When I was younger, I never really felt competitive, even though I was always willing to prove I was brave enough to try the new ramp or jump over a box. Whether it was climbing the tallest tree in the neighborhood or attempting tricks on my rollerblades, I thrived on challenges that tested my courage. As I got older and got into running, and then back into biking, I felt a pull to sign up for races. There’s something about the atmosphere of race day. It’s electric and gets me pumped. Racing, for me, is the only way I can truly push myself to the limits.
Training with friends is great, and we push each other hard, but it’s never quite as intense as when I’m being challenged in a race. I can ride trails or tackle a gravel route anytime I feel like it. Sometimes I push myself to get a better time, but it’s never as fast as it is during a race. The thrill of competition adds that extra edge.
I look forward to the training, the hours, and the days spent making sure I’m ready for race day. It’s a rough cycle, but in the end, it pays off—or so I hope.
Over the years, I’ve learned smarter ways to train. Initially, I would just ride the race route and memorize it, not paying much attention to specific challenges. Then I realized the need to diversify my training. For an eight-mile single-track race, I’d ride the route a few times to build endurance. Soon, I started incorporating gravel rides, gradually increasing the distance to three or four times the race length, which helped me get progressively faster. Last year, I decided to change up my routine again.
Now, I still ride the route and do extra miles to build endurance, but I keep mental notes of sections of the track or road that I need to work on. Spots where I struggle, I’ll ride those multiple times, and I ride with others to see how they handle those sections. This method has significantly improved my performance and confidence.
Through training for races, I’ve learned to push through hard and difficult things, which has helped me a lot in life. Knowing I can overcome challenges on my bike has taught me I can push through life’s obstacles, even when it gets tough. This mindset has been invaluable.
Racing has also shown me how I really stand with my peers. Strava KOMs are just a small snapshot; someone could push really hard for that short bit and gain a KOM. During a race, you have to push hard the whole time and really give maximum effort. It’s a true test of endurance and strength.
But for me, racing is not so much about the win or the podium. It’s about the journey and the growth. It’s about knowing that doing something hard leads to something great. The real reward isn’t just crossing the finish line; it’s the entire process that gets me there. The countless hours of training, the early mornings, the setbacks, and the triumphs—they all contribute to a larger sense of achievement.
There’s also a sense of immense accomplishment. Knowing that I was able to complete a race that was out of my comfort zone has taught me that I can do just about anything if I work hard for it. The sacrifices along the way are worth it. The feeling of crossing that finish line, knowing all the hard work has paid off, is unmatched.
Racing has become more than just a sport for me; it’s a way to continually test my limits, see how far I can go, and prove to myself that I can achieve what I set out to do. And honestly, there’s nothing quite like the rush of accomplishment and knowing that all the hard work has paid off. It’s about embracing the journey, learning from each experience, and growing stronger with every race. For me, that’s what racing is truly about.
Thank you to our 2024 Iceman Cometh Challenge Ambassador Gerald Gaecke @g_dubs83_
