What happens when you're exhausted, your mind is telling you to quit, and you still have a race to finish? Elite cyclist Peggy Maass Labiuk knows that feeling firsthand—and she knows how to turn it around. In this episode of @wisdomforwannabes, Peggy shares the mental strategies she used during an extraordinary cycling career that included competing on the U.S. National Team, becoming a two-time national champion, earning a World Championships medal, and setting a 24-hour endurance cycling world record. Peggy is also the co-author, with sports psychologist Dr. Saul Miller @sportpsychologyschool8526, of *Cycle Psyched: Pro Wisdom and the Mental Training to Excel*, published by @springcedarspublisher. Their latest book brings together mental-performance lessons and insights from more than 90 world-class cyclists. We talk about confidence, self-talk, goal setting, visualization, fatigue, peak performance, and what happens when you change the conversation happening inside your own head. Peggy also shares one of her favorite racing stories: a moment when she was ready to quit during a race, deliberately shifted her mindset, and ultimately won a sprint against Olympic champion Monique Knol. And her message isn't just for cyclists. Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, artist, student, or simply someone pursuing a goal that feels a little too difficult, Peggy's advice is simple: start with one small step, document it, celebrate it—and keep going. 🚴♀️ In this episode: • Why confidence is something you can train • How positive self-talk can change your performance • What to do when your brain says, “I want to quit” • Why small goals build confidence • The difference between data and listening to your own mind • What peak performance actually feels like • How visualization can help athletes • Peggy's “eagle” mindset • The mental lessons cycling can teach us about life • An exercise from Cycle Psyched you can try this week 📖 Learn more about Cycle Psyched: Pro Wisdom and the Mental Training to Excel and explore Peggy and Saul's work. ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 From Wanting to Quit to Beating an Olympic Champion 00:48 Introduction: Train Your Mind 01:53 How Peggy & Saul Started Writing Together 02:33 25 Years of Cycling & Sports Psychology 03:48 Why Mental Training Is for Everyone 04:47 Writing Together: From Confidence to Collaboration 05:06 Using Horse-Racing Imagery in Cycling 05:39 Peggy's Favorite Book 06:27 Simple Mantras for Sports Performance 06:53 The Mental Game of a 40-Lap Race 08:04 Peggy's Eagle Mindset 08:24 What Peak Performance Really Feels Like 10:02 Can You Train Confidence? Absolutely. 10:28 The Cheetah, the Wolves & Powered Thinking 11:15 From “Someday I'll…” to Taking One Small Step 12:01 Why Peggy Keeps a Cycling Journal 12:58 Your Mind Is Still Your Most Important Tool 13:22 Final Takeaways: Keep Going ⭐ Quotes from Peggy Maass Labiuk: “You still need to tap into: What is your mind saying? What is your heart telling you?”“You want to change what you're telling yourself.”“Goal setting instead of, ‘Well, we'll see how it goes.’”“You absolutely can train confidence.”“Your preparation is everything.”“That's how I'm going to finish the race. I'm going to win that way.”“That was in the moment, turning it around from wanting to exit to winning.”“Sometimes we minimize what those little things are. They're not little things, they're big steps.”“You have one mind, one brain. We're relying on that.”“Making them digestible bites, but documenting it and celebrating it each time.”🎙️ Discover wise words in business, beauty, and betterment with *Wisdom for Wannabes*: https://www.wisdomforwannabes.com/peggy-maass-labiuk-cycling.html If this conversation inspires you, subscribe for more interviews, stories, art, creativity, personal growth, and wisdom from fascinating people. #Cycling #MentalToughness #PeakPerformance #SportsPsychology #Confidence #CyclePsyched #WisdomForWannabes