Kristin Armstrong is a former professional road bicycle racer and three-time Olympic gold medallist, the winner of the women’s individual time trial in 2008, 2012, and 2016. Before temporarily retiring to start a family in 2009, she rode for Cervélo TestTeam in women’s elite professional events on the National Racing Calendar (NRC) and UCI Women’s World Cup. She announced a return to competitive cycling beginning in the 2011 season, competing for Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12 at the Redlands Classic. May her quotes inspire you to take action so that you may live your dreams.
1. “I write about the power of trying because I want to be okay with failing. I write about generosity because I battle selfishness. I write about joy because I know sorrow. I write about faith because I almost lost mine, and I know what it is to be broken and in need of redemption. I write about gratitude because I am thankful – for all of it.” Kristin Armstrong
2. “I love the thought of not knowing how things will turn out but the willingness to invest anyway.” Kristin Armstrong
3. “Sweat has the power to end a pity party in such a way that even the hostess is happy.” Kristin Armstrong
4. “Any goodbye makes room for a hello.” Kristin Armstrong
5. “We postpone the finality of heartbreak by clinging to hope. Though this might be acceptable during early or transitional stages of grief, ultimately it is no way to live. We need both hands free to embrace life and accept love, and that’s impossible if one hand has a death grip on the past.” Kristin Armstrong
6. “The best thing to do when you find yourself in a hurting or vulnerable place is to surround yourself with the strongest, finest, most positive people you know.” Kristin Armstrong
7. “If we write our dreams and goals down, we dramatically increase our odds of realization. If we share them with others, they become potent and alive.” Kristin Armstrong
8. “Every mile marker can be met with some measure of trepidation, in a race or in life. Am I on target? Do I have what it takes to finish strong? Am I taking care to stay nourished so I can endure? Is my training proving to be sufficient? Am I prepared for the hills? It is impossible to fathom the full distance, so we make our way to the next mile marker, and the next, checking in with ourselves as we go.” Kristin Armstrong
9. “Do the things you used to talk about doing but never did. Know when to let go and when to hold on tight. Stop rushing. Don’t be intimidated to say it like it is. Stop apologizing all the time.” Kristin Armstrong
10. “Embrace your sweat. It is your essence and your emancipation.” Kristin Armstrong
11. “No matter who is watching or paying the paycheck, we are ultimately each our own boss.” Kristin Armstrong
12. “Learn to say no, so your yes has some oomph. Spend time with the friends who lift you up, and cut loose the ones who bring you down.” Kristin Armstrong
13. “Stop giving your power away. Be more concerned with being interested than being interesting.” Kristin Armstrong
14. “Be old enough to appreciate your freedom, and young enough to enjoy it. Finally, know who you are.” Kristin Armstrong
15. “When it comes down to it, determination has a greater impact than giftedness.” Kristin Armstrong
16. “We either live with intention or exist by default.” Kristin Armstrong
17. “Pause today and notice something you have worked hard on and recognize yourself for it. Acknowledge your effort.” Kristin Armstrong
18. “Take care of yourself. Eat well, rest, train hard and smart, make time to think and breathe. Be intentional with your time.” Kristin Armstrong
19. “If you stopped yourself every single time you were about to say, ‘I have to’ and changed it to ‘I get to’, it might change your entire experience.” Kristin Armstrong
20. “If I combat inertia, get out, and get moving, eventually every kind of toxin works its way out.” Kristin Armstrong
21. “Disappointment is a sticky one because no one can steal contentment, joy, gratitude, or peace – we have to give it away.” Kristin Armstrong
22. “We all have our ways of handling fear and managing trying.” Kristin Armstrong
23. “When I forget who I am, I remind myself by finding my stride. I remember that I am strong, free, and loved, and that with God’s help I can weather whatever comes.” Kristin Armstrong
24. “I learned to ask for help. And I kept myself busy. I learned that you can get past pain and you can go farther than you thought, deeper than you thought, both physically and emotionally.” Kristin Armstrong
25. “It’s easy to lose sight of God when life is sweet and easy, but there is something awesome about despair, and it is the closeness of God when we are at our weakest.” Kristin Armstrong
26. “I want to be intentional about my freedom – in choosing it, honoring it, and protecting it. One of the best feelings I know is feeling truly free.” Kristin Armstrong
27. “I never imagined that divorce would be part of my life history or my family’s legacy. When people say that divorce can be more painful than death, I understand why. But like any great trial, God uses everything for good, if we allow Him to heal us.” Kristin Armstrong
28. “I want to get more comfortable being uncomfortable. I want to get more confident being uncertain. I don’t want to shrink back just because something isn’t easy. I want to push back, and make more room in the area between I can’t and I can.” Kristin Armstrong
29. “We can thank God for everything good, and all the rest we don’t comprehend yet.” Kristin Armstrong
30. “When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in.” Kristin Armstrong
31. “I love the big fresh starts, the clean slates like birthdays and new years, but I also really like the idea that we can get up every morning and start over.” Kristin Armstrong
32. “It’s not only moving that creates new starting points. Sometimes all it takes is a subtle shift in perspective, an opening of the mind, an intentional pause and reset, or a new route to start to see new options and new possibilities.” Kristin Armstrong
33. “Perhaps love’s greatest gift – that it is indeed unconditional – is also its greatest curse.” Kristin Armstrong
34. “Times of transition are strenuous, but I love them. They are an opportunity to purge, rethink priorities, and be intentional about new habits. We can make our new normal any way we want.” Kristin Armstrong
35. “The time I spend in the morning – praying, sipping coffee, and coming up with my list – is a ritual I relish. I have done it for so long now that I subconsciously measure whether or not the things I’m doing match with what I should be doing, what I want to be doing, and the life I want to live.” Kristin Armstrong
