Tour of the Battenkill: Bet on Yourself

“If you want to do something you’ve never done before, you have to do things you’ve never done before.”

This quote really stuck with me as I stood on the start line of the Tour of the Battenkill last Saturday.

I usually stand somewhere towards the middle or back of the pack before the race starts. I don’t have the fastest bike or the fanciest kit. I don’t have all the time or genetics to log huge training hours like some people I know, and I don’t really look like your typical cyclist. I guess I’ve never really felt like I deserve to be up front or had a chance, and my results have often reflected that.

I felt like this could be different. Given the course profile, the last 6-months of training, and last year’s finishing times, I thought a top 10 finish in the 40-mile race would be a stretch, but entirely possible.

Positioning in cycling races is really important. It’s hard to put yourself in a good place at the end if you handicap yourself by starting towards the back. I knew if I actually wanted this it would be uncomfortable, and I would have to start and ride with the lead group for as long as possible, and see if I could have a special day.

The first 10 miles with the lead group were as hard as expected, and despite my best efforts I was slowly dropped by them. While it was discouraging to be left behind, just trying to stay with them that long pulled me so far ahead of those behind me that I didn’t get passed by anyone the rest of the way. I managed to hang on for 8th place overall and well ahead of my time goal. 

I probably would’ve had a good ride if I played it safe and did what felt comfortable. But I’m certain I wouldn’t have achieved what I did, and I would have wondered “what if” afterwards. 

You can’t fake it. No amount of self belief will make up for poor preparation and fitness. You also can’t set unrealistic goals and think you can just will them into reality. That’s being delusional and just setting yourself up for failure and disappointment.

But if you know you’ve done the work, and believe what you want is within the realm of possibility, then you should bet on yourself and take your shot.

Allow yourself to surprise yourself.

Put yourself in a position to do something.

Ride like you deserve it.

As my girlfriend reminded me minutes before the race: “Someone has to be the fastest, it might as well be you.”