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In Memory of Pre

Steve Prefontaine

Everyone who knew of him called him, Pre.

Jan. 25, 1951 – May 30, 1974

If there ever was an American runner who had courage, guts and vision, Steve Prefontaine would have to be at the top of the list.

Click here – Pre You Tube videos – and take your pick.

One of my all-time favorite movies, in any genre, is Without Limits– the Steve Prefontaine story.

He was a front-runner.  meaning, he went out front, grabbed the lead and held onto it until the finish line.

His coach, Bill Bowerman, at the University of Oregon, tried to get him to hold back and draft off other runners.  Hold back so he could run his last mile faster than his first mile – and probably his overall time would be faster.

Pre, basically, would have none of it.

(Click here – Pre’s attitude – to play the movie trailer)

The only way he knew how to run was flat out, all the way.

Even if he lost, he would always know that he left nothing on the track.

His greatest race was the 5,000 at the 1972 Munich Olympics.  He finished fourth.

But it was still his greatest race.

If I have to explain it to you, then you probably won’t understand.  But that’s OK.  There’s a ton I still don’t understand.

I do understand one thing though, if your goals aren’t impossible, you’re not reaching high enough.  You can quote me on that one. 

Carpe diem and leave nothing on the track.  jeff noel  🙂

Can’t Wait to Get Started!

I’ll be heading out for a run soon. 

I’m hungry.

Not for breakfast, but for speed.

Life is hard and figuring it all out requires a great deal of effort. 

The past two days were “active rest”, meaning I didn’t do any type of workouts – no gym, no run, no track work.

Actually, I haven’t been on the track in 23 months, since July 2007.

In 2007, one week before Nationals and four weeks before Worlds, I had a sharp pain in my right foot.  It was plantar fasciitis.

Since I’m almost two months away from the Master’s Track & Field World Championships in Finland, I have made a commitment to be on the track tomorrow.

Two months of speed work ought to put me in a decent position to be the slowest of the fastest.

I hope your future goals are bigger than anything you’ve done in the past.  Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂

Slow Lane Sunday?

Slow Lane Sunday?

OK, so yesterday morning, as I’m jogging out of our neighborhood, a dear friend and long-time neighbor was walking her two dogs.

This neighbor attended our Son’s first Holy Communion on April 25.  She had dinner with us that night, along with my In-Laws from Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The day before I had just broken the news to my Mother-In-Law that I’d be going to Finland for the Master’s Track & Field World Championships.   She was surprised, of course, and also skeptical.

While celebrating our Son’s major accomplishment, we spoke of many things during that dinner.

Eventually, Finland came up.  I saw it as an opportunity to share a vision of why I am going.  My Son completely gets it.  My wife is right there too.  My In-Laws and my neighbor, not even close.

I had to tell you that so I can tell you this:

Yesterday my neighbor asked, “How’s your training coming?  Are you still going to Finland?”

Here’s the point.  Without even hesitating I replied, “Yes, even if I have to walk around the track!”

That had a haunting revelation, to hear myself say those words.

This is bigger than anything I can explain.  At a gut level, I’m so invested in it, that seeing it through, no matter what the obstacles, is the only course of action

This scares the heck out of me.  Talk about pressure and second-guessing yourself.

Than why?

It’s a platform, a metaphor, a challenge, a childhood dream reborn, a legacy, an impossible goal.

It’s all that.

My son will remember this long after I’m gone.  I hope he will find strength and determination, in my strength and determination.

On Friday a colleague and I were talking about exercise and I asked if he was still running.  He said no.  He explained that it’s too difficult for him to get motivated. 

I suggested his reason to exercise wasn’t compelling enough.  Maybe if he was doing it to show his kids that getting old doesn’t mean you have to get overweight and out of shape.

PS.  Make it a GREAT day. 

PSS.  I booked the flight to Helsinki last night.  🙂

Saturday Speedster?

Yesterday’s run was good.  Minimal pain while running.

Afterwards, and throughout the day, some minor pain.  Compared to previous weeks, I think yesterday was a positive step.

I also saw Helsinki flights under $1,000. 

These positive signs are very timely.

I am so thankful I have not given up, even though in the last two months, I’ve thought about it often.

If you don’t currently exercise, I hope you will find a reason to.  If not today, when?  Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂

PS.  Click here for another related blog post, Blessed Beast

Web MD Great Wellness, Fitness Site

Web MD has lots of articles to surf regarding wellness, fitness, diet, nutrition and health.  Click here to view.

Do you think you pay attention?

Seriously.

Do you really think you do?

It scares me to think about my blind spots.

Blind spots?

Yes.  Like my health.  My finances.  My spirit.   My intellect.

It’s so tempting to be so busy that the really important things get neglected.

Why?

Maybe it’s just easier for me to not have to think about my deficiencies, particularly self-control and will power.

Hey, I don’t have the answers.  But I do have one thing.

Know what it is?

It’s a young boy I want to be an excellent example for.

I want to overcome all the crap and excuses many people, including me, make.  

All I can do is try and bust my hump.

I’d rather try with all my might and fail, than not try.

Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂