12 things about racing

  1. Racing is hard. So hard.
  2. Racing is also ridiculously satisfying – even when you struggle. Maybe more so when you can taste failure, but you spit it out and keep going.
  3. The struggle just makes me want to try and do better the next time. You find out soon enough, that there is always a next time. Another race, another goal. Racing is addictive.
  4. Racing requires a lot of training. It is not glamorous, it’s mostly slogging, often in bad weather, far too often on Zwift when the rain and cold come, and sometimes when its the last thing you want to do after a tough day. Training is hard, but if you’re lucky, you love it.
  5. The most challenging training rides are often the most rewarding. You can lean back on these lessons learned on the toughest training rides when the race gets hard. Also when life gets hard.
  6. Training makes you stronger physically, but also mentally. It teaches you discipline and resilience and grit. For me, it is also how I silence the voices that pipe up when I’m struggling during the race. The ones that tell me I don’t belong there.
  7. Putting in the work is no guarantee of any outcome on race day. I train so that so that I can line up in the start chute feeling like I’ve done the best I can to prepare for the race. But nothing is guaranteed. Ever.
  8. You will connect with the people you race with in a significant way. There is something wonderful about sharing big experiences.
  9. The joy of crossing the finish line is pure gold. Whether you’ve struggled and are limping across the line, or you raced well, the joy of the finish line is what you’ve come for. Bask in the moment.
  10. After your race, you will flounder without a goal. You will also flounder without your training routine.
  11. The only way to fix these issues is to find a new goal, a new routine. It’s the only way.
  12. The best part about racing is that training is not unlike building blocks that compound over time. When you start training for your next race, you’re building on the foundation of the last race. You just keep getting stronger. You just keep getting better.