If you’re new to THE CRAZY QUEST, you may wish to read about it here. Basically, I’m tracing my journey as I attempt to answer the question:
What would you do if you didn’t know you couldn’t do it?
DON’tSTOP
Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. ~Lance Armstrong
I’m not all that persistent when I’m cycling.
As long as the momentum is there and I’m cranking along, it’s easy to keep going. But as soon as I start to struggle, I immediately want to stop and rest. I’ve cycled more than twelve thousand miles, and I still want to stop when it gets difficult.
I battle this tendency even on easy terrain. I lose focus and slow down, and then it’s just too easy to coast to a stop instead of working to regain my tempo and speed.
I think this happens to me in many areas of life. When things are going well, it’s easy to keep a positive attitude and continue moving forward. But one small obstacle can destroy the momentum and leave me sitting motionless.
Things I still need to learn, in cycling and in life:
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* Less energy is needed to keep moving than to start from a complete stop.
* Moving a little slower is better than stopping.
* When it’s hard to keep cranking, that’s when you get stronger.
* It helps to build up momentum before you reach a hill.
* Once you quit, it’s easier to quit the next time.
* Once you keep going through a tough spot, it’s easier to keep going through the next tough spot.
* Focus on the next few feet, over and over, and pretty soon you realize that you’ve covered a lot of ground.
I may not be the best. I may not ride fast or win or reach all of my goals.
I still don’t want to quit.
When are you most tempted to quit?
If you’re going through Hell, keep going. Winston Churchill