Lane 8 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?

Yes, jeff noel from Lane 8 here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

How important is a competitive advantage?

It’s everything! Right?

When I travel, I attempt to use the travel day as a rest from training.

Even though the newness, and the break in scenery, would make running here, and other places, very enjoyable and motivating, I have to remember that traveling leaves me vulnerable to conditions outside my control.

Air travel, flight delays, client schedules and commitments, traffic, weather, etc.

Wisdom comes from experience and experience comes from making mistakes.

If your goal isn’t impossible, you’re not reaching high enough. Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂

Lane 8 & The Stanley Cup Finals?

What do Lane 8 and the Stanley Cup Finals have in common?

I never thought about it until I woke up this morning.

I’m in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the University of Pittsburgh Alumni Hall.

You know of my goal to be a world-class Master’s Track athlete at 400 meters, in the 50-54 age group, right?

So I wonder if the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings think like I do?  Or I like them?

I bet we do.

Remember yesterday’s video post?  The theme?  “Out work ’em”!

Putting in the extra effort, in a comprehensive manner, is what elevates one’s performance.  Whether it’s running, hockey, or public speaking.

Carpe diem, jeff noel, aka jungle jeff 🙂

Today’s Rating at Lane 8?

Today’s rating is in the 90’s.  It’s been a while since I used a percentile rating. 

Remember?  I was getting tired of the pain. 

The pain seems like it’s subsiding.

The new running orthotics, celebrex and Voltaren gel seem to be allowing we to step up the intensity ever so gently, while not stepping up the pain.

The strength and core workouts at Gold’s Gym Orlando are paying off too.

I was there two days ago.  Check out these You Tube Videos:

 

 

Tiger Woods’ advice isn’t rocket science, is it?  It’s profoundly simple and simply profound.

Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂

Hurricane season and Lane 8

Lane 8 and hurricane season have a common thread.  A David versus Goliath type of thread.

A big, formidable foe, and a lowly and weak opponent.

Humans versus a category four hurricane.  Who loses?  Humans.

David versus Goliath.  Looking at the two, most would bet on the giant – the obvious, overwhelmingly physically superior human.

Ya still with me?

With proper preparation, a foe’s strengths can be mitigated.

We can’t stop hurricanes, but we can wisely prepare for them.

We also can’t stop the aging process, but with dedicated and consistent focus, we can age wisely.  Certainly, at the very least, we can make it better than if we do nothing.

We also might surprise ourselves at the house we can build, if we plan ahead, and work hard.

That’s why I think going to Finland in August is such a David versus Goliath feat.

Win or lose, I’ll leave nothing on the track.

Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂

PS.  If you do happen to click on the Finland in August link, scroll to the 400 meters.  There I am, next to last.

Damn the Pain!

Damn the pain!

Yesterday’s five-miler started out great.  After the first warm-up mile, the second mile, without trying too hard, was 6:26.

My best “opening mile” since July 2007.

The “opening mile” is actually the second mile – the very first mile is simply a warm-up, in the 8-9 minute range.

Mile three is a “recovery” mile with slower jogging, three minutes of backwards jogging, some walking and stretching, etc. 

Mile four is designed to be the fastest mile of the five.  I use this for conditioning and especially for learning to gauge pace.  I mentally aim for a mile time, then study my 400, 800, and 1,200 split times to see how my pace is going.

I also try to run negative splits, meaning, the second half is faster than the first half.  Last month, a did a mile time trial, and clocked 5:38, with 2:53 and 2:45 splits.

I had juice left at the end, because I was running about 90%.  Going a full 100% felt risky, since I hadn’t run that hard in nealy two years.

Yesterday, however, at the mile four, I was excited.  But quickly became discouraged as the pain started right away and I couldn’t shake it.

Naturally, I backed off, and jogged the rest of the way, called Dr Wagner, my podiatrist and scheduled a 10:15AM appointment.

Now I’m back on Celebrex, and an anti-inflammatory heel cream.  I also delivered a script to my friends at Florida Hospital Celebration Health.  Electric-stimulation and massage therapy might be helpful.

I remain optimistic.  How can I not?  

Hope you have a great Saturday.  Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂