After my fourth weekend in a row of placing last at my motocross races, I was ready to hang it all up. I thought to myself, “Why bother? Why put myself through this frustration every weekend? Why waste my parents’ time and money when all I do is lose?” Throughout the season, I had allowed myself to become more focused on winning than having fun, which is why I began racing in the first place. It was at this breaking point that I realized it isn’t about winning. It’s about how you react to the failure that allows you to grow and succeed.
On the drive home from my fourth lost race, I was talking to my boyfriend, Kole. I told him how frustrated I was and how I felt like giving up. I felt like there was no point in racing anymore because I always …show more content…
I knew this was my last chance to improve because the rest of my week was jam packed and there was no way we’d have the opportunity to ride again. I pushed harder than I ever had before. Yet, the practice didn’t feel any different. My second lap, I made a mistake and went over the handlebars. A while later, I went down in a corner. Then I went down again, and again. We were nearing the end of the practice when I came flying down the straight of the track. I slammed the shifter down with my foot and squeezed the brake with my hand. I rode the berm like I’ve always been taught, but this time the front wheel jumped out because I was going too fast. I went down for the fifth time in one night. As I rolled over and sat up, I ripped my goggles off my helmet and threw them on the ground. My blood felt as if it was boiling, I felt the tears welling in my eyes and the lump in my throat was the size of an orange. My dad asked me if I was okay, but all I could muster up was a violent “I’m fine.” The warm, salty tears began streaming down my face and my dad seemed confused. I propped my bike up against the tree and sat down. I had hit my breaking point. My dad quickly figured out what was up and began to give me words of …show more content…
You are ranked fifth in the state. A few bad weekends does not determine what kind of a rider you are. You have been faced with some very stiff competition in the last weeks. Those were the best girls in the state, and you are one of them! Remember that we do this for fun. You’re getting too worked up and worrying too much about how you’re riding than about how it is supposed to be fun. You made the decision to work hard and get better, but you don’t just get better by deciding you’re going to get better. It is going to take a while. You can start by slowing down because you are pushing way too hard and making mistakes. Smooth is fast. Now get back out there and try again because we’re not going to end on all this bad mojo.”
I pulled my helmet back over my head, put my goggles on, and squeezed my sticky, sweaty hands back into my gloves. I swung my leg over the bike and fired it up. The motor rumbled to life as it had so many times before, but this time it was different. I had a new outlook on my riding. The idea of pushing hard and having to win was gone, and in its place was the idea of riding smooth and just having fun. I hoped to carry this into my race, but I knew that it would be
On the drive home from my fourth lost race, I was talking to my boyfriend, Kole. I told him how frustrated I was and how I felt like giving up. I felt like there was no point in racing anymore because I always …show more content…
I knew this was my last chance to improve because the rest of my week was jam packed and there was no way we’d have the opportunity to ride again. I pushed harder than I ever had before. Yet, the practice didn’t feel any different. My second lap, I made a mistake and went over the handlebars. A while later, I went down in a corner. Then I went down again, and again. We were nearing the end of the practice when I came flying down the straight of the track. I slammed the shifter down with my foot and squeezed the brake with my hand. I rode the berm like I’ve always been taught, but this time the front wheel jumped out because I was going too fast. I went down for the fifth time in one night. As I rolled over and sat up, I ripped my goggles off my helmet and threw them on the ground. My blood felt as if it was boiling, I felt the tears welling in my eyes and the lump in my throat was the size of an orange. My dad asked me if I was okay, but all I could muster up was a violent “I’m fine.” The warm, salty tears began streaming down my face and my dad seemed confused. I propped my bike up against the tree and sat down. I had hit my breaking point. My dad quickly figured out what was up and began to give me words of …show more content…
You are ranked fifth in the state. A few bad weekends does not determine what kind of a rider you are. You have been faced with some very stiff competition in the last weeks. Those were the best girls in the state, and you are one of them! Remember that we do this for fun. You’re getting too worked up and worrying too much about how you’re riding than about how it is supposed to be fun. You made the decision to work hard and get better, but you don’t just get better by deciding you’re going to get better. It is going to take a while. You can start by slowing down because you are pushing way too hard and making mistakes. Smooth is fast. Now get back out there and try again because we’re not going to end on all this bad mojo.”
I pulled my helmet back over my head, put my goggles on, and squeezed my sticky, sweaty hands back into my gloves. I swung my leg over the bike and fired it up. The motor rumbled to life as it had so many times before, but this time it was different. I had a new outlook on my riding. The idea of pushing hard and having to win was gone, and in its place was the idea of riding smooth and just having fun. I hoped to carry this into my race, but I knew that it would be