The Tour de France is due to start shortly on Saturday 5th July and continues until Sunday 27th July. The tour has 21 stages and will cover a distance of 3,664 kilometers (2276 miles). There are 9 flat stages, 5 hills stages, 6 mountain stages and an individual time trial. There are 23 teams all competing for the coveted Yellow Jersey.
I love cycling when spring arrives. I can cycle for hours, just me, my trusted Cannondale, and the road. Not even the entire road, just the next 5 meters of tarmac. I am not at the same level of fitness as the Tour de France riders, my goal is to cycle 278km over 3 stages around Luxembourg. This is a big goal for me and I am training towards this.
Cycling is a time for me to reflect and unwind. My day job is a distant memory as I leave my troubles behind me. The roads where I live are varied; there are the long meandering cycle paths by the river and extreme high climbs in the north of the country, known as ‘Little Switzerland’. When cycling up-hill it is hard on the body and especially the legs. During a hill climb It is always good to reach a welcomed plateau. A time to take it easy, rest the legs, prepare my physical and mental energy as I prepare for the next stage of the ascent.
Reaching the plateau is always good while cycling but not in my personal life. In order to avoid the plateau and steady state in my life I assess all my goals while cycling. I ask myself, Where am I in relation to my company’s targets? Have I made progress on my personal goals and what can I do to improve? Are my family relationships strong? Is my health good? Is my weight under control and spiritual life going the right way? These are all the questions I ask myself to ensure I do not take things too easy on the life’s plateau.
I want to be a different person this year than I was last year. If I am not improving in all areas of my life then I am regressing. I assess my objectives and look at my ‘shoulds’. I should lose some more weight, I should spend more time with family, I should look at that latest investment opportunity.
I review them in my mind and one by one I start to change the ‘shoulds’ to ‘musts’.
This is where the change occurs, this is how I get off the plateau and start the next ascent, there is always one more goal to reach and one more hill to climb!
I decide to take the next hill with added fervor and enthusiasm. I know the pain will come in my legs but I keep pushing on. Each turn of the pedal moving me ever closer to my goals and final destination.
Keep pedaling…
Stuart
Making Steps and Leaving Footprints…