It's not about the bike...

When I decided to do my first triathlon, I finally took my bike out of the garage and set out to learn to ride it...with out falling off, mind you.  It was a Dave Scott Centurion, circa 1989, with an aluminum frame and downtube shifters.  It was red, white and blue, with a small amount of yellow.  In it's time, it was one of the best bikes you could own.  But fast forward to the 2000s and it was way out dated.  But, it's what I had so I learned to ride it.  Since I was very uncomfortable reaching down to my frame to switch gears, I learned to ride on a hard gear, and that made me a very strong rider.  I never switched to a small gear...I just made it work.  The only other option was to reach down and chance a crash.  No thanks.  I won my first triathlon on that bike.  Yes, that 1989 outdated bike.  While everyone else had these fancy carbon bikes worth more than my life, I had this 1989 Centurion.  And I won.  And I continued to win.
Showing up to a transition area with the oldest bike was embarrassing.  The bikes I was racked next to were so light they literally blew in the wind.  They looked mean and fast...and expensive.  And I would get comments on my "vintage" bike or my "classic" Centurion.  No one took me seriously.  I was the girl with the old bike.  But soon I was the girl with the old bike...who would blow you away on the bike leg.  Eventually, I was good enough to be sponsored by a bike team and I am now the girl with the fast, mean, carbon, expensive bike.  But deep down I know my roots and I know that it's not about what you have.  It's what you DO with what you have.
In athletics, it is easy to look around and be intimidated by those around you with the fancy work out clothes, a $10,000 bike, a million pairs of shoes, gadgets and gizmos.  Keep in mind that at the end of the day, it's not what you ride, or what you wear on your feet or your body that will matter.  It is what you hold in your heart that will get you through.  Sure, compression helps, heart rate is helpful, a nice bike is nice, and a great pair of running shoes can power you up.  But, the one who wins the race will still always be the one who worked the hardest, and had the most heart.  It's what is in your heart.