Gearing up. I have been working through all the courses in Zwift, trying to complete all of them. I have completed a lot of them already but some of the later ones are hardcore and it’s probably going to take a few attempts and some more training to be able to finish it.

This isn’t just about cycling, it’s about transformation. The person who started this journey is not the same person who’s writing these words. Something fundamental has shifted in how I approach challenges, how I view failure, and how I experience physical discomfort.

I don’t recognize myself. The person who just wrote the paragraph above, the person who did extra time on the trainer today, who is this guy? If you asked me a year ago that I would be training at 5am 6 days a week and doing extra, on purpose, I would have told you to seek help for your delusions.

The transformation of identity

Identity is not fixed. Who you are today is not who you were yesterday, and it’s certainly not who you’ll be tomorrow. The person you think you are is constantly evolving based on your actions, experiences, and choices.

The transformation happens gradually, then suddenly. You make small changes day after day, and one day you wake up and realize you’re not the same person anymore. The old version of yourself feels like a stranger.

Your self-image lags behind your reality. Even after you’ve changed, your mental picture of yourself often remains stuck in the past. This creates the strange feeling of not recognizing the person you’ve become.

The gap between who you were and who you are creates cognitive dissonance. Your brain struggles to reconcile the old self with the new self, which can feel disorienting but is actually a sign of growth.

Transformation is uncomfortable. Becoming someone new means letting go of who you used to be. This process involves uncertainty, doubt, and the discomfort of stepping into unknown territory.

The psychology of embracing challenge

It doesn’t matter though, I don’t have a deadline and every time I fail, I will gain fitness and insight for the next try. This mindset represents a fundamental shift in how you approach difficulty and failure.

Failure becomes fuel for growth. Instead of seeing failure as a reason to quit, you see it as a necessary step in the learning process. Each failure teaches you something valuable and makes you stronger.

The absence of external pressure creates internal motivation. When you’re not driven by deadlines or external expectations, you can focus on the intrinsic rewards of the activity itself.

Challenge becomes enjoyable. What once felt painful or unpleasant becomes satisfying. You start to crave the feeling of pushing your limits and discovering what you’re capable of.

The process becomes the goal. You’re not just training to complete courses, you’re training because you enjoy the act of training. The journey becomes as valuable as the destination.

Discomfort becomes a signal of growth. Instead of avoiding difficult situations, you start to seek them out because you recognize that growth happens at the edge of your comfort zone.

The strange joy of physical challenge

I am enjoying this pedaling pain and it’s so strange. This sentence captures one of the most counterintuitive aspects of transformation: the development of a taste for discomfort.

Physical discomfort can be pleasurable. When you’re pushing your limits in a controlled environment, the pain becomes a sign that you’re growing stronger. It’s a different kind of pain than injury or illness.

The pain becomes a teacher. Each time you push through physical discomfort, you learn something about your limits, your resilience, and your capacity for growth.

The pain creates focus. When you’re in physical discomfort, your mind becomes incredibly present. You can’t worry about other things when you’re focused on breathing and maintaining form.

The pain builds confidence. Each time you handle physical discomfort, you prove to yourself that you’re stronger than you thought. This confidence transfers to other areas of your life.

The pain becomes a meditation. Physical challenge can be a form of moving meditation, where your mind becomes quiet and focused on the present moment.

The power of consistency

Something has been clicking lately and definitely clicked more today when I finished my goal for the session and decided to not only go on, but to double it. This is the power of consistency and momentum.

Consistency creates compound effects. Small efforts repeated over time create results that seem disproportionate to the individual actions. Each day of training builds on the previous days.

Momentum is real. Once you establish a pattern of consistent effort, it becomes easier to maintain and even increase that effort. The habit of showing up makes it easier to do more when you’re there.

The threshold effect. There’s a point where consistent effort creates a qualitative change in your experience. What once felt difficult becomes enjoyable, and what once felt impossible becomes achievable.

Consistency builds trust in yourself. Each time you follow through on your commitment to train, you strengthen your self-trust. This makes it easier to take on bigger challenges.

Consistency creates identity. You become the kind of person who trains regularly, who pushes through discomfort, who embraces challenges. This identity then drives further action.

The early morning transformation

Training at 5am 6 days a week. This represents more than just a schedule change. It represents a fundamental shift in priorities and values.

Early morning training creates structure. When you start your day with physical activity, it sets the tone for everything that follows. You’re more focused, more energetic, and more productive.

Early morning training builds discipline. Getting up early to train when you could be sleeping requires discipline. This discipline transfers to other areas of your life.

Early morning training creates time. By training early, you free up time later in the day for other activities. This creates a sense of abundance and possibility.

Early morning training is a form of self-care. You’re prioritizing your health and well-being before the demands of the day begin. This sends a powerful message to yourself about what matters.

Early morning training creates community. Even if you’re training alone, you’re part of a community of people who choose to start their days with physical activity.

The mindset shift

If you asked me a year ago that I would be training at 5am 6 days a week and doing extra, on purpose, I would have told you to seek help for your delusions. This highlights the dramatic nature of personal transformation.

Transformation often feels impossible until it happens. The person you become is often unimaginable to the person you were. This is why it’s important to stay open to possibility.

Your future self is more capable than your current self. The person you’ll be in a year is capable of things that seem impossible to you right now. Trust in your ability to grow and change.

Transformation requires letting go of limiting beliefs. You have to be willing to question your assumptions about what you’re capable of and what you enjoy.

Transformation is contagious. When you change, it affects the people around you. Your transformation can inspire others to make changes in their own lives.

Transformation is ongoing. You’re never finished becoming who you’re meant to be. There’s always room for growth and improvement.

Practical strategies for embracing challenge

Start small and build gradually. Don’t try to transform everything at once. Pick one area to focus on and build from there.

Create a supportive environment. Surround yourself with people who support your growth and eliminate obstacles that make it harder to maintain your new habits.

Track your progress. Keep a record of your training, your achievements, and your growth. This helps you see how far you’ve come and stay motivated.

Celebrate small wins. Acknowledge and appreciate every step forward, no matter how small. This reinforces the positive changes you’re making.

Embrace the process. Focus on the daily practice rather than the end result. The journey is where the transformation happens.

Be patient with yourself. Transformation takes time. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. Trust the process and keep going.

The bottom line

Gearing up is about more than physical training. It’s about transforming your relationship with challenge, discomfort, and your own potential.

Transformation is possible for everyone. You don’t need to be special or gifted to change. You just need to be willing to start and keep going.

The person you become is worth the effort. The discomfort, the early mornings, the failures, and the challenges are all worth it for the person you become in the process.

Start where you are. You don’t need to be training at 5am or completing hardcore courses. Start with whatever feels challenging but achievable for you right now.

Trust the process. The transformation will happen if you keep showing up and doing the work. You’ll become someone you don’t recognize, and that’s exactly what you want.

Embrace the strange joy. There’s something deeply satisfying about pushing your limits and discovering what you’re capable of. Once you experience it, you’ll want more.

You’re gearing up for something amazing. The person you’re becoming is stronger, more capable, and more alive than the person you were. Keep going.