I was thinking today about how I am not going to get nervous going into this weekend, and how I am going to control my pace, and not push too hard. About how I am not going to let people passing me, get the best of me. I thought about my nutrition strategy, and my race strategy, and how many laps I want to do. I even did the math, and figured out according to last year's lap times, how many laps I could do this year.
And then I started to get stressed, and get anxious and get worked up.
It was then that I realized.....I don't like to push the limits in that way. I don't enjoy trying to be faster than the next person. I don't enjoy getting worked up and stressing out when I miss a training day. That is just not who I am. That is not my personality. It is great if that is what you do, I respect that.
I like to win, who doesn't? You get recognition and cool stuff. And sometimes you get money!!!
But I don't manage the stress that comes with the winning drive, very well at all.
So, I'm going back to my roots. Going back to where I was when I did my first road centuries, ( Ride For Raptors and Isaqueenas Last Ride), to my first off-road centuries ( The Iron Wheel 112 mile, the Cohutta 100 and the Burn 24). I wasn't there to be the fastest, the get the prize. I was there to challenge myself and to enjoy the satisfaction of giving it my best shot. I like to ride long, and it's fine if I am out there solo. As long as I am moving forward.
I no longer feel the need to try to get as fast as Jeremiah Bishop, or outlast Andy Applegate. I am who I am, and I am going to pursue what I enjoy: riding my bike for long distances.
So, I'm still gonna train, still gonna push myself. But, not so I can get a top 50, top 20 or top 3. I'm gonna do it because I enjoy it.... a lot!!!!
Have a great day!
1 comment:
If it's not fun, it's not worth it! Now, I may yet be trying to outlast Andy, but in reality, I take a marathoner's approach to bike racing: I'm there to challenge myself, and "do better" than last time. I take victory in the small things -- it's great if I place better in the overall, but if I do just one thing better that's a challenge and lose 5 spots, who cares? I improved!
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