I had an interesting conversation with one of my coaching clients recently. she is in her first season of road racing. she did a few races early in the season, and then spent a month travelling for work (without a bike). upon her return, she declared that she had no fitness and would race again in August. August? that's the end of the season. what about all the months in between?
the conversation reminded me of my early racing career. I was coaching the team and planned to race myself in 2002. and in 2003. and things just kept getting in the way. I was hit by a car. I injured my back. I lost my mother. I had a DVT. and I kept waiting for that elusive "perfect" fitness to return.
guess what? there are no guarantees in life. perfect fitness may never come.
stop waiting.
stop planning.
stop thinking.
start living.
think of all the fabulous experiences you'll miss while you're "waiting."
Thursday, July 10, 2008
what are you waiting for?
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14 comments:
It's as if you are speaking to me.....I keep waiting to get in that "perfect form", "better fitness", and "improved sprinting ability".......I am never satisified. I am sure I am not alone.
you are definitely not alone, Denise. although interestingly enough, I've found that men don't share the same thought process as women do -- they get out there and let the process happen.
so, when are you going to get back out there?
I know exactly what this feels like. Three years ago I had a pneumonia that almost killed me. It also completely wiped out any fitness I ever had. And -- because I couldn't move much I ate much and gained much weight. I've had to completely re-tool my thinking and my riding. But after three long years -- I finally just made it up a series of little hills that previously looked like mountains. I cried. You just have to keep going.
congratulations, Kelly! what an inspirational story you've got. I'm so happy you're back out there on the bike. those little hills will seem like nothing in no time and you'll be moving on to bigger and better.....one day at a time.
I think I have the opposite mindset about things...I enter races I am grossly undertrained for just to see if I can do it. Usually doesn't work out that well.
I have avoided entering any road races so far mostly because I'm afraid of getting yelled at.
Strangely, fitness doesn't really factor into it at all for me. Probably not that smart.
A. Fog, maybe it's a generational thing. You definitely have the mindset of a younger rider. Or maybe it's because you work in the industry? Or maybe you're really a man!!!
And you have great fitness.
I wouldn't yell at you in a road race.....unless you tried to knock me over.
How did the races go last night?
;-)
good post.
it's easy to forget, that 99% of us are doing this for fun. not for our job, not for glory, but simply as it's a hobby which we adore. what keeps it fun for one person differs from another, but the racing should always be fun.
fun = good
welcome home, Alicat!
You're talking as if racing is the end all be all of a cyclist's experience. Maybe she just doesn't want to race.
Do you have to be in a race to experience "the process?"
But yes, if you're waiting for the "perfect time," to do anything, it'll never come.
I'm in a reverse situation. I feel like there are things that I should be doing, but I am putting them off to race bikes. Same root: fear.
oh, but Katie! you know me better than that. my goal is to help folks become life-long cyclists -- not bike racers.
racing bikes was simply the example here. you could probably insert a million different scenarios:
I'll wait to date until X..
I'll wait to change jobs until Y.
I'll wait to travel until Z.
my point being, when we wait for some tangible (or intangible), life is happening without us.
what's that John Lennon quote?
"life is what happens while you're busy making other plans."
My race buddies all bailed and I got stuck at work so I decided to order a pizza instead of racing. It was quite enjoyable actually!
Ha ha you're not the first one to suggest I'm really a man...
I know you wouldn't yell at me in a road race, I've just had the bitchy women experience (at a beginner racing clinic no less) in the past and it left a bad taste. And it's fun to play in the dirt.
Under it's past ownership, Spokesman Bicycles' receipts used to say, "Shut up and Ride" at the bottom. Whenever I don't feel like I'm ready or in good enough shape or have enough energy, I remember this saying, smile, and most of the time get going.
Great post Lorri!
P.S. Sweet cushions
P.P.S. a.fog, let them bitches be bitches, you can still be awesome and have fun. And dirt rules
Sweet Cheeks: Amen.
Lorri Lee, I get the message loud and clear. And you can apply this to all sorts of stuff, not just racing bikes. In fact, I just took your advice, and did it in another avenue of my life, and kinda feels good, actually.
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