Tag: Finals

Pain Escalated

Pain escalated!

Yes.

Bummer.

Just another step in this impossible journey.

The pain is the worst it’s been in three months.

Not bad enough to stop me yesterday from running 100, 200 & 300 meter “striders” (a really fast run or a fairly slow sprint – a medium sprint)

Anyway, the pain reminds me of the multitude of challenges I’ve faced and overcome, during the past decade.

The challenge at this point though, is that the clock is ticking.  Loudly.

With each pass of the second hand, I can almost feel a vibration in my body.   Like the beginning of some sort of weird, twisted torture attempt.

I will perservere.  I have to.  I promised this to myself, and more importantly, to my son and my wife.

And somewhere way in the back of my subconscious, I promised this to you, the reader.

Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂

What’s Your Impossible Goal?

Do you have an Impossible goal?

Why?  Why not?

I believe if your goal isn’t impossible, you’re not reaching high enough.  You can quote me on that.

Look, I realize everyone, or most people, are insanely busy.  So thinking any of you would have time to read through 30 posts (one month’s worth), is impossible, right?

Well, what I do know is there is a concept called the pareto principle.  It says 80% of our results come from 20% of our activity.

I believe there is the 97-3 principle.  It’s even more selective.

I say only three percent of the population reach for and achieve extraordinary results.

This challenge is for you, the three percent.

Carpe diem, and maybe, happy reading.  jeff noel 🙂

Awesome Day at Lane 8

Awesome day at Lane 8.

Why? 

Because it’s mind-boggling, to me, that this is actually happening in 42 days.

Over a decade ago, I was simply thinking about getting back into shape.  My 40th birthday was on the horizon, so I thought I should rise to the occasion.

That was March 1999.  Here we are June 2009 – into the 11th year of the journey.

There was no possible indication nor even a remote thought that I’d be in a position to represent the United States at the World Championships.

Well, it’s 42 days from reality. 

Come along for the journey, the story, the results – whatever.  Come along just for the curiosity.

Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂

Dude, You Is Crazy

“Dude, you is crazy”.

Hardly a day goes by where I don’t feel misunderstood.

Yesterday brought that home more powerfully than usual.

It could be the pressure of the approaching deadlines:

  1.  August 1 –  I fly to Helsinki.
  2.  August 4  – I run the first of three possible 400 meter heats

What if I don’t make it to the semi-finals?

I certainly don’t expect to make it to the finals, but the semi’s, absolutely.

And as a reminder, even though I don’t expect to make it to the finals, that is still the goal.

Why?

Because it’s impossible.

Many people I think, rarely, if ever, as an adult, attempt impossible goals.

Because of this, if you are a person who is chasing an impossible goal, your focus, your thinking, your actions, the pressure – it’s very different than normal, everyday type of behavior.

It has to be.

This experience has exposed me to, and taught me, so many things on so many different levels, that I can’t even begin to describe it.

So anyway, I’ll just leave it at that for now.

Make it a great day, because if you don’t, who will.  Remember, I’d rather try and fail, than live with the regret of not knowing.  Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂

Lane 8 at Rest

Lane 8 at Rest.

Yep.  Today is a rest day.

Feeling some pain again.

Working long hours.  Not getting enough sleep.

Life goes on.

It’s so tempting to start thinking, as the countdown dips under 45 days, to let doubt creep in.

Doubt has been on my mind:

  1. It’s too expensive
  2. It’s too much effort
  3. What if I fail
  4. What if I embarrass myself
  5. What’s the point?
  6. Is this just an ego thing?
  7. There’s nothing to prove
  8. Am I being selfish?
  9. Am I in over my head?
  10. What if I get hurt?

The list goes on.

Life is like this.  Filled with potential excuses.  The risk and the fear can be unbearable sometimes.

I will continue on. 

But today I will rest.

Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂