Today was a typical Saturday for me. I get up early, try unsuccessfully to not wake up the house, and go road riding with Team Velocity. Team Velocity is a local bicycle club that rides out of Fullerton, California. They have three formal groupings: 1 is meant for newbies and a more casual pace, 2 is for intermediate riders capable of most road ride challenges, 3 is for demi-gods of riding. The rate that a group three-rider will pass me at is startling.

Lately, there’s been this overarching sense of gloom with me. Its a sense of working hard for zero gain. All athletes run into this at one point or another. Unique lately though, is that a couple of the established group riders have been vocalizing a similar concern on the climbs.

HOGwash!!!

– as in Bull Shit…

Look at the data! This is why I propose many clients I speak with to review the Key Performance Indicators course on my sister site to orient themselves on what to track. By reviewing the data on a regular basis, you are able to keep your mind on fact over emotion.

For me, I use STRAVA to track my bicycling. This morning, as we ground out a climb over Whittier, California… a fellow cyclist I look up to mumbled about how poorly our assault on the mountain looked. I tried to reassure him “No matter how sloppy it looks or how slow we feel right now, I just know there will be PRs at the end of the ride.”

I said this with confidence because it’s true. We keep riding and training. As a group, the whole group is progressing. In comparison to others, you may have good days and bad days, but overall the trend is an improvement. By the way, a “PR” is a Personal Record. Strava tracks all your activities and rewards you with trophies when you PR a section of the activity.

Today’s results! (19 PRs)

It is so important to monitor fact over emotion. Yes, I felt slow on the climb as the leaders stretched out ahead of me. The data, however, says that at that moment in time, I was faster then I ever was – right there.

Tracking is important! Business, sport, grades, and studies are all dependent upon your growth. If you rely on your gut all the time – you’ll run astray and miss the core mission.

Manana No Mas! Let’s get shit done yesterday.