Tag: health

Read Lane 8 Like A Book

Lane 8 is a fun story to write.  Fun because it’s for our son.  He’ll be nine in a few days. There are only a few who actually know this. Now more will.

If you were to spend an hour reading back through this blog, you’d start to see how impossible it was for me to be here in Finland.

The temptation to postpone, rationalize, or even to quit, is beyond my normal threshold for these types of life’s challenges.

Yet, I write this from Lahti, Finland – home to the 2009 Master’s Track & Field World Championships.

Reading back through the posts, and looking at where I was ten years ago, I hope our son will realize a few things about life:

  1. This is not a story about athletic achievement, it’s about setting “life’s bar” high
  2. This is not my story, it’s our story
  3. Nothing is impossible
  4. There are no short cuts in life
  5. Life is painfully hard
  6. Life is gloriously wonderful
  7. Live your life with purpose, and on purpose
  8. Do not worry what others think
  9. Have fun along the way
  10. Love others and be loved by others

Thanks for following Lane 8.  I totally understand virtually all of you will never have time to read from here to the beginning, or from the beginning to here.

But if you ever want to read a “book” to be inspired, this may be a diamond in the rough.

Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂

Race Day at Lane 8

Race day at Lane 8.

Men’s 400 meters, 50-54 age group.  Call time 2PM.  Heat time 3PM.

By the time my preliminary heat is over, most of you back in the United States will just be waking up.

I visualize myself running and feeling God’s pleasure.  Running effortlessly, not to compete, but running simply because I can.

I don’t know why I run sometimes, all I know is that I enjoy it, and cannot help myself.

There is a popular misconception that winning is everything.

May I antagonistically challenge that?

Winning isn’t everything, doing your best is everything.

Don’t sell yourself short.  Be as great as you can be.  Even if you finish last.  Even if you are not a runner.

Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂

Lane 8 in Lahti, Finland?

Lane 8 in Lahti, Finland?  Yes.  Arrived yesterday, August 2.

Was a zombie, but my adrenaline hide that from me.  Only two other times in my entire life I can remember being that tired.

But today is a brand new day.  A day full of excitement, of possibilities, of opportunities.

A day filled with hope.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could start everyday like it’s the World Championships?

A day where we feel anything is possible.

A day where we are more than willing to give it our best.

A day where we willingly get to help others, and others get to willingly help us.

Why is this not possible each and every day?

Maybe it is possible. Today, I’m going to work at a world championship level to find out.

What are your plans today?  Cape diem, jeff noel 🙂

Lane 8 in Paris?

Lane 8 in Paris?

Only for 90 minutes.

My first overseas flight to Helsinki through Paris.

I fly frequently, so I’m good with all the logistics.

Except at Charles DeGaulle Airport in Paris this morning.

Wow.  I barely made it.  So glad I didn’t give up this morning.

Miraculously, made it by five minutes.

Actually, not giving up is what got me here in the first place.

Carpe diem, and tempt yourself to never give up.  Because if you’re not tempted to not give up, what are tempted by?

jeff noel, out in Lane 8 🙂

Carpe Diem, Finland

Finland, here I come.  Carpe diem!

Thank you to everyone for your support.

First and foremost, my wife and son.  They are as much a part of this as anything I have invested.

This dream is actually a Family dream, not just a jeff noel dream.

In fact, if it wasn’t for them, giving up would have happened long ago.

Prayer warriors, please pray that all 5,300 Master’s athletes, from 80 countries, will arrive to and return from Finland in a safe manner.

A simple wish for all of you, “Stay healthy, have fun”!

Carpe diem, jeff noel, out in Lane 8 🙂

PS.  Click here for Indescribable.