I never thought of myself as an athlete. Not when I trained to walk a marathon or walked/ran countless 5Ks, or when I started hiking and did close to 50 hikes with the Atlanta Outdoor Club. Not even when I joined a boot camp and went consistently for 6 months. I would always say I was never athletic, even when I started roller skating. I thought of these activities as pastimes, and it wasn’t until recently, after two years of cycling, that I now consider myself an athlete.
What changed? I realized I don’t have to race or compete, look a certain way, or be the best to call myself an athlete. Since I started riding, I’ve increased my saddle time, do weekly rides, go farther distances, and even ride in the winter. I remember when I first thought 8 miles was far, and I have since completed 7 metric centuries.
Overall, my stamina, endurance, and speed have improved. Not every ride is fun and each ride is different even if it’s the same route. The weather or my energy level may impact it and I learn to adapt. I hydrate and fuel. I rest and recover.
Discipline, consistency, and perseverance, I think, are what make an athlete. Depending on the ride, I may struggle, especially if there are steep hills, but I persevere. My discipline to consistently ride, train, work hard, push through physical discomfort, and overcome mental blocks makes me an athlete.
Maybe I was an athlete in those other activities I thought were just recreational. I never thought of myself as an athlete, but I do now.
