Tag: Men

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.  🙂

Hard Work is the Key to Great Results

Last night, after a hard workout at Gold’s Gym, my son and I were walking out.  There is a slogan on the wall that we always walk by, but rarely pay attention to.

Last night, it caught my eye.

Here’s a short You Tube video clip to explain why.  Click Results For Everybody to play.

Hard work is the key.  Since I’ve accepted that fact, I’ve gotten much better results.  Go figure.  Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂

Slowest of the Fastest?

I’m still set on trying to become the slowest of the fastest.

My son likes this metaphor, and so do I.

To be out in lane 8, the lane the slowest contestant is assigned, seems like an unworthy goal, doesn’t it?

Shouldn’t the goal be to win?

Well, for me, just being at the World Championships is winning.

To end up in the finals? 

Beyond my wildest dreams.

And, simply impossible.

This is why I run.  This is why the goal seems absurd.  This is why I believe, and want our son to believe, that nothing is impossible.

Carpe diem, and good luck with your outrageous dreams.  May you become a shining example for someone you love.  jeff noel  🙂

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  🙂