I love this quote, and it is certainly a statement I remind myself of whenever I have a big event, where I know the outcome will always be determined by my efforts, not just on the event, but on the days, weeks, and months leading up to it.
In fact, just today, I was talking to one of my team about when I was young and played a lot of team sports, how I was often frustrated by the result, and due to the lack of effort from my teammates, compared to what I was putting in, and how that lead me into individual sports, such as martial hearts, and of course, bodybuilding, where I dedicated a huge part of my life to.
Having said that, I am a leader by nature, and now I have come to the understanding that I can motivate, inspire, and bring the best out of the whose around me, so we win as a team.
However, the statement above still stands, and I like to lead by example, lead at the front, and let my actions do the talking. This weekend was no exception, I certainly prepared for the events.
Sunday I had a Time Trial Race in the morning, and in the afternoon I had a presentation, which is part of the assessment that will determine if I pass or fail the Strength and Condition Level 4 course I am doing.
Saturday morning I woke up early as usual, drove to the parking lot where I would be parking the following day, and rode the exact route to the track which I would be riding the next day.
While riding, I chose specific music, as a trial, that I could use on race day to pump me up, I practiced my warm route as I made my way to the track. I started the exact same road that I was going to ride the following day, and since it was a Time Trial, and I would not be taking my water bottles, to reduce any additional weight, I chose not to drink at all on the practice run, which was 18km. I instead, got my head down, in the same aero position I would be in. I felt the ground, the wind, the pockets, the course, and how I felt at different segments, whilst maintaining a power I could hold and practicing keeping it consistent, all of which were needed for Sunday.
I got home that morning, and dove deep into my presentation, ensuring I had everything in place, rehearsing and resighting all in my mind, so I could deliver on the day it mattered.
I finished the day at 4 pm, and started at 4:30 am, doing all I could be prepared, which was also following weeks of preparation also.
I woke up Sunday, and although I was feeling great, I wasn’t fresh, since I had ridden the past 5 days, and Saturday was a tough one, 2 and a half hours, but also, I was preparing for something bigger, and the race itself was a practice for a bigger race.
In 6 weeks I will be flying to Chang Mai, where I will be doing a 4-day stage race, and the 4th day will be a Time Trial, After 3 days of hard racing, I will be fatigued, so, Sunday’s fatigue state, and how I am able to hold the power, will all be preparation for exactly how it will be in Thailand.
I did the same warmup, listened to the same music, took off my bottles, and began the race. I was able to maybe have a steady power, which was well above any power I had held before, and I placed 3rd in my age group, which was between 16-39 years of age.
I was so pleased all considering, and felt euphoric on my way back to the truck, feeling ready for the next test of the day.
I went home, took the boy to the pool, stretched, and made my way down to the present. I stood up, practiced and preached, and did it well. The feedback was overwhelming, and the examiners said I had gone above and beyond what was expected, and that they would love for me to teach that very course, since I had learned the strategies, and was able to deliver it well.
Again, I had the same feeling as I did in the morning, I was proud of the events, and also of the preparation I had put in prior. Even if I didn’t get a high placing or high mark, that would not have mattered, what mattered was that I did all that I could to do the best I could do, and that is always rewarding.
Why I am writing this as this week’s blog is simply to tell you that we are the same, we are human beings, trying to be the best version of ourselves, and aiming higher than where we are.
A difference could be, if there is one, is that I have recognized, many times, throughout my life, especially in my sporting career, that what separates those who win or lose, is often the willingness to do things they particularly don’t want to, but not they have to, which takes discipline of course.
Every day, every meal, every conversation, every decision, is all preparation for who you will be, so the question is simply, who do you want to be, and what are the things, even the small things, that you need to do, right here and right now, that will determine if you win, or lose.
You are preparing for the rest of your life, so if you don’t want to fail, then don’t delay in doing the things you know can deviate you away.
Christian Williams
