It Doesn’t Get Any Easier, You Just Get Better

My legs were screaming, my heart and lungs exploding out of my chest.  I slowly passed a guy sitting on the pavement, surrendered.  Another woman sat sobbing in the grass on the side of the road.

The hill pitched up mercilessly, 13%, then up to a 15% grade. There was no end to it, every hairpin turn upward revealed more hill, more punishment. 

I was racing in the regional Gran Fondo Championships, a grueling 62 mile bike race with long, steep mountain climbs.  I did the event the year prior and blew up halfway through.  My fitness wasn’t there, and I resolved to come back and get redemption.

“If this is what redemption feels like, I’m not sure I want any… “.

 

Level Up

The great American cyclist Greg Lemond is known for a quote that’s still popular in the cycling community.

“It doesn’t get any easier, you just get faster”

For bike racing, a sport famous for taking it’s participants to arguably deeper levels of physical suffering for longer periods of time than any other, it’s a perfect quote.

Training hard and putting in long hours on the bike definitely helps you get faster.  But as soon as you’re in a race, no matter how fast you are, you’re probably going to suffer just as much as you did last time.

Or more.  There’s always someone faster than you.

I did a post a while back that discussed stress and anxiety.  In researching the post, I was fascinated by the concept of “optimal anxiety”.

The idea being that we need some stress and anxiety in our lives to stay productive, to keep the ship afloat.  A life of no challenges and total comfort is a sure death sentence for the body and brain. 

Starting from nothing, increasing levels of stress and anxiety are actually beneficial to help us learn and accomplish things. 

But when levels of stress and anxiety become too high performance starts to decrease, according to the Yerkes-Dodson Law.  Extended stays in these high levels of anxiety have detrimental effects on physical and mental health. 

I might have just described the relationship that most folks have with their W2 job.

So if we’ve established that we have to keep a certain level of stress in our lives to prevent mental and physical atrophy, then to a certain degree life doesn’t get any easier.

Sorry to break the news, but you’re going to have continual stress and anxiety in your life.  Yeah, I’m a palm reader.

It Doesn’t Get Any Easier, You Just Get BetterBut here’s the thing.  You get better.  As you keep attacking problems and having “optimal anxiety” in your life, you’re going to level up.  It won’t get easier, you’ll just be tackling harder problems, with more experience to draw on.

And then new problems will fall in your lap.  And round and round it goes.

Just like the cyclist who gets faster.  He or she then enters new races with faster competitors.  It doesn’t get any easier in those races, they suffer just as much.  They’re just going faster.

In the end, if a competitor who’s really trying their best has anything left at the finish line they didn’t push hard enough.

Unlike the perception of many, we FIRE proponents do not wish to retire to a life on the beach with a drink in hand.  Actually I don’t know a single FIRE blogger striving for that.

We wish to retire from our W2 careers (assuming we don’t like them anymore) to do work that’s more meaningful and fulfilling.  And that work will still bring stress and anxiety at times.  As long as the stress is kept at optimal levels, it’s a good thing.

There will be new challenges to solve and skills to learn.  And to be honest it won’t get any easier, but if all goes as planned we’ll just get better.

 

The Race

It Doesn’t Get Any Easier, You Just Get Better

From The Actual Race

I came to the race that second year fit, prepared.  I put the work in to prep, months of it. 

Yet during that last hill, that last torturous climb, I almost mentally broke.  The pain was excruciating.  I went as deep as I’d ever gone into what we call the “pain cave”. 

My brain interpreted that new level of pain as failure.

“This hurts too much, I can’t be doing well…”

I was already projecting ahead before it was even over.

“Are you really going to come back again next year after this disappointment?”

I laid in the grass at the finish party, completely empty.  Slowly sipping my free beer and eating a Clif Bar, fully drained and a bit stunned.  I just stared at the sky.

Then my buddy came over with a big smile on his face.

“Congrats dude, you came in 7th!”.

Seventh place out of 88 racers.  I had never placed so high in a race in my life.

It doesn’t get any easier, you just get better.

 

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Dave @ Accidental FIRE

I reached financial independence and semi-retired in my mid-40's through hard work, smart living, and investing. This blog chronicles my journey and explores many aspects of personal finance including the psychological and behavioral factors that drive our habits.

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43 Responses

  1. Xrayvsn says:

    You definitely amaze me with all the physical challenges you put yourself through and triumph over. Mountain climbing, endurance biking, etc.

    The mental aspect is what is the main barrier for most. When I lift weights there is a part of me that says I can’t do the next rep and if I let it get into my head, then lo and behold, I can’t do it. That is about the extent of my physical activity which pales in comparison to yours by the way.

    At work when I first started out as a newly minted attending, everything was stressful (this is the first time I’m reading an x-ray with no backup like I had in residency). Signing off on a report as official was incredibly stressful. After 15 years the cases where there are things I haven’t seen are very few and far between and it does get much easier. I have found out thought that it is the interesting cases that come in and make me think that reignite some passion at work, otherwise it can get repetitive/dull quickly.

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      I think you’re right, the brain can unlock (or lock) physical performance that we ‘think’ we can’t do. In some cases of course certain things do get easier, but you’re filling some of that gap with new stuff that’s hard, like blogging 😉

  2. Completely agree that a certain amount of stress and anxiety is necessary to “produce.” I actually find that when there is no stress on me to get stuff done, I am amazingly unproductive. This is true at work, in my side hustles, and even in my finances.

    Optimal anxiety is a great name for that, and one I had not heard of before. Really like the idea.

    TPP

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      Yep, I do my best work under tight deadlines, that goes for athletic events too. I wish it weren’t that way but I often need to be backed in a corner to really perform.

  3. Congrats, man! That is a big accomplishment. An actual RACE for 62 miles, up hills, no less! I finished a 62 mile RIDE earlier this spring with few hills, and that was plenty enough for me. Maybe I need to start eating Clif Bars too?

  4. Stress in moderate amounts can be a good thing. It can be a motivator and a signal that you are challenging yourself. But you are right it doesn’t go away.

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      Stress and deadlines are a definite motivator for me. College was full of all-nighters and caffeine pills!

  5. Ergh typed a long comment and got invalid security token. Well, in a nutshell I wrote that even if you’re comfortable, it’s good to push yourself to new challenges. And congrats on your accomplishment!

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      Sorry Tonya, I swear I haven’t banned you! I hate when that happens…

      You are definitely pushing yourself now with your move in all aspects of your life. The results will no doubt be amazing!

  6. 5am Joel says:

    Never heard of Optimal Anxiety before. What an awesome concept.

    Congrats on the finish and for going back and trying again. Awesome story.

  7. What an amazing event and a great finish. Your sports challenges are so motivating. Just when I thought I had the best T-shirts to start a movement, now I have T-shirt envy for that “Gran Fondo National Championship” shirt. Certain shirts money can’t buy. You can only “earn” them. Nice!

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      I have a few nice Gran Fondo shirts, and you’re right that they mean a lot more when you earn them. Thanks!!!

  8. steveark says:

    I wish, once you pass fifty that mantra changes to “It doesn’t get any easier, you just get slower!” And that is worse, trust me. On the other hand as I told the 69 year old guy running next to me this morning at 5:30 am, at least we are still out here running! Great post.

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      For me it’s weird, I’m slowing down a tad with running, but my cycling is holding nicely. Not at 50 yet but getting there. The struggle is real but I plan to fight father time like Rocky Balboa – I’m gonna keep getting back up! Thanks for the kudos!

  9. LOL Now you have me feeling anxiety as I train for my Ultra50K 🙂
    Good work on pushing through the pain and for the good finish. Yes work requires we dig deep and fight through the uphill battle of a high savings rate and cutting expenses to move onto better things in life at an earlier age.

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      Dude, an ultra, nice! I have yet to run a race longer than a marathon, and now that ultra’s have exploded in popularity the weird, demented part of me that likes to suffer on long endurance events is toying with the idea of doing one. I don’t know, we’ll see.

      Good luck with your training – get those miles in!

  10. Doc G says:

    I think writing is the same. It doesn’t get any easier, and your posts just keep getting better. Great post!

  11. kick-ass! i think you’re right about the stress. we just want enough money to “choose” most of it. i don’t want my stress coming from a knucklehead coworker or boss much longer. it does all get easier. once this money thing and overcoming hard things in life got easy i started looking around for something hard to do.

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      Being able to choose to add stress to my life is a blessing indeed, and one that I worked hard to put myself in the position for. It’s a good place to be!

  12. drmcfrugal says:

    Wow. Very inspirational!

    I will say though.. What’s wrong with a stress-free, anxiety-free life on the beach with drink in hand an a “no worries” attitude? Sounds fine to me…

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      Ha, that kind of stuff is enjoyable, in low doses. You’re not gonna fool me Doc, anyone who’s ambitious and motivated enough to get through Med school and become a Doctor will very likely find taxing and stressful things to do. The beach and drink can punctuate the down-times. I have you figured out 😉

  13. GenX FIRE says:

    I am a lifelong distance runner. Everything you are saying is ringing true for me. I find this analogous to Dungeons and Dragons and any of the countless table top and video games that use the similar leveling system. The more you do, the more you reflect on what you do, the more you are capable of. At boot camp, the drill instructors helped us all push beyond where we thought our physical and emotional limits were. It’s the hero’s journey. The trick is to be the hero in your own life.

    That’s what I took from what you are saying anyway.

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      “Be the hero in your own life” – well said! For me, I’m most comfortable racing against myself. I like beating my previous PR’s and becoming my own hero.

      Thanks for reading!

  14. 7th!! I am seriously impressed. And as much as I adore running, cycling doesn’t do it for me. I know I know, not the point of this post anyway 😉

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      Thanks Angela! We’ll make a cyclist of you yet… and if not, well you’re still a runner so you’re a star in my book!

  15. Rakesh says:

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  16. mrWow says:

    Great story. I completely agree. It doesn’t get easier, you get better and more adapted to it.

    You also find out that it’s the mind that’s weak. The body is strong and capable of amazing things.

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      So true, the older I get and the more events and races that I do I really think the mind is the much bigger factor. You have to believe.

  17. Much like you, I’m a fan of endurance sports. I really enjoy the rigorous training process and witnessing your body adapt to the torment. I started running the final semester of my senior year of college and struggled to get past 2 miles without getting a terrible case of shin splints. I’d convince myself this is my body’s way of saying to back off and take it easy. It was telling me running wasn’t for me. It was telling me, “Find something else. Anything else. Just not this. Please, I beg of you.”

    I don’t know if it was arrogance, denial, stubbornness, or a combination of the three, but I kept at it. I’d take time off to recover. I’d stretch. I’d cross-train. I set a goal for myself to run 10 miles before my college graduation. As that date approached, I saw myself topping out at 5 miles before I’d have to throw in the towel.

    The morning of my graduation came and the farthest I’d gone to that point was 7 miles and it took me an hour and a half. The ceremony started at 10am and I knew I’d made a promise to myself to reach that mark before I crossed the stage. I took off at 6am, unsure of how long my run might take. I’d walk it if I had to. I was making the 10 mile goal. I pushed through 5 miles without a problem. The 6th mile didn’t provide me much stress. I eclipsed my 7th and made my way to 8, 9, and finally 10. Those last 3 miles were torturous. But I had managed to run the distance in an hour and 30 minutes. Sitting through my ceremony was the hardest part. Spent legs and a body craving carbohydrates. It was worth it. I only remember my graduation because of it.

    I’ve come a long way since. I’ve managed to run countless half marathons and 4 full marathons. I’ve come mighty close to reaching my 3:30 time goal and wonder if I might give a triathlon a try. I’m so happy to be on this side of my decision to push through. I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiment about it not getting easier, but you getting faster. I wouldn’t have made any of my goals if I didn’t believe it.

    I can only imagine the endorphins pumping through your brain at the finish, especially after your previous year’s result. Your legs were shot and you could barely move. But you had to be in a state of absolute nirvana. That high is worth it all. Coming in 7th is pretty amazing. I can only imagine the multiplier effect that had on you. I hope someday to celebrate a similar feat. Thanks for sharing this encouraging message and congratulations on your accomplishment. On to the next!

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      Wow, what a great story!!! That’s awesome man. I think you should do a post about that 🙂

      And you’re right, the endorphins at the finish of any endurance event – hell, even a 5k which isn’t exactly endurance – are amazing. We need that struggle to be fulfilled. The race I posted about here is still the best result I’ve ever had in an official timed event. I’m now in my ‘upper’ 40’s and it’s getting a bit harder to maintain those levels. But I still fight for it every day. And I still drop most of the 20-something “kids” on my big Sunday group ride. Probably because they’re hungover and I’m not 🙂

      Thanks again for the great comment and btw 3:30 is a great time, super fast. I’ve only done 2 full marathons and 3:40-ish is my best, but honestly I think I’m more fit now and could beat it. I just don’t want to do another road marathon. If anything I might jump to an ultra on a trail, way more fun. And more suffering 😉

      • We’re chasing that optimal level of stress in our lives, right? And as we norm to it, we want more of it.

        I listened to a podcast by Dr. Peter Attia where he interviewed an ultra-endurance athlete named Mike Trevino about his mental workings to fuel his drive. He said being in moments of continual exertion feels normal while not is abnormal. I can’t relate completely but will admit to feeling such contentment when in the middle of a long run.

        Long live the suffering. Long live the norming.

  18. I love this. It’s really amazing how the mind can push your body past it’s limits, as well as convince you to give up when you ineveitably have more left in the tank. You’ll always adapt to your new baseline, so sometimes it’s tough to feel that progress.

    I was talking to my cousin the other day who recently picked up competing in triathlons.. I think I want to try one of those out next year and give me a challenge!

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      It is mostly in the mind, I’m convinced. You should def try a triathlon, once you sign up for something the motivation to train is the best motivation you can get!

  19. FI Introvert says:

    Wow! Congrats on the 7th place. I totally agreed that we just keep getting better and better but it doesn’t come easier. I am trying to rectify that with shaving forty minutes off my marathon time and being able to go out to lunch with my Dad and wife afterword versus the year before almost being comatose. I guess there is an element of self inflicted pain (e.g. I was not eating or training correctly. The comparison might be getting into debt with gambling or frivolous purchase.) So sometimes it does get easier if we take care of ourselves, but now my goal is to go 3:30:00 in a couple years so the pain will definitely be there again, just this time with proper nutrition or training. Agreed? Good post.

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      Wow, losing 40 minutes in 26 miles is no small feat! I can guarantee you will have pain if you run at 3:30, and lots of it. But think of the pride and sense of accomplishment you’ll have when you do it.

      And the endless food afterward 🙂

  20. Wow, top 10%, that’s a great accomplishment! I’m working on training for a half marathon and my biggest fear is making it to the race without the ability to finish.

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      Thanks! My best advice is to just put the work in. Or as we say in endurance sports “embrace the suck”

      You’ll love it!

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