Lane 8, What’s Next?

Lane 8, “What’s next”?

Face to face questions, as well as emails, ask the same thing, “Are you preparing for any upcoming meets”?

Yes, and no.

YES, there are two big meets in 2010.  The WMA Masters Track & Field Indoor World Championships in early March, in Kamloops, British Columbia.  And there’s the USA Masters Track & Field National Championships, in July, in Sacramento, California.

NO, the left heel pain precludes me from anything remotely intense enough to be considered world class training.

This may be a good thing. If you don’t know, it was never the intent to become a world class Master’s athlete.  But after several years of running and making common sense, common practice, I wanted to see if it could actually be done.

Tomorrow I’ll describe the level of fitness that I didn’t even know I had achieved.  And what it feels like to see it slip away and the thought process on how, and if, I should deal with that.

Pathetic

Pathetic.

Dictionary.com defines pathetic – (adj) miserably or contemptibly inadequate: “In return for your investment we get a pathetic three percent interest”.

What do we get for our investment in our physical well being?

Probably, pathetic.

We reap what we sow.

Everyday Health

Everyday Health is a daily email I subscribe to.  Why?  Because when I find something that is excellent, it’s helpful to have a way to find it easily.  Click here to see a great one from yesterday.

Yes, we all bookmark certain websites, adding them to our Favorites. But an RSS feed or an email subscription can be a great strategy for daily reminders about what matters most – Health.

The health of our Mind, Body, Spirit and Finances.

Staying active is important at any age, yet it’s especially important at Mid Life.  Be the change you wish to see in others.  Be the role model for healthy living.  Have the courage to do the hard work. Or not.

Gold’s Gym Was Packed Yesterday

My son and I went to Gold’s Gym yesterday.  It was packed.  That’s great to see.  Yet even though Gold’s Gym was crowded, the people exercising represent such a small portion of the population.

When I drive to and from work, or on errands, there are occasional joggers along the way. Again, a small portion.

Maybe the ones who exercise regularly are missing the boat.  Perhaps they are the crazy ones.  Wasting their time on the frivolous pursuit of a sound body.  Not a perfect body.  A sound body.

Wasting their time and energy by rearranging their schedules to make exercise fit.  Passing on “delicious” foods, or skipping second helpings, in an effort to practice healthy moderation.

What’s wrong with that small portion of the population?  What a bunch of self-indulgent individuals.  They remind me of the people on the airplane who put the oxygen mask on first, before offering to help the person next to them.

People Like Being Unhealthy

People Like Being Unhealthy.  In fact, you probably like being unhealthy.  And odds are you know a lot of people who also like to be unhealthy.

Right?

Absolutely.  Why?  I have no idea.  None.

But I have a hunch, but it’s only a hunch.  Know what it is?

People must love it. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so unhealthy. Seriously.

If it’s not true, then go ahead and convince me this is incorrect.  Go ahead please.

Hey, the whole point of Lane 8 is to challenge you (and me) to set awesome health goals, go after them, reach them, and then maintain our health goals for the rest of our lives.

This requires DAILY effort.  Which is why I write this Lane 8 blog every single day.  Got it?  Every single day is our great opportunity to focus on our health.

It is not easy.  Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.  But it is always worthwhile.  Figure it out or live with regret.  There are no other choices.