The Limit

A strong foundation that I grew up with is that we are all equal in terms of what we want to become. I grew up with my brother, who is four years older than me, and at home, we were always treated as equals. We were two kids playing marbles, playing with tops, riding motorcycles, doing trials, skiing, competing in motorcycle races, participating in trial world championships and competing all over the world. But it was always just a game. Even when we earned money and had responsibilities, when we competed, we brought together all our skills and kept on playing.

I would like you, who are reading this article, to think about something that makes you happy, something you would like to become, something you would like to see in yourself, something that looks currently impossible. That’s how I saw it about six years ago, finishing races like Romaniacs in the top category, racing in the Erzberg Rodeo, or finishing a Dakar. I dreamed of being able to participate in those races but didn’t believe it was possible, due to my level, my finances…

Now, leave aside the goal as the dream it still is, and think about what you could to contribute to that dream becoming reality and make you feel happy at the same time. Participate in a race at the regional or national level, hike up the high mountains next to your house… goals that can be achievable in a short period of time and that you can later expand on.

Well, that’s how I started my career in Hard Enduro, by training, pushing myself and improving by the day, on finding motivation in small goals; that’s how mountains are built. That’s how I’ve come to do things that I didn’t even think I could do, like racing in the Dakar.

Where is the limit of what we want to do? It has always been clear to me that you set your own limit. We can’t face a big challenge without being prepared, but we can fail, because you never really know when you’re prepared. So start slowly and face it, fail, train more and better by analyzing the mistakes of that first attempt. Failing is okay. It means we’ve tried and we’re on the right path to achieving it. Giving up is different from failing. And I must say that giving up satisfied is also a good feeling. I’ve never become a world trial champion, but I’ve been second and I’m happy with myself. I failed, I tried again a few times without ever becoming number one. But you must be fair to yourself, only you know the real things behind, only you know “how heavy the backpack is”, full of feelings, problems, whatever it may be. So, perhaps being second, last, or fifth is okay if you’ve tried your best, and that’s equivalent to your personal “number one”. It’s all about being your best version, no more and no less than for yourself, where you set the limit, if you find one.

See you in the mountains, by the sea, or in some forest… but we’ll definitely see each other on a motorcycle!

Sandra Gómez Cantero
ph. credits Sandra Gómez Cantero
Translation Lisa Di Blas
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