Chewing on THIS today.

What to eat? What to wear? Where do I invest my energy? How do I relax? How do I work? When do I train? How hard do I push? How much rest? Do I play? Do I play too much? Am I prepared? Do I care? Do I smile or walk on by?

I work among some of the most knowledgable coaches in the cycling industry. And one thing I continually hear from them is the great importance of day-to-day, moment-by-moment living. The reality that everything I do makes up who I am on the bike. It's not just the 2 hrs I spend training that day but the other 22 hrs that remain. How do I use my time?

They say this sepeartes the great athletes from the rest. And when I start to think and (try to) live that way, I realize how right they are. In a book recently presented to me by an Olympian the same rings true.

"Extraordinary performaces and successes in sport, as in all of life, are created by our passionate moment-by-moment involvements. Our victories are natural by-products of this approach."

"...extraordinary performaces come out of a process of continuous, regular physical and mental practice. The mindset of an extraordinary athlete is relaxed but focused and open to ever higher achievements. Real sucess or victory is measured by the quality of that very process of attention and mindful involvement, practice, and commitment." (from Thinking Body Dancing Mind, by Chungliang Al huang and Jerry Lynch)

Attention to the details.