Me and George Hincapie

Page 134
The Loyal Lieutenant
by George Hincapie

After standing on the top step of the podium in February, I entered a standard month of training and racing I'd always embraced.  When I was back in Greenville, I'd begun to work with a 'performance mind coach' by the name of Christina Maddox…………..our work unlocked a level of focus I didn't know I had…………and her advice gave me a new weapon in my arsenal.

The influence that Christina has had on George, concerning what I call 'effective thinking skills', could be infinitesimal compared the influence she has had on me.

I sat in workshops and classes for 20 years but more importantly, I have soaked this stuff up from her through osmosis.  She pretty much lives it!

Recently, a female masters triathlete told me she credited Christina(what she learned from Christina) with making her an Iron Man….or maybe an Iron Woman?  This was after 2 hours of classes at Carolina Tri during some Tri club meetings!

A local well known fitness professional, who attended a weekend workshop, told me a few months ago that she can't even remember how she thought before her workshop experience with Christina.

Christina and her organization never taught me what to think but how to think.   They taught me the power of positive self talk, that my current thoughts would determine my future, the leverage for change was in my beliefs, not my actions.  They showed me the power of bold attainable goals and how to set them.  More importantly, how to attain them.

They taught me that all meaningful and lasting change starts on the inside and works it's way out.  They taught me more…much more.  They taught me how to make these and other tools a part of me.

I still have all my foibles……..but these skills have helped me learn how to use my most effective and complicated tool….my brain.

During the years, I have seen many people change their lives with these tools, as I have.   I have seen many more dismiss these truths and resist.   When the student is ready, the teacher will appear…….and not before.

OK…back to George and Christina…….or really what they know, can bring about, and make happen.  What we can learn from them is important…..not really them personally as I am not putting either of them on a pedestal.

George is retired, still riding and not race fit anymore.  I promise though, he can still break a mortal human's legs.   If you get a chance to ride with him, take it.   He still has the magic.  Watch, listen and learn.  Learn about being a champion, not just riding a bike.  If you understand how champions think, you can be one at work, home, church or just about anywhere.

Christina is retired, also.  She hasn't spoken in front of world class leaders or audiences of hundreds, in a few years.  However, she too, still has the magic.  So, if you are ready, you might, you just might want open yourself up to some ideas that have been game changers for people like George and I.  Just listen….listen close.  And, maybe one of these days we will get a magic marker back in her hand and put her in front of a white board??  Maybe…if we're lucky.

Punchline:  If you keep on doing what you always been doing, you will keep on getting what you always gotten.   I love my life but I still want a better one!

See ya out there.

Oh, the picture of C and G is at the Paris Roubaix the year he got second.   They worked together that year prior to the race.   At that time, no American had ever been on the podium in the hundred plus years of the race.  Not sure if that is still true? He always wanted 1st.  To paraphrase a great writer OG Mandino, "He aimed his spear at the stars and only hit the moon, but wasn't that better than aiming at the moon and hitting a rock?"

The Bottom Rung

When I was 9 years old, I went to Little League try outs and I made the majors.   This meant I would be in full uniform playing the next 4 years for Elgin Butler Brick.  I would be playing in a league largely dominated by 11 and 12 year olds.  I was starter that year but I was about the 9th best kid on the team.  That changed tremendously by the time I was 12.

I have a lot of these stories…….that is about being the last rung on the ladder.   I played serious softball in Texas in my 30's and I was 10th best guy when we hit the field.

Playing with better people makes me better, I came to learn a long time ago.   It is also tough on the ego.

When we started the Headstrong Team several years ago, both Christina and I were nearly the weakest riders.  For 2 years, we worked and learned.  We trained.   It hurt physically, being the last person up the hill.   Everyone was at a moderate pace while we were nearly full gas.  We got better and better.   There is an old saying, " If it doesn't kill ya, it'll make ya better!"

By year 3, we both graduated and in year 4, we were dishing out some pain vs. always taking it.

Well, the planning is on for 2015, already.   C and I are going to what is a 'dream team' for us.  Thirteen of the Masters from Modry are moving to Carolina Cycling.  Modry has been great but this will create one of the top Masters/Womens teams in the southeast.  It is a great bunch of people, also.  I will be the oldest person on the team………no surprise.   I am close to the oldest person in the world!   Here is the kicker.   I will likely be the weakest rider on the team…….hum……."Play it again, Sam."  No where to go but up!

My world view is that equilibrium is never maintained for longer than moments……..one is either getting better or getting worse, at anything whether athletic, business or personal.   If you agree with my world view, it stands to reason that getting better is usually better than getting worse.

Whether at work, in a sports team, a running group, a book club, take stock of your associates.    If you want to get better, try joining a team of people who are mostly better than you are…….smarter, faster, stronger.   You WILL either die or get better………….and you WILL NOT
die.

Given the alternative, I will always take trying to keep up on a great team over being a lead dog on a mediocre one.  But, that's just me!

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to get better in 2015 and spend a lot of time with some great people.  I am thrilled to wear the red and white of Carolina Cycling Team next year.

See ya out there.