Rule Number 2

RULE NUMBER 2: You have to always try your hardest because if you haven't puked or passed out yet, you still have a ways to go.

Lots of sweat is needed too. If you're not sweaty and gross, again, you have more work to do. So for those who put zero resistance on their bike and read the paper, step your game up and stop wasting the machine's time.

I wish rule 2 would apply to more than just training and racing. Sometimes the harder you try at things, it backfires.
It could be that you tried so hard to restrict your diet that you ended up binging out on those aforementioned brownies and now you are in a sugar-induced guilt coma. Or it could be within a friendship or relationship. The more you try to repair it, the more you jack it up. On all fronts of life, it's hard to stop trying so damn hard when you were awarded the "hardest worker" on the swim team trophy at age 7. All I know is hard work, but what I need to learn is when to back off.