Slowest of the Fastest?

What does this metaphor, “The slowest of the Fastest” mean?

It means very simply this:

We have a choice every moment of every day.

To be positive, or, to not be positive.

Here’s one of life’s invisible truths:  Everybody is fighting a hard battle.  Everyone.  Even the people who appear, on the surface, to have a great (easy) life.

We all have a choice on how we live our lives.

There are two choices:

  1. To be the fastest of the slowest.
  2. To be the slowest of the fastest.

On our deathbed, if we are lucky (blessed) to have this moment, we can look back on our lives and say with a peaceful joy, “I gave it my best effort and have no regrets about what I could have, should have or would have done“.

Visit, or revisit, if you’re interested, the post that explains another metaphor, Lane 8 .

Carpe diem, because if you don’t, who will.  If not today, when?  jeff 🙂

Good new, bad news?

Good news, bad news?

Bad news is I still have left heel pain, intermittently.

Good news is the staff at Florida Hospital rehab center said I’m the most symmetrical person they’ve ever seen.  🙂

What else would they say?  It’s their job to make people feel good about themselves.   Let me tell you, it sure worked yesterday.  🙂

The goal was to test my core.   Why?

After three consecutive years of season-ending injuries, it’s time to start a season with a good, honest look at weak spots and opportunities.

While I still have work to do, overall, my core and symmetry is excellent.

Gotta go run five miles.  I’m praying for a pain-free run, plus world peace, an end to hunger and poverty, and a wish that everyone will be blessed beyond measure today.  Carpe diem, jeff  🙂

Couple quick updates

Received an email confirmation yesterday that my hotel request has been accepted.  Due to the volume of requests, it took the Lahti Travel agency a few weeks to sort it all out, on a first-come, first served basis.

The dream is alive.  It almost doesn’t feel real.   This is ten years in the making.   You might even say it’s been 50 years in the making.

The thing that brings me back to reality is the other update.

In a few minutes, I’ll be heading to the hospital, to the physical therapy/rehab center, getting a strength test to see how well balanced my body is.  

Are the quads and hamstrings proportional?    Lower legs and upper legs proportional?   Is my core strong enough?

All this to determine the chance of injury.

As a Master athlete, competing on a National and World level, a 50-year old man can very easily be tempted to exercise like they are still 18.   Let me tell you first hand, it doesn’t work that way.

Whatever you’ve been working on, whether it’s been 50 years or ten, make it a great day, and find all the reasons you need, to not give up.  Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂

Run, jeff, run

Heading out for a short run (two miles).  Wanted to do a five-miler, but not enough time in the day, eh?

How can a person possibly think about competing at the Master’s World Championships, when there’s not enough time in the day to “train”?

Not sure I have a good answer, except that everyone is fighting a hard battle.  We all have to figure it out.  That’s what makes it interesting and challenging to me.   What about you?

Carpe diem and here’s to your great health, jeff noel  🙂

Happy Healthy Sunday?

Happy Healthy Sunday?

It’s our choice isn’t it?

I’m still smiling from yesterday.   I asked our eight-year old son to help create a tee-shirt design for Lane8.org

I challenged him to do five pages worth.  He did.  He’s clever, creative and funny.

This journey to make it to the Men’s 50-54 400 meter finals at the Master’s World Championships is nothing short of inspiring to me.   I do not belong in this league.   I asked my son, “Remember David and Goliath“?  “Yes“, he said.   “What was the morale of the story“?, I shot back.

You can do anything“, was his answer.

That’s right, nothing is impossible“!, I said softly.

Follow your dreams.  Dream Big.  Get There.  Stay There!  Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂