The professional age grouper

Every town has the professional age grouper. The professional age grouper is not a professional turned age grouper, but instead it is the average Joe that trains like a professional only to scrape the top ten in their age group. I happen to have one of these so called professionals at my work (this person also happens to compete in my age group). I am trying not to be too bitter about them putting the beat down on me recently. I used to wonder what it would be like to be someone whose sole responsibility in life is to one’s self. No longer do I wonder that. Having others, primarily my family, depend on me gives me a sense of purpose in life. I also depend on them as much as they depend on me.

The more I race and train, the more I realize that the real professionals are simply gifted athletes. Even if I quit my job to train full time, I would never achieve a fraction of greatness professionals do. This became even more apparent when we hosted Nicolas Becker (Nico). After talking with him, he is very much like the average guy who has a full time job and trains when he can. He just happens to race as a professional. Again, I see him as a gifted athlete. That doesn’t mean he does not work/train hard, he must do it within the constraints of his job that pays the bills. I have a lot of respect and admiration for him and many others like him.

I may not put in 20 hours or even 15 hours of training a week, but do know when I toe the line, you will get my best effort. When I show up to a race, you can always count on getting the best I have on that day. Some days, it may not be much, and other days I may grow wings and take off. My first goal is to do the very best I can and my second goal is to beat the professional age grouper.

Ride smart,
J-Rod