It’s Tour de France time!
Given that some of the best analogies and human interest stories have to do with sports, let’s take a tour of the Tour de France personality types. Some of us are great out of the gate (good at a sprint), but can’t stay the course for the long haul. Others excel at going the distance. Do you know which type you are in life?
We’re about to enter the individual stage (Stage 18) and see how our Tour de France heroes fare. Can Spaniard Alberto Contador continue his impressive performance? He’s a great climber and incredibly fast. And Lance Armstrong? Will he be able to move up in time, and overtake Contador’s lead? We’re heading into the last stages… it’s not long before the cyclists make their way into Paris!
For the long haul
It’s wonderful watching our sports heroes as they show off their endurance – whether it’s a grueling competition like a triathylon or the 1500 to 2,000 miles of the Tour de France. And we take lessons from watching these determined athletes, who persist through pain, spills, and weather, continuing to compete fearlessly.
The sprint
Those of us who enjoy watching Olympic track and field understand the appeal of being the “fastest” at something – the thrill of breaking records and pushing through to victory. We may call upon these same skills in our own lives – at various times – to make an impossible deadline, or to pull out all the stops for an event – giving 300% of ourselves to a time-critical effort.
In the clutch
As we get down to the finish line – whether it’s a matter of endurance or a burst of speed on a short leg, some choke in the clutch. But turning again to our sports figures – and to those in our lives whom we admire – we find the necessary tools to dig deep and deliver the necessary performance.
How we measure up
There’s no question that we enjoy the beauty of the French countryside while watching the Tour de France. And we may think about our own challenges, and how we attack them.
No matter how we measure up, as a grimpeur or a sprinteur – in cycling, some other sport or in life, ultimately, it’s about the integrity and pride of the good fight, isn’t it? It’s about following your dreams and giving it your all, racing to the finish line for the beauty of the win, and for the courage of the journey.
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