Hi Reader,
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Since finishing Unbound 200 and recalibrating my bike/life balance, I’ve had the opportunity to revisit why (and how) I want to show up for myself and others this summer. I’ve noticed others have been doing some work on this lately, as well.
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Maybe you’re standing at the edge of the track, heart pounding, stomach in knots, convinced that if you don’t nail this workout, you’re not good enough. Maybe you’re navigating a major life shift, and suddenly the athletic identity that’s defined you for decades feels like it’s slipping through your fingers. Or maybe you just don’t get excited about your sport the way you used to.
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This is what happens when the deeper “why” behind your training gets lost under pressure, perfectionism, fear, and the need to constantly prove you deserve to be here.
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We become so focused on the outcomes, faster times, better placements, hitting that next level, that we forget what pulled us into this sport to begin with. And when competition doesn’t go as planned (which, let’s be honest, happens to all of us at some point), we feel like our entire identity is on shaky ground.
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Come sit with me for a second. Grab your tea or coffee. Let’s chat.

I want you to think back to when you first started your sport. Back before the pressure, the comparisons, before every workout had to “count” toward something. Remember when you just did it because it felt good?
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That version of you had a “why” that was bigger than any single result. Somewhere along the way, external measures took over, and those deeper motivations got shoved to the back.
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But those motivations are still there. They don’t just disappear. And getting back to them doesn’t mean giving up on being competitive or lowering your standards. It means building a relationship with your sport that can actually last. So if this is landing for you right now, take it as a signal.
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​Let’s try this quick exercise:​
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👉🏻Finish this sentence 3 different ways: “My sport matters to me because…”
👉🏻Then ask yourself: Which answer still feels true on a day you don’t perform the way you want to?
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I did this activity recently because I just finished Unbound 200. I don’t have any more gravel races on the calendar (right now….), which means I get to choose my next adventure. Here’s what I came up with:

1. …I strongly value my health and wellness
2. …it connects me to a community I care deeply about
3. …it serves as a vehicle for continued self-discovery

On the days where I don’t feel like showing up, all three of these apply, but the top one takes the cake. Every day, I’m having conversations with others about the importance of strength training and continued movement for women in their 30s, 40s, and beyond. As someone who also deeply values integrity, it’s important to me to practice what I preach.
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Let me be clear here: finding your “why” is about getting honest with yourself about what actually matters to you when the recognitions are stripped away. For some athletes, it’s about resilience, for others, it’s about community. Maybe it’s growth, or independence, or freedom.
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Being able to clearly name your values allows you to make better decisions, handle setbacks without falling apart, and maintain your identity even when your circumstances change.
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This doesn’t mean stop caring about your goals. Not at all! It means building a foundation underneath those goals that doesn’t crumble when things don’t go as planned.
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Check out the latest blog post, where we share practical tools and walk through why reconnecting with your “why” changes the game.

Til next time,
Dr. A
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P.S. Ready to do this work? We’re running the Find Your Why challenge inside the Skadi Community right now. Join us here!​

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