Tour of America's Dairyland - Day Six

Progress is a funny thing. For all of us, the idea of progress is applicable in some capacity. For most of us, progress is defined by comparison.

We look to the great things other's have achieved and feel the need to do more ourselves. We feel an ominous pressure of inadequacy in the wake of talents not our own. We forget the long roads we have already traveled in a desperate and constant comparison of our current locations with those on completely different journeys. It is quite silly us of, but yet we persist.

It is easy to become discouraged in an unrelenting cycle of self depreciation when we define our progress outwardly. In today's globally networked culture, it is natural to feel as if you are competing against the world. But, this paradigm is largely untrue. We are not rivals with each other. Among seven billion people there is only one individual you. Your progress is your own, you abilities are your own, and your story is completely unique to you. We are an entire planet of people comparing ourselves as apples to those around us who are oranges. Do you follow?

I say this because I am frustrated. Next to the cyclists around me I am often too slow, too weak, and too easily frazzled to keep up. I found this to be true once again during todays stage as I "popped" off the back of the group unable to keep pace with the pack. I gave EVERYTHING I had trying to stay in the race. It wasn't enough. I've been training hard. I've been resting. I've been doing things the right way, at the right times, and with good results. Still not enough.

But outward comparisons don't do justice to my own efforts I'm only 7 weeks clear from Mono, and only a month into an actual training block. My journey has been different than that of my fellow competitors. I may not be as strong as them, yet, but I'm getting there. This is the beginning of my season, theirs are already in full swing. I am fighting to make a comeback into the space they already occupy. And you know what? I'm doing a fine job at it.

We are fighting different battles. So, tomorrow I am going to wake up not trying to be better than anyone else. I am going to get on my bike and race as best as I am able.

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