Happy to be having fun - while training.
I wrote a post last week sharing three quotes that helped me put into words some of the ideas I've been having about: training, racing, endurance, happiness, living simple, humility. A whole lot of issues that I have from time to time about this endurance lifestyle.
Today I decided to just get out and ride. Sounds simple, but it isn't always that way. Usually I'm thinking about what route to take to meet my workout goals, what heart rates to ride within, how many miles, etc... And to be completely honest, I made this decision once I was already on my bike, because I spent about 30 minutes trying to get my computer to work again.
I always have to ask myself, what is my motivation for doing this? To steal an idea from Brad Kearns book (previously mentioned) do I have a "pure motivation"? And really, what would a pure motivation be - for me?
From another previous post on this subject, I know that it isn't justifying myself as a runner by finishing the Boston Marathon. And after spending some time talking it through with Nikki, I know that qualifying or doing the Hawaiian Ironman wouldn't satisfy or justify me doing this day-after-day, year-after-year.
I'm going to be completely honest in saying, I don't know exactly why I have adopted an endurance lifestyle. But today, I felt like I had another glimpse of it. As I rode north on highway 388 (?) I was nervous about not knowing exactly where I was heading or how much traffic I would have to face, and I realized - I do this - for moments like this.
I do not know how to put "this" into words, but if you've ever been at that point - then you know. One of the greatest times I've had playing in this lifestyle was during my ride across Iowa that I did in 2004, by myself. I had a lot of those moments in those three days.
Yesterday during the Sugar N Spice Ultramarathon, I also saw some women having those moments too. No one does that race expecting front page photos on Trail Runner magazine or large cash pay-outs. There are not any "slots" available to the ultimate trail run in the world. But it was nice to see Annette Bednosky sitting at the finish line, reading over something on her own.
The very brief words we had were me asking her name (just to be sure) and her asking mine. She said a few things about getting back into it after her hurt hamstring and how she enjoyed all the downhill running. The perception that I had was that she was just truly happy that she was out there.
I've got a lot to learn. Too bad I had to rush around so that I could pay the park fee ($5.30 - I never carry cash, it always causes problems!), because I could have talked her ear off. I've got a lot to learn.
Today I decided to just get out and ride. Sounds simple, but it isn't always that way. Usually I'm thinking about what route to take to meet my workout goals, what heart rates to ride within, how many miles, etc... And to be completely honest, I made this decision once I was already on my bike, because I spent about 30 minutes trying to get my computer to work again.
I always have to ask myself, what is my motivation for doing this? To steal an idea from Brad Kearns book (previously mentioned) do I have a "pure motivation"? And really, what would a pure motivation be - for me?
From another previous post on this subject, I know that it isn't justifying myself as a runner by finishing the Boston Marathon. And after spending some time talking it through with Nikki, I know that qualifying or doing the Hawaiian Ironman wouldn't satisfy or justify me doing this day-after-day, year-after-year.
I'm going to be completely honest in saying, I don't know exactly why I have adopted an endurance lifestyle. But today, I felt like I had another glimpse of it. As I rode north on highway 388 (?) I was nervous about not knowing exactly where I was heading or how much traffic I would have to face, and I realized - I do this - for moments like this.
I do not know how to put "this" into words, but if you've ever been at that point - then you know. One of the greatest times I've had playing in this lifestyle was during my ride across Iowa that I did in 2004, by myself. I had a lot of those moments in those three days.
Yesterday during the Sugar N Spice Ultramarathon, I also saw some women having those moments too. No one does that race expecting front page photos on Trail Runner magazine or large cash pay-outs. There are not any "slots" available to the ultimate trail run in the world. But it was nice to see Annette Bednosky sitting at the finish line, reading over something on her own.
The very brief words we had were me asking her name (just to be sure) and her asking mine. She said a few things about getting back into it after her hurt hamstring and how she enjoyed all the downhill running. The perception that I had was that she was just truly happy that she was out there.
I've got a lot to learn. Too bad I had to rush around so that I could pay the park fee ($5.30 - I never carry cash, it always causes problems!), because I could have talked her ear off. I've got a lot to learn.
posted by gary at 11:28 PM
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