A track. Four powerful legs. Four revved-up wheels. Much opposition. Cheering crowds. One winner.

How difficult is it trying to be the best… trying to live up to the status quo, if not in your own mind (Eight Belles, the filly racehorse that met her demise at the Kentucky Derby, tried her best, didn’t she?)? How much pressure is there in the winner’s circle and can that encircling gratitude be fleeting? There is so much time and effort, passion, and drive put into it. You want to win. You have to win. Whatever you do, bring back a win.

And they’re off (Go, Racecar Rhapsody, go!)! Red, Yellow, Green. Boundaries. Rules. Strategies. Expectation. Tradition. Momentum. Go!

Everything that could go through your mind does (Don’t you hate that?). Remember to stay focus. Remember what all this is for. Don’t let the crowd spook you… do what you’ve been trained to do. Remember the speed and the captive audience. Remember the brand and the captive audience. Whatever you do, bring back a win.

Laps. Passing (Just one more whip, I promise). Space to make a move. Pit stops (We don’t need that last caution.). Hugging the corners. Stretching ‘em out. Checkered Flag.

You can expect that there’s going to be adrenaline-(Only adrenaline will allow someone to sit in such a tight race car with all leather on! Hilarious!)-and appropriately so. The competition calls for it. The competition needs it. Before you know it, the moment has passed and you look up… Did you win? You remembered that whatever you did you needed to bring back a win.

Waiting in the moment, you remembered-remembered that whatever you did, above all else, you remembered to be safe.