I was supposed to line up for London to Brighton. I had trained for it, carb loaded, visualised the route. But I woke up feeling awful. For the first time, I chose to sit one out.
Today, I was supposed to line up for the London to Brighton cycle race. I had trained my butt off. Visualised the route. I had let myself feel the nerves and excitement that always kick in before a big event. I even carb loaded.
But here is the truth. I woke up feeling absolutely awful. Not just the normal pre race jitters or a bit of fatigue, but genuinely run down. The kind where you know, deep down, that your body is waving a red flag.
For hours, I agonised over the decision. I could probably finish the race if I pushed myself. But at what cost? Would it mean weeks of recovery, or risking a real injury? Would I cross the finish line proud, or just plain wrecked?
There is a lot in sport (and life) about powering through pain, about "no excuses." That mindset can get you far, but it is not the whole story. Real courage is also about listening to your body, being honest with yourself, and always looking at the bigger picture.
Sometimes, the strongest thing you can do is step back.
So, for the first time in a long time, I chose to sit this one out. It honestly hurts as I love these races. I train for them, I look forward to them, I define my seasons and training phases around them. But I know I made the right call, even though my body is full of excess carbs.
If you are reading this and face a similar crossroads, whether it is a race, a workout, or anything you have poured your heart into, remember: sometimes the bravest thing is not pushing through for the sake of one day, but stepping back and keeping your eyes on the long game.
There is always another chance, another start line. The real win is making sure you are ready for it when it comes.
Written by
Committed recreational athlete, entrepreneur, and founder of EverydayPB. Runs, cycles, and trains functional fitness with a focus on performance and recovery.
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