Tag: masters

Damn the Doubt!

Damn the Doubt!

First pain, then doubt.

Add in the underlying concern about expenses in both time and money, not only to travel to Finland, but the constant preparation.

It does wear on me.  A lot of things wear on humans.  We are all carrying a heavy load.

Yesterday’s “walk, stretch, slow jog, stretch combo”, for about 35 minutes, was relatively pain free.

A far cry from the previous day.  This added some hope, to what could have been a hopeless day.

Heading out for another run before Church, so I better get going. 

Make it a GREAT Sunday, because if you don’t, who will?  If not today, when?  Seriously!  Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂

Celebrex or Celebrate?

Celebrex or Celebrate?

I took my final Celebrex capsule yesterday.

And I also took the day off from training.

Heading out for a five-mile run shortly, before flying to Niagara Falls, New York.

When I think about the journey, with its struggles and trials, I couldn’t even jog ten years ago.  And when I did start jogging two years later, I ran one mailbox per day for a week.

The following week, two mailboxes per day for a week.  Third week?  You guessed it, three mailboxes per day for a week.

Here we are just over a decade later, and I’m still jogging.

And heading to the 2009 Master’s Track and Field World Championships in Finland.

Amazing what can happen when you don’t give. Carpe diem, jeff 🙂

World Class?

What does it take to be world class?

Why even strive to be world class?   Isn’t that a bit egotistical?  

And even if we could agree it’s not, couldn’t we agree it’s way too much work for the average person?

The big decision remaining for me is when do I buy the plane ticket to Helsinki, Finland?

It’s a significant investment.   “For what“?, I quietly ask myself.

The answer that surfaces most of the time?  

“You only get one shot at life.  Even if you have to walk around the track, you should do it.   Remember, Jeff, there are no guarantees in life.   You’ve been on this journey, consciously, for over ten years.  But in fact, it’s been with you all your life.   You are not being selfish.  Do it“!

And so it goes.  Day in and day out.  One day after another.   What to do?

We all face decisions that don’t have an easy answer.

We all have to decide.  And even if we choose to not decide, we’ve actually still made a choice.  Seriously.

My choice?   The answer seems obvious.  Yet at the same time, I’m having “buyers remorse“.

For now, I’m going to put on my running shoes and go for a run, pray for wisdom, and hope for no pain.  Carpe diem, jeff  🙂

National Championships

The 2009 Master’s National Championships are being held in Wisconsin this July.

Here’s a link to the site – 2009 Master’s National Championships

It occurs the same time as a previously scheduled commitment.  Most likely, I’ll be absent.  

If you could only pick one, the National Championships or the World Championships, which would you pick?

The National Championships are less expensive in money and time.  Plus, the odds of a higher finishing place our much greater.

The World Championships are way more expensive in time and money.  And, the odds of a high finish are dramatically reduced.

Seriously, which is the obvious choice?

The correct answer is completely subjective, so there is no wrong or right.    Carpe diem, jeff  🙂

USATF website

USATF = United States Track & Field.  Everything from our US Olympic Team, US World Team, plus Collegiate, Masters and High School meets, athletes, training, etc., are found here.

Here’s the Home page for the 2009 World Championships – USA Master’s World Team

I’m making final logistical preparations to attend.

My training is slowly getting faster and more intense.  That part really is exciting. 

However, I still can’t shake the left heel pain.   That part isn’t really exciting.

Now, when it’s really difficult, is the time I get the most pressure to find an excuse to give up.

But I can’t give up.  Instead, I rested today.   And spent the work day in Jury Duty.

Keep your head up, as difficult as it may be.   Your health is too important to quit.  Do something healthy and carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂