Have you believed one thing about yourself and proved yourself wrong?
That’s what happened to me last Saturday at the Lookout Mountain Hill Climb. As my teammates arrived to the parking lot, toting trainers and safety pins in their trunks, I joked with them that I was paying to do an FTP Test. The race wouldn’t count towards upgrade points — which I found out that morning. It’s too short of a race.
I made the mistake of looking at the sign-up list the night before. I was familiar with most of the names I saw. I even clicked the “race predictor” button, out of some sick interest to see where the system “predicted” I’d place. I was somewhere in the middle.
Sounds about right, I thought to myself as I texted a teammate about focusing on other goals instead of her placement. I’m much better at helping others than I am myself.
I used to think I was a strong climber as I’d pass recreational riders up mountain passes with ease. I remember riding the Triple Bypass, riders gasping for air as I spun my legs, cheeks pointing to the sky. I was a confident climber back in the day of organized rides and weekend warriors.
That was until I raced hill climbs. I was proven wrong faster than you could say “granny gear.”
