mix for Lane 8”.
I said, “If I can make it to the finals, I will absolutely be the slowest runner there”.
Lane 8 is where the slowest runner is put. Lane 1 is the next slowest . The fastest are in the middle.
She really didn’t understand exactly what I was talking about.
This is a David versus Goliath story. A story that is being told so my son, who’s eight, will have a memory and a metaphor about his Dad at age 50.
“When my Dad turned 50, he competed at the Master’s Track & Field World Championships in the 400 meters – many say it’s the sport’s toughest race”.
It’s my hope that he’ll always remember that in life we have two choices:
- To try to be the fastest of the slowest.
- To try to be the slowest of the fastest.
It’s simply a family story and a vision he can use to make choices about how hard to try and why, as he goes through life.
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather try and fail than not try at all.
Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂
