Storebuilder Blog - Cycling to work/Fitness

“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”

Lance Armstrong.

I read Lance Armstrong's story last year and it's an inspiring story. "It's not about the bike" is a good read and makes you question whether being a couch potato is an option.

This guy, who fought and beat cancer of the brain and then went on to win the most gruelling three week bike race (tour de france) an incredible seven times.

I've read quite a few biographies of winnning sportsmen and women and the one consistent feature of their writing is what they don't write. It's what they leave out that is the most compelling feature of their storytelling.

They rarely or seldom mention their family or close friends.

In Armstrong's case he does at least acknowledge that he has a partner and his director sportif get's a splattering of mentions but the title of the book is misleading. It is in fact all about the bike. Winning is everything and top sportsmen have that steely focus that won't let anyone interfere with their ambition. That's why they win things.

I made Rob's spinning class last night and as the first glistening bead of sweat formed I started to smile to myself. I knew what was coming. In minutes I would be pouring and for the next fourty minutes you could forget all about those damn broken SSL certificates, the session timeouts, broken FTP connections or whatever it is that screws up your day royally.

For me it's computer stuff that's always not doing what it's supposed to. For you it's probably traffic on the motorway or congestion. Or having someone open a car door on you just as you are cycling past!

As my legs span away I started to get a feeling that I was retrieving my life from what it had become.

I was the stereotypical couch potato and it was showing. Badly.

Then something happened that made me sit up and take notice. I read Armstrong's book and I realised that I needed to get back in shape, not because I wanted to win trophies or races.

I needed to live longer.

Sure you can always get hit by the proverbial bus but minimising the risk is always a good option.

What's the point in slogging your guts out building a successful business if you are not going to be around to see the fruits of your labours? Any business takes time to build but the beauty of Internet business is that much of it can be automated and self piloted.

Getting fat was doing the polar opposite of what it takes to be successful. I needed to be around to see my kid's grow up. To enjoy my family. Go for walks and enjoy life.

It's too easy to sit at the computer all day and say that you are working your arse off. That's an oxymoron if ever there was one.

Computers are a great tool for getting stuff done but they are also one of the worst human inventions in the history of mankind. Your fingers are some of the tiniest muscles in your body. How are you ever going to burn off enough calories to stay skinny?

Do you think typing faster will do it for you?

Fabio Capello is skinny. Richard Branson is not fat. Cameron rides his bike. Obama works out regularly.

You don't see many old people who are fat.

For me it's all about the bike.

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