Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Lance
I'd like to start my contribution to this blog with a short excerpt from "Every Second Counts," Lance Armstrong's second autobiography. I think its fitting because for the next ~240 days, every day counts.
I'm a big fan of Lance. I've read both of his autobiographies...and there are just so many little gems of inspiration in there amongst the greater story of overcoming all odds. Here is something I read last night as I was finishing up the second book:
"For instance, theres no math that can tell you why some people ride in the Tour de France, some never enter the race, and some dont risk. I've known guys who never quite put it all on the line, and you know what? They lost. One minute, after nearly a month of suffering, can decide who wins. Is it worth it? It depends on whether you want to win. I have the will to suffer. I do have that.
There are parts uknown with regard to human performance, and those are the parts when it's just about pain and forfeit. How do you make yourself do it? You remind yourself that you're fulfilling you obligation to get the best from yourself, and that all achievement is born out of sacrifice."
Eight months from now it could come down to a single throw. A single mistake or correct execution could make all the difference. The question for the next eight months will be: Do we have the will to suffer? Do we feel obliged to our teammates to get the best from ourselves and one another? Are we willing to make the sacrifice to achieve? I believe that I am...but I will spend the next eight months proving it over and over again, every single day.
I'm a big fan of Lance. I've read both of his autobiographies...and there are just so many little gems of inspiration in there amongst the greater story of overcoming all odds. Here is something I read last night as I was finishing up the second book:
"For instance, theres no math that can tell you why some people ride in the Tour de France, some never enter the race, and some dont risk. I've known guys who never quite put it all on the line, and you know what? They lost. One minute, after nearly a month of suffering, can decide who wins. Is it worth it? It depends on whether you want to win. I have the will to suffer. I do have that.
There are parts uknown with regard to human performance, and those are the parts when it's just about pain and forfeit. How do you make yourself do it? You remind yourself that you're fulfilling you obligation to get the best from yourself, and that all achievement is born out of sacrifice."
Eight months from now it could come down to a single throw. A single mistake or correct execution could make all the difference. The question for the next eight months will be: Do we have the will to suffer? Do we feel obliged to our teammates to get the best from ourselves and one another? Are we willing to make the sacrifice to achieve? I believe that I am...but I will spend the next eight months proving it over and over again, every single day.
# posted by Sean @ 11:35 AM 
