What makes us "run, ride, race, suffer, etc?" Is it just the need for exercise to keep our human bodies healthy? I know plenty of people who do time in gyms exercising and they don't suffer in the same way we do. So I'm just curious. Why do we do it? Nurture, Nature, Birth Order, Personality Profile? Thrill Seekers? Explorers? -Only there's not much land left unexploered, so we explore the reaches of human endurance within the time allowed between day jobs, families, and more...common endeavors.I know a guy who just finished his first century bike ride SOLO! Maybe there are more of those folks out there, but I don't think there are many. This Dad planned alone, trained alone, and rode alone for a completely unsupported 100 miles. -on a mountain bike even.
Maybe I'm making a bigger deal out of it than it is. Maybe I'm just jealous 'cause my racing season was non-existent. - But I need regular workout partners or I"m pretty much good for nothing. I say that, but then I trained for and ran my marathon solo... Maybe if you have enough "stuff" in your head that needs to be worked out, training alone isn't that bad. Or maybe, and I know this is true, some people just aren't that social. Incoherent babble after mile 10 can be more irritating than helpful. I get that. But since I'm not that, I don't really get that. And my first (and only, so far) century was supported, and thankfully, not completely solo.
Whatever the motivation, our friend just completed his first century ride, unsupported, solo, on a mountain bike. With his super loving family to cheer him as the only support he really needed or wanted, and the fire of determination within, he did it. Congratulations!
So, as founding members of the Privateer Racing Syndicate, our family took liberties, made him a race packet, gave him a Syndicate CD (slightly modified), and a race number. We also offer him membership on our little multisport crew. (Remind me to ask Zach permission to waive the qualification of competing in an event where you had to pay an entry fee. :) ) -I think he suffered enough.
And I mean suffered. The way we like it.
2 comments:
He's in.
I am honored to be offered membership in the syndicate. My first century was great! Most of the suffering came from either being in my mid-30's, or not having the time to train properly, or both. Looking forward to doing it again next year, hopefully as an organized event. And hopefully on a bike made for that kind of ride. :)
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