Get After It, There’s More Work To Do
This post isn’t really about mountains, I just have tons of pics to share
I bunny hopped a pothole and got right onto Jordan’s rear wheel. Drafting, the practice of keeping your front tire just inches behind the rear tire of the cyclist in front of you, can save you 30% effort since you’re being sheltered from the wind.
We were on our usual Sunday group ride, a 50 mile course that’s part amicable social cruise, part cutthroat race. We just started the fast 8 mile race section that ends with a long uphill. It was showtime.
Jordan started riding with us four years ago when he was 24. He was a great addition to our group, but easy to drop. The term “drop” in cycling vernacular means riding so fast that another person cannot keep up. You drop them.
Jordan was in shape at the time, but from years of doing CrossFit, which isn’t ideal for endurance activities like cycling. He couldn’t come close to keeping up with me back then.
Fast forward to this year and Jordan could now usually drop me. The fitness gains he made over the past four years were substantial.
It started bugging me that this kid who I could easily smoke just three or four years ago had now turned the tables on me. But I’m in my late 40’s, and he’s in his late 20’s.
As much as I sometimes humble-brag about my marginal cycling talents, age is still a thing. The fitness gains a 20-something can make in a short time are pretty freaking hard to match for someone in their late 40’s.
Realize How Good It Is
As I followed Jordan’s wheel that particular Sunday morning in October I reflected on some things. I thought about my great life, some wonderful new people who came into it this year, how awesome it is to be rich and semi-retired in my 40’s, and my growing business.
I also reflected on how I was at my peak lifetime fitness. I crushed all my personal records this year and trimmed another eight pounds of fat off my body through hard work and discipline.
But Jordan was another matter, he was now a notch above me, and it had been irking me all year.
Then a funny thing happened. Those positive thoughts, they fueled me. They changed my mindset.
“I can take him today”, I said to myself.
The Time Is Now, Try Hard
As we hit the final hill I attacked and went all out. I went deep into the dark recesses of the pain cave.
When we reached the little flat reprieve towards the top I looked back and saw that I had dropped Jordan! Elation overcame me and blocked the intense pain in my legs and chest. I frickin’ did it!
Then on the final steep pitch to the top I heard an approaching sound. I glanced in surprise to my right to see a mystery rider pass me at an alarming pace.
I tried to get on his wheel but couldn’t. He flew past me and won the hill.
What. The. Fuck.
At the end I greeted Jordan with a bittersweet smile. “I dropped your lame-ass”, I said.
“Yeah but that guy over there got you back for me”, he replied.
Neither of us knew the mystery cyclist, he had never ridden with our group before.
In a 10-second span on that hill I went from uber confidence and reassurance of my badass-ness, to being humbled and put in my place.
I went from solving one problem (Jordan) to being introduced to another (the mystery cyclist).
In other words I went through life.
Get In The Game
If you’re just starting your financial independence journey or side hustle, just go. Get in the game.
You’re not going to be the best, but you’re not going to be the worst either. You’re going to win some, and you’ll definitely lose some. You’re going to gain confidence some days, and be humbled in defeat others.
I’m never going to be the best cyclist or graphic artist, but I’m not the worst either. I’m never going to be the best friend, son, or boyfriend, but I’m not the worst either.
And I wasn’t the fastest to achieve financial independence, but damn if I didn’t do it.
Most importantly I tried to be the best most of the time. I showed up, and put in the work.
That’s what I did that Sunday morning on the ride. It worked for a short while, until it didn’t. That mystery cyclist beat me, and I couldn’t control that. What I could control is my effort, and I gave it my best.
I rode home that day with some pride, while realizing I had more work to do.
And to me that’s a good place to be.
Your cycling example is a great analogy of life. The best person to compete with is yourself. As long as you are improving you should be content and not worry about someone else’s race.
Cycling and other endurance sports are awesome metaphors for life, I usually find the answers to things through lessons learned on the road.
good stuff, dave. it’s ok to make mistakes and making them early is probably best where there is less at stake. a person will find what they’re good at.
i’m guessing you’ve been that surprise guy and i know i have in the past. i was never the best student in chemistry school as i wan’t too enthusiastic about it. but every now and then i would get prepared and end up with the best grade on an exam and have those future doctors shaking their heads. it was fun to flash some ability.
I have been that surprise guy before and when that happens it feels friggin amazing. Some days ya got it, some days not so much. I bet you were that kid who goofed off in the back of the class all the time, didn’t study, and still got A’s..
i was made to write an essay after goofing off once. i wrote “why i think it’s ok to have some humor in school” in 6th grade. yep, i was that one. best thing was my mom had to show up and had a hard time disagreeing with authority.
that sounds like good fodder for a blog post!
Ues, great analogy, I ride myself and have had similar thoughts. My conclusion, ride your own race. Doesn’t matter where you end up (logically, could be both first and last), just improve your own path, and be happy with it. In my 20’s I was fat and on the couch. No FIRE. Now can ride with those 20 years younger, and 3 years from FI. Thanks to inspiration from those like yourself.
Great job dude, 3 years will go fast. Yep, ride your own race and compete with yourself
A famous Henry Ford quote, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right,” emphasizes how much attitude determines success or failure. … This is because so much of it is based on attitude.
I love that quote and it’s often true. Many top athletes now go through mental training to visualize winning at their sport, and many are saying it works.
“I rode home that day with some pride, while realizing I had more work to do.”
The next day, was your body saying “What the F&^*?!? Was it really really necessary to do that?” Ha ha.
I totally get it with my playing basketball. At 50, I can usually do well within age group, but damn, age does come in as factor with younger groups. Although it is nice to show them up at times. Ha ha. Course, the next day the body is hurting… because you just have to give a little bit more than the other guy.
Ha yeah, I usually have to massage my legs out to prevent cramps later in the day. And yes sometimes my body does give me a “WTF?”… I just tell it to shut the hell up.
I was the mystery cyclist. It was an alarming pace and I dropped both of you .
JK : )
Thanks for sharing.
Max
Ha!! Ok, I challenge you to a rematch!!
Thanks for stopping by and watch out for me coming from behind ya!
Any time you can be in the game til the end is a pretty good spot to be.
It is, and I try to be there til the end every time. Show up, try hard 🙂
Great analogy! I could feel the burn when you hit that flat break, and taste the disappointment of mystery man.
Keep your great attitude. I’m 56, and my PR’s are long gone. Fitness and aging are an interesting experience in accepting the inevitable decline that age WILL bring, but choosing to be content with the best you can do. I just finished 4 miles on the treadmill. My time was slow, but I choose to focus on the positive that I can still run 4 miles, and feel great about my fitness. Time doesn’t matter as much anymore. Strange how that happens.
I do accept the inevitable, but that doesn’t mean I’m not gonna try to delay it and fight it every single step of the way 🙂 I have a pretty high pain tolerance, so I’m good to go into the high rounds
Hell yeah man, make that effort. I feel ya on the doing great and then having someone blow past you. This is how things have been going trail running lately. I am doing the best I have ever done in my life for fitness but someone out there will blow my socks off that I never expected. Kudos to you for pushing yourself man, love following along and reading your lessons.
Yep, there’s always someone faster. There’s awesome type-A athletes everywhere here in the DC area, it can be humbling, but motivating too. Thanks for the kudos dude!
I loved this, but it’s a cruel read as we’ve just entered the season where good cycling is really limited outside. Trainer work for the next couple months. My goal for 2020 is to vastly improve my climbing. I won’t be catching you, Jordan, or the mystery cyclist – but I’ll be getting better. In the game, getting better, strive to be the best.
I’m sure you’re plenty fast and strong, just keep at it. As for winter, I only ride outside. I have a trainer but haven’t used it in over 4 years. To me, modern clothing is so darn good and affordable that I’m always comfortable. And also, I just hate the trainer, I don’t have the mental toughness for that type of torture. I also hate TV and watching screens, so that makes it even more difficult to stomach.