Thinkin on your feet, for yourself

Life can be so trying. but the key is, to keep trying. As you have all noticed, I'm sure, this is my first post in over a year. In that last year, I have added a number of National Championship Qualifiers and racers, a downhill National Champion, and a few more first-timer Ironmen and women breaking into the sport with top-30 results, in very competitive age groups, with large number of competitors. On a personal side, I have added just a mere 50 miles of riding in that time, numerous hours of Physical therapy, a couple of MRI's, and a broken date with the surgeons knife. What an incredible 15 months. I've learned so much more about myself in that time, and the true effect on performance, in and out of sport, that ones psychological abilities has. While I can say that my mental strengths before this life adventure was matched extremely well to the "normal" training cycle for a competitive basketball season (for a coach) of 10 months, I can also say, that I found out a lot about myself I didn't know....like how much I truly LOVE cycling, running, and the active lifestyle that accompanies it, and while I THOUGHT I was eating a truly healthy diet, I was just a product of the advertising and mainstream media that we have all become. I don't mean this to say I've gone off the deep end and only eat things that have roots (which for a little while I did, just ask my girlfriend), but rather to say that all too often today, we just take what we hear and see as fact, and don't question it. Some of the best athletes that I coach, are ALWAYs out there, reading, researching, and looking for more information and knowledge, which they then in turn pass along to me, and challenge how I as a coach think, and change how I coach all of my athletes. I think we all need to start opening our eyes, challenge the information pushed to us, and shoved in our ears and eyes, and figure out what works for us, and WHY. There are over 7 BILLION people on this earth. What makes YOU different? Are you thinking for yourself? Are you working WITH your coach, or just taking letter as law?

Recently Crossed off of our reading list....

Looking for some solid reading to get the most enjoyment out of your recovery time?

Check out these two, awesome, inspirational reads:

Life's Golden Ticket By Brendon Burchard

Wooden on Leadership By John Wooden














Finish your training sessions for the day, grab an ice cold glass of water and a piece of your favorite fresh fruit, and crack open a book that will help you, find you.

Enjoy!

Music makes the striders go faster/ pedals go faster

What's on our Ipod for some of our workouts?




Some BB King for our 3x3 min Fast pedals, and our 4 x 1:30 striders





A little Van Halen for the 4 x 4min Vo2 Max efforts





Keeping it classy with Tribe Called Quest for our rest periods between our Striders





and some Audioslave for the 4:30 Hill repeats!



Whats on YOUR workout playlist?

Phantom in the wings

There have been a growing number of HVT athletes who have achieved a wide variety of personal, and professional accolades with the help/guidance of HVT. I've really come to both appreciate, and relish the feeling I get of not having the spotlight, and being that "X" factor behind the scenes.

I've come to not mind when people overlook the seemingly small contributions that have been made by either my company, or myself. I've grown to realize that there are many individuals out there who don't realize that sometimes, it's that little pin, that's keeping the whole house from falling down.

But you know what? I truly enjoy being able to sit back in my shiny new beach chair, and reflect on what has been accomplished, and being able to say: "I had the knowledge, skill, adeptness, and consciousness to know when/where to put that little pin, and because of that, I can enjoy the huge building that is now towering before us all. And the best part is? Only I knew it, and still do. What an incredibly positive impact, on so many people, such a small act was able to have!"

Make a small difference in someone Else's life. Hold a door open, pass along a smile, help someone open the car door when their hands are full with their kids and groceries, make a behind the scenes/anonymous contribution to a group you care about, and marvel at the impact that your small good deed, had for so many others.

Practice RAK, and the world will be better for it.
Even if they don't know it :-)

sometimes the best ideas,....

Occur at the oddest of times.

When that happens, one needs to take a step back, and take a moment to gather oneself, and ensure that they capture these ideas, in written, or electronic form.

After all, didn't Thomas Edison wake up one night with the moon cloaked by the clouds,realize he was out of matches, stub his toe on the spinning wheel on his way to count out his 67 beans for his perfect cup of coffee, and have the idea for an "electronic candle"?

Thank you Mr. Edison, Thank you.

Some lead, others follow

"It's the simple things in life that turn the peasants into leaders..."

what is it that turns on our switch to become a leader? Is it a single event? Afeeling of responsibility? Or perhaps knowing that we are the ones who possess the knowledge or experience for that situation?

Regardless of what may turn that switch on, there can be times after we have elected to make ourselves leaders, that we may forget the role which we are in.

Too often it seems as though today's leaders forget that leaders need to lead, not only in words spoken, but in actions taken.

It's not easy to know and realize that one needs to take time out of their sport, in the meat of the season, in order to continue to make progress. While it absolutely sucks to be off the bike, and not running (although only 3 -5 miles a week, trail running is my other release), I have found, yet again, that leading by example has brought out more positives in the athletes I coach.

What actions, small or large, do you NEED to take in your life to lead by example, and will you commit to doing the right thing, or the easy thing?

The meaning of life

Some days you're flying along, others you're at the back of the pack.
Don't forget the Big Idea.....HAVE FUN!!! That's what you put all those hours in for!

And irregardless of where you are in the race, Sprint for that line, no matter how tired you are, whether at the back, or at the front, you still have to have that passion inside you, that wants to beat whoever is around you...even if it is the wind pushing a candy wrapper.