Passion Leads to EXCELLENCE
08.2004

As the Tour de France of 2004 ended with Lance Armstrong winning his 6th consecutive event, I was struck by many things swirling around the Tour - the intensity of the three week ordeal, the fanaticism of the spectators (those in attendance as well as those of us who could only marvel from afar!), the pain all of these dedicated riders endured, the intense teamwork necessary to reach the top.

One of the things that really stuck with me was a comment that Lance made after finishing his incredible journey. When asked how we was so successful at this Tour as well as all the others and he mentioned several items. But the one thing that makes the difference for him was PASSION. Passion for the sport, passion for this particular race. The passion that it takes to get out there on many parts of this very grueling course to train and prepare in December, and in February, not just in the last month or two before the event. The passion to attack those mountains in the dead of winter when others are relaxing and waiting for the best time to train.

It struck that this type of Passion is the ONLY way to reach your absolute max or your absolute potential! That is what WE strive for in East Coast Gold with our motto, Commitment to Excellence! How can we have that commitment without passion??

Passion is defined as intense emotion or strong feeling toward something. Are you passionate about our sport??

Do YOU have that passion?? Those of you training to peak for Nationals or Masters Nationals or Schoolage Nationals, ask yourself - am I doing everything I can EVERY day to get there?? Am I wasting even one day in my preparation?? Am I doing ALL the things necessary to reach the top?? Am I training well but also eating right, resting properly and balancing the rest of my life to get the most out of my training??

That doesn't mean your life has to be consumed with training but living a lifestyle that allows maximum benefit from your training. It also doesn't mean that you are SO intense that you take the fun out of the sport but can still stay relaxed and focused at the same time. You know how to turn on the intensity and how to turn it on at the right time. Lance sure knows how to do it!!

Ask yourself - do I have the Passion that is necessary to achieve that Excellence we strive for on the platform??