not working hard enough

When I was on the high school swim team, I heard people explain my lack of success at swimming as "not working hard enough" a lot. Sometimes it makes me angry for my younger self to remember how often I heard that. Especially now that I know better. I worked really, really hard. I enjoyed working hard. I wish that someone had told me something more useful. Maybe a few people did and I just don't remember that part.

Today, watching the Tour de France I had this moment of satisfaction when...