Why do you do these long endurance events such as triathlons, running, or adventure races?
This question is one I often ask myself, or it is implied by others' strange looks after hearing what I do in my leisure time. The answer is in short, because I am an idiot. Why else would I inflict months of suffering and pain training for an event which only causes more misery and usually finishes at the same place it started? That part of the answer is only slightly facetious. An attempt at a more complete answer is below so I do not hurt my poor self-esteem too much. I also need a way to justify the countless hours and dollars I spend pursuing this vanity. Although unless you also have the endurance bug yourself, any explanation I give will be inadequate.
It is fun—Although hours of training and racing may not be the stereotypical definition of fun, I do enjoy it. True, pounding the pavement for mile upon mile or holding an aero position for hours on end can sometimes become tedious, but for the most part I look forward to my exercise. Even if I was the worst person out there (which I something am) mountain biking, paddling, trail running, and whatever else are great ways to spend a weekend. Standing at the starting line with thousands of other like-minded athletes is also a unique, exciting experience. Some people get wasted, I run. To each his own.
See what I am capable of—I have a strong competitive nature, and hearing the draw of a challenge is always intriguing. Can I reach the goal or get there faster than last time? What happens when I push my body to the very limit and leave everything on the course? Not many people can do these races (or are will to put in the time), and there is a great feeling of accomplishment afterwards. Being tough through the struggles of the race and battling through the pain makes me feel strong.
Looking at pure performance can be a double-edged sword though. As I gain more experience, I see that results are directly proportion to effort exerted during training. Heart and desire can be powerful drivers, but methodical workouts leading up to the event are really where champions are made. That then begs the question, is someone a better athlete than another competitor, or has the former just trained smarter or dedicated more time? Is there a difference? It is natural that someone devoting their whole life to athletics will do better than a new parent with a full time job. Perhaps I am just thinking too much.
To keep me sane—Although subjecting myself to this punishment probably qualifies me as insane, so everything balances out. Slightly more serious though, endurance athletics is about the best therapy to fend off the harsh realities of life. For those without a real clinical illness, endorphins do just as good of job as the advice of an expensive shrink repeating what good parents have been preaching for countless generations. Whenever I am out on the road or trail, problems temporarily fade away as the miles roll past. The solidarity and simplicity of the activity gives me time to clear my head. Perhaps it is because I am not smart enough to run and concurrently think deeply, but everything seems less complicated or insignificant when I am in the zone. No matter how hard the workout or how much I felt like skipping a day, it is extremely rare that I feel worse than before I left. I have no reason to depend on happy pills or the bottom of a bottle when I have my own two feet (and a very expensive bike).
The regimented training also provides focus and order throughout a hectic calendar. Sometimes it can be hard to find time for a workout, but even more often the schedule prevents me from becoming lazy and too much of a slacker. The systematic work ethic needed to prepare for endurance races overflows from my training though, and helps prevent other areas of my life from dissolving into a smushy blob.
Healthy?—Although I like being in shape, I am not a wellness nut and any improvements in lifestyle have mainly been to advance my performance. With the volume of training and how I take care of myself, I am probably on the border of negatively impacting my long term health and mobility. At least medicine gets better every day.
All those things said, no one can fully explain why they do endurance athletics (or much else in life for that matter). Either you understand it or you don't. If you are still perplexed, perhaps you just need to get out there and give it a try.
