Learned

There is the old adage “It’s all mental”. You can apply this to nearly all types of sports or activities. The idea is that you can mentally achieve everything you set forth by mentally preparing yourself. However, that’s hard. Reworking your brain to trick it into liking being awake for 20+ hours all while riding a fully loaded mountain bike is absolutely, clinically, insane and apparently, I am just insane enough to do it.

From my early days of bike racing nearly a decade ago I was influenced by the underdog. The rider who was had to outsmart the rest of the pack, the one who could suffer the longest. The one who you didn’t see coming. None stood out more than Thomas Voeckler.
I mean look at the guy! 





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Thomas Voeckler rode with his heart on his sleeve and put everything on the line. He knew how important it was for a French rider to do well in the Tour De France and he raced with the whole pride of a country behind him! I emulated him throughout my whole cycling “Career” and I still use him as a reference point today.

However, I digress, Thomas Voeckler showed what mental toughness is and I am attempting to get myself to the point where I can suffer though all of the pain that the Triple crown will instill and never quit.

It’s much easier said than done. Sure, I can tell myself every night that I love eating salads for dinner but those damn PB&Js are so tasty! It’s so much easier to fall into what is easy vs. staying true to what you goals are. But you already knew that! Everyone does. We struggle with this on a daily basses. Comfort is the main driver in nearly every decision we make. Once I have figured out how to suffer better and how to overcome the drive for comfort I will let you know.

In other news, I am just starting my first week of classes of my last semester of college! Whoop! I am finally figuring out a schedule that works for me all while trying to train, work and reconnect with old friends. It’s a hard balance but that’s life.

Training wise I have not been able to nail down my plan as well as I would like. I know I need to hit the gym more and do longer rides. I recently attempted to do an “Everesting” attempt which would have included 120 miles of riding but that didn’t go as I planned. More on that in a later blog.

That being said the training will prick up and soon I will be back in the flow getting ready for the races! I am on the right track to get to my ideal racing weight and mentally feeling very excited and inspired for the races!

Look for more blog updates as I start to figure out the flow and batten down the hatches for Triple Crown 2019!

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