A couple of principles that drive my life are:
}Esse Quam Videri:
◦To be rather than to seem to be
}The Stockdale Paradox:
◦You must retain faith that you will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties.
◦AND at the same time…
◦You must confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.
These principles reflect my desire to live authentically and to experience an authentic reality--whether it is hopeful or disappointing; easy or difficult; fully engaging or slogging through what needs to be done.
This weekend is the Alkek Omnium, a track race at my local velodrome here in Houston. There are six events total and two of them are the events that fall within the boundaries of 59 Weeks--the 500m Time Trial and the 2,000m Pursuit. I will be racing these events against the clock this weekend. There will not be any room for "how did it feel?" or "do I think I did OK?" Instead there will be a number associated with each event. That number will not be influenced by how I feel or what I would like the number to be. It will be what it is--nothing more and nothing less. And my fear is that the number will be far from my objective--perhaps very far. Therein would lie the challenge.
But while I am a bit nervous, I am also looking forward to getting real numbers that will tell me where I am now in my performance and how far that is from where I want to be. I want to face the most brutal facts of my current reality--whatever they may be. Only then will I be able to work with my coach to gauge what we need to do to work from this weekend's numbers to the numbers that I want to ride in Los Angeles at the end of 59 Weeks. I have set a target for sub-38 seconds in the 500 and 2:35 or so for the 2k Pursuit. This weekend will show me where I really stand--not just where I hope to stand.
