June 2017 | 13
Over seven billion people live on earth . Between them , they achieve something extraordinary day-by-day . In the sports world , there are records set almost daily .
Nevertheless , there are things in life which seem to be almost impossible , such as the toughest bicycle race in the world : The Race Across America . The aim is to complete 5,000kms across the United States of America in less than nine days , starting at the Pacific and finishing at the Atlantic .
Soon , I realized that this knowledge and the right attitude helped me to succeed . And that ’ s why I specialized in ��-hour mountain bike races . �ver the next five years � had several great results , including becoming the 24-hour Mountain Bike Vice World Champion in 2002 and 24h Mountain Bike Vice European Champion in Gosau , Austria in 2004 . In 2005 , I won the 24h Mountain Bike World Championships in Eschlikon , Switzerland .
After this , I looked for bigger challenges . And that ’ s why the Race Across America was so appealing . I participated for the first time in ���� and was hooked , returning every year . On 13 th June 2017 , I will be participating in the RAAM for the 12 th time in a row .
Race Across America is not only my biggest challenge , but it is the best practice example of goal-setting , motivation and perseverance . I want to set an example of how you can find your goal , stay motivated and �ersevere to finally reach it .
These attributes are ones that you can use in daily life and your everyday work , as well as sports . It is the same system : goal setting – motivation – perseverance .
The goal is to get through the heat of the deserts , to climb the Rocky Mountains , to cross the vastness of the Great Plains and to overcome the Appalachian Mountains . The biggest challenge is to reach the finish line . �t is a challenge that more than half of the participants fail every year .
I started cycling really late in life , through a bet in 2000 . My original goal was to participate in the Salzkammergut Trophy and undertake the 200km distance , which also included 7,000 meters of climbing . At that time , my endurance was not the best because I was more into bodybuilding . Nevertheless , I accepted the bet with no clue as to how much effort � had to �ut into training to successfully reach the finish line . �y training was not very �rofessional and � suffered a lot during the race . �ut in the end � was able to reach the finish line in the �re-set time .
�t that time � was my own boss . � owned a few fitness clubs and trading companies . I also worked for an agency as a motivation trainer and speaker .
My successes :
2007 : World record “ Down Under ” – fastest crossing across Australia from Perth to Sydney by bicycle . The record was valid until January 2017 .
2007 : 3rd place Race Across America 2009 : 2nd place Race Across America 2010 : 2nd place Race Across America 2012 : 3rd place Race Across America 2017 : Watch this space !
During Race Across America I can put all the theory into practice . But what is more important is that I can develop my F . L . U . S . concept .
In life , we tend to come across obstacles . Obstacles which keep us from reaching our goals . In desperation , we put our heads in the sand ; we give up . But this is the moment where we should be persistent . We should not give up . This is the moment where we should give our all . And put everything towards turning our dreams into reality .
And that is what my F . L . U . S . system is all about . For a deeper insight , you can take a look at A Life in Extremes , a ��-minute documentary film based on the stories of me and the Race Across America , as well as other extreme sportsmen including Halvor Angvik and Guillaume Néry . The film gives an unusual �ers�ective on the conditions and forms of ex�ression that define our modern society .
For more information , visit www . gulewicz . net .
My seminars and speeches always contained the topics of goal setting , motivation and perseverance . This theoretical knowledge helped me to deal with any problems that came along during the race so that I was able to finish .
To find out more about the Race Across America , visit raceacrossamerica . org .