Jens Voigt

So today's post is usually about people in my life, but because you start running out of people you know well enough to write a post about, that also have an effect on our athletic pursuits today's post is a slight deviation on that.  Although he does have an effect on my training, it's not because I know him personally but his entire nature just gives you that motivation.  He is the one, the only Jens Voigt.

ARRRRRRRRRRR

So I guess a little bit of a bio/intro is in order.  He's a German professional cyclist, having ridden for Team CSC, Saxo Bank, and now the Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project.  He's possibly one of the most approachable riders in the entire peloton, making time for autographs, talking to fans and what not.  He also has one of the most enduring attitudes as I will talk about later.  Oh that and he says some of the most awesome things.

Last year during the Tour de France (Tour or TdF) he had a MASSIVE crash going down a mountain and was forced to abandon the stage.  He was interviewed later and he said the only thought going through his brain was "ohhhhh this is going to hurt" and then he proceeded to slide down the mountain face first....yes face first.

After crash

So that was last year, during this years tour, he had another crash, completely totalled his bike and everything. He rode for 20 km on a kids bike that didn't fit and had toe cages and caught up to a  policeman who had a replacement bike waiting for him.  I mean that is just spirit right there.  After the race finished he said "well this time last year, I was in a hospital so I think it's alright"

He is also very candid, he tells it how it is and he's never afraid to work his face off.  Like when he needs to do something or get something done "Shut up body and do what I want you to".  Talk about mind over matter.  In the cycling world, he has a following quite similar to that of Chuck Norris, with people making all kinds of awesome facts about him.  

This has spawned a couple things, What would Jens do and Harden the fu*k up.  It's two things that always run through my mind when I'm lacking motivation to do what I probably should be doing.  So on days when the sky looks like crap, or I don't feel like hopping on the trainer, think.... what would Jens do.  Every one needs to find some motivational figures that help make the training a little bit easier to start, because chances are there's someone that you look up to in whatever field there is.  Chances are pretty good that while you're reading this, I'm at the gym or on the bike.

As a side note, if you're curious to learn a bit more about the character he is, go youtube some videos about him.  Or check out this site, Jens Voigt Facts

~Cheers