The Tour de France

It’s that time of year again, Christmas in July for me. The Tour de France is happening July 4-26, 2009). With only a few days into racing, the excitement is fantastic. No, not because Lance Armstrong has returned after a three and a half year retirement, but he does add to the action.

To me, I think the Tour de France is the toughest sports event in the world. It requires tremendous individual athletic and mental ability, team unity and skill, and the strategic intelligence of a chess player. It takes place over a three-week period matching the top cyclists against one another as they race through a variety of countries and terrain, including both the Pyrenees and the Alps. Furthermore, most race days during the event are more than one hundred miles.

As an avid cyclist I’ve been a devoted fan of the race for more than two decades, usually watching everyday. I love listening to the expertise and stories shared by the commentators, Phil Liggett, Paul Sherwen, and Bob Roll (Bobke). Phil has presided over the race for 37 years.

See the riders, legs pumping, and the beautiful scenery ignites the fire within to ride. Never content being a spectator, I enjoy the participation. In fact, in 2003 and 2004, I created my own little Tours (of Vancouver, BC), where I rode a percentage of the distance that the TDF competitors raced each day. I tried to match the terrain to the particular race day. For instance, if it was a mountain stage, I rode in the mountains (of course, not the Alps). If it was a time trial, then I did that, too.

Watching a sporting event, whether the TDF or the World Cup (for me), stimulates the desire to enjoy that sport in reality. What a great way to get motivated! (And, dare I say, it proves that not all television watching causes deterioration of body balance and muscular function.)

Ask: What sport/activity do you enjoy? What motivates you to actually do it?

The key is to find what ignites your passion and use that as a motivator.
Trust me, staying motivated to exercise is essential to maintaining optimal health and well-being.

So, get out there and play!

(this is a duplication of the Body Balance & Well-being blog--remember I'm busy watching the Tour)

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