Cale Guidry says he believes in the philosophy of mind over matter since he relies on it almost daily. The first-year University View Academy high school business teacher is a competitive cyclist. His oxygen-deprived body tells him often to stop on many of his 100-mile plus races or grueling practice rides. But he says he relies on his mind to block the burning effects of the pain in his leg muscles. That “…mental toughness defines you as an athlete”, he says. He also believes it can define you as a person.
Guidry became a teacher in a roundabout way. After 2-years of college, he got into the retail business and put his degree on-hold. But Guidry says he found the stress overwhelming sometimes. He needed an outlet to “…separate his demons…”, he says. Eight-years ago he took up cycling as a hobby. Then, his wife convinced him to return to Nicholls State University to get his degree to become an educator. Guidry came to University View Academy in January. “I love it”, he says, “It’s like a dream job for a teacher. ”
He says he thrives on the support he gets from his fellow faculty members. Not only for what he does in the classroom but also his cycling. He recently qualified for a world championship race by riding a grueling 103-miles through the hills of north Alabama, finishing the Cheaha Challenge in 5-hours and 41-minutes. His time puts him in the top 300 or so riders in his age group invited to the United Cycling International Granfondo in Poznan, Poland in late August. He’s still mulling over the possibility since travel cost is a factor.
Whatever his decision, Cale says he hopes to influence his students. It “will allow them to see they can do whatever they put their minds to,” he contends.