"I wear the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it." – Marley's Ghost in A Christmas Carol.

We develop, and ultimately wear, chains of habit that at first are too light and subtle to be noticed. But before long, they become too strong to break.

It is human nature to fall into habits—they conserve mental and physical energy. Imagine a life where every action requires deep thought and consideration. We wouldn’t get much done. Yet, we often form habits without fully realizing it, and soon they become so ingrained in our routine that they may as well be chains.

Habits are like compound interest. Any single action, performed just once or even a few times, rarely makes a noticeable difference. However, a small action, repeated day after day for years, compounds over time and can dramatically change the course of one’s life. A thoughtful athlete will intentionally develop habits that support their long-term goals and will also take time to reflect on the habits they may have formed without even realizing it.

A chain can be a powerful tool, especially if it's forged for the better. Use this aspect of human nature to your advantage: forge habits that support the life you want to live and the athlete you want to become. Once those chains are formed, they’ll be hard to break- and that’s exactly what you want.

Antonio Gonzalez

Tri Town Bicycles