I am sure you might have noticed this week's podcast, which acts as a preview for my own challenge I am undertaking, the Haute Route d’Alps. This seven day cycling race will take me through many of the most famous Tour de France climbs in the Alps, and certainly stretch my capabilities and fitness, with all my training being completed within context of a time-starved life. If you missed the pod, have a watch of the video version here to get the full flavor of what is upcoming:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jcXtZEZrNY&t=9s

 

I am excited to share the fun daily reports from France (and Italy), and plan to provide ‘internal’ thoughts and lessons to our own Purple Patch community, as well as some additional pictures and videos of the team. In advance of taking off for the trip, I wanted to share a couple of thoughts that relate to all of us, as we collectively drive toward our goals over the rest of this year. Before the suffering begins, I think it is healthy to pause and aim to reflect on any lessons I can draw, as these might get tainted by the emotions and the experience itself.  Here were my key lessons from this journey to Haute Route:

 

1. Being a part of something.  This journey toward the race would not have been near as enjoyable or successful without the accountability and joy of sharing it with others. I am lucky to be doing this event with my two brothers and four other friends (unfortunately one just had to drop out due to personal circumstances). The months of logistics, training and early mornings were more successful as I felt a part of something, and could share with others. I don’t think I would be near as prepared if I wasn’t doing it as a part of a ’team’. This emotion was cemented by looking at all the pre-race get togethers and online race reports out own athletes have shared over this year, and realize just how important ’team’ is. My ’team’ was truly international, with the participants being based in the US, UK, Australia and Switzerland, yet we were connected and accountable.

 

2. The power of group coaching.  I owe a big thanks to many of the Purple Patch athletes who leverage our live and VOD bike trainer sessions. Beyond my Haute Route teammates, there is not a way in the world I could be prepared to compete at next week’s event without those bike sessions. While I view them as pivotal and effective training for team Purple Patch, they fed my soul and helped me really enjoy the tougher work needed to be prepared. Thank you to all the athletes who leverage the bike videos for their training, as I actually benefited myself from coaching them.  Dare I say it?  They are not just powerful training stimuli, but also fun.  

 

3. Context, collaboration, give-back.  Taking on this challenge required a lot of planning, but also sacrifice from Kelli and Baxter. I aimed to integrate as much of the preparation as possible into training camps and early mornings, but I fully realize that additional focus and time was required on this training. I think I did well as keeping a balanced mindset around training, without allowing it to dominate broader life, but following the trip it will be important to adjust focus again. I believe this is important for longer-term success across family, work and life. When asking ‘what next’ after Haute Route, my focus will be on family and Purple Patch before individual ambitions.  It was been healthy and high value to take on a big challenge, and it is a catalyst and platform for broader performance. I will still aim to move forward and chase new goals, but within broader context of family and work.

 

As I get ready to take on the race itself, I am completely open to what might happen. I am confident I am fit enough to pass the test of completion, but not focus or concern on position or times. I see the week itself as the reward and a simple opportunity for me to truly test myself and build experiences of a lifetime, and for this reason I have already won.

 

I hope you guys tack along, and a perhaps inspired to take on similar fun experiences and challenges in the years ahead. Trail running, fun adventure IRONMAN races, Haute Route, Trans Alps and more. They is a whole world of cool races in cool places, and many of them fit into the context of performance evolutions, improvement in triathlon and more.

 

Matt