on being a champion

It is difficult to recall being a champion--it is painful. All champions fade or eventually fail, and the feeling of winning is often paired with the feeling that, indeed, what was just achieved is the highest watermark. Suddenly, there is the cold sea once again in winter, and the fields in which you claimed victory and now wet and cold and frozen. Your moment winning is now gone. Now the roads are empty, and it will be difficult to ride into town. You may as well freeze, because this will feel better than the memory of being a champion.