3rd Year Special Annual Double Issue Vol 4 Issue 1 & 2 Jan - Apr 2 3rd Year Special Annual Double Issue Vol 4 Issue | Page 58

around. Last year, my focus was only on making it
to the start line. This year, I had a sharp focus only
on the finish line.”
“I put all my energy in making it to the finish line.
There was not a single day in the last 10 months
when I went to bed, without thinking or doing
something about Race across America. 95% of
my mind was occupied with the race and the rest
of it with managing my job and family,” he adds.
One of the major challenges when you hit the ter-
rain is to be focussed in the present according to
Srinivas. “Because exhaustion has the power to
break you down completely, you need to gather
strength and focus on what you are doing in that
moment,” says Srinivas.
Road ahead
He is currently looking for sustainable support
for his future races. “From 2009 to 2017, I have
undertaken many races. Each time I have been
burnt my own finances, and it is difficult to recover
from them. Without recovery from these loans and
debts, I can’t think of other races,” says Srinivas.
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Final message
His most important objective is to spread the
word: If a self funded athlete like him, with a day
job, family and financial restraints can dream and
work towards his goal successfully, anybody can!
“We create our own barriers. I want to set an ex-
ample for ultra-cyclists, who want to think big
but limit themselves due to sponsorship and
financial restraints. There are a million
ways of not doing something, but there will
be only one way of doing what you really want
to do. You just have to have a strong desire to
make
it
happen.
Everything
else
is
manageable. If I can do it, everybody else can!”
he says.
In a message to aspiring ultra-cyclists he says,
“The race is not by numbers but emotional
connect. Train methodically, have a strong desire
and work towards it. Accept your challenges and
you will reach the finish line.”
Source: Facebook
Vol 4 | Issue 1 |Jan - Feb 2019