“When the work you put in is realized”

–Tim McGraw

Focusing on gratitude gave me 5 extra watts on the bike this afternoon. At least five. Intervals today were hard, over/under lactate threshold. This basically means spend some time hurting and then hurt more for a little while and then go back to just hurting and then hurt more for a little while and then repeat again several times. After doing that a few times, rest for a bit, but not too long because the next set starts soon.

 

All day long I keep in my head plans to complete my workout. Negative thoughts, like too tired, too busy, don’t want to, have a way of multiplying, so I kick them out entirely. This mental commitment makes getting on the bike easier when I get home, because I’ve been planning it all day.

Once the interval heats up it hurts, and it’s hard to keep up the same pace. My legs tell me, “It hurts, I tried, I’m too tired” and countless other excuses. They want to give up or slack off, and it becomes a mental battle to get the work done. In these instances, I remind myself to keep adding fuel, like Mia Hamm says, “I am building a fire and everyday I train, I add more fuel.”

And I focus on being thankful. I’m grateful to have the support, resources and health necessary to carve time out of my day to train. So many little details go into making even one ride possible, let alone a steady stream of rides, day after day.

These thoughts give me extra power. They show me to treasure every interval, make sure to get as much out of it as possible. If I don’t, I’ve wasted my time and shouldn’t have gotten on the bike in the first place. Not only have I wasted my own time, but I’ve wasted Scott’s time, when he adjusted my derailleur so my bike runs smoothly. I’ve wasted the money and support from my sponsors, who make products and equipment accessible.

 

If I don’t treasure every interval, why get on the bike in the first place? This specific interval at this specific effort is only going to happen once, I only get once chance to make it count, get everything out of it, that last 10 seconds when my legs and lungs are screaming, I have to treasure that. This moment is the opportunity to complete this workout. If I wasn’t going to put all my effort into doing it right, why do it at all, why get on the bike?

So I put all my thoughts into why I’m grateful to doing what I’m doing. I think of all the fuel I’m adding to the fire. And I carry this with me into all aspects of life. Don’t start something I don’t intend to finish, and be grateful for the opportunity to work hard.