Comments on: I Understand Everything So Much Better Now That I’m Exhausted, Way Behind My Projected Splits, and In Terrible Pain

By: Chris Halle

Chris Halle — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 18:12:41 +0000

“racing is not what I love doing. I love endurance riding, not endurance racing.”

Me too! I used to love adventure racing when I lived in a place that had them, because it’s a team sport and you have to stick with people. Since leaving that place, I’ve had real trouble getting a good vibe even from timed events like Gran Fondos – everyone gets way too serious and the idea that we are all out here together seems to sometimes evaporate. Charity Rides are better though.

By: Janeen

Janeen — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 22:20:40 +0000

Reminds me of my DK this year. Most prepared I’ve ever been, and yet it fell apart pretty rapidly. All those thoughts of quitting, yet never quite doing it. Anyway, what was really reinforced for me during that experience is that what I really love is riding long with people I love riding with, not racing. I mean, I’ll do it, but I don’t love it as much as the people.

Ride on, Fatty!
J

By: TimD

TimD — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 15:42:40 +0000

Reading. Endurance reading. That’s what I enjoy. 62 instalment race reports, that sort of thing. S#@t I’m on my bloody bike again! How did that happen? I was just doing some reading.

Reading about this – torino-nice.weebly.com

By: Bart the Clydesdale

Bart the Clydesdale — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 14:50:23 +0000

I find it funny how I am acutely aware of how much time away from my family a given race demands of me only when I am in the middle of a race and hurting. Somehow I only consider how selfish my racing is when I realize that my race goals will not be reached. I never consider it selfish to ride for hours and hours away from the family. Evidently my brain is desperately coming up with a justification to never race again, and my selfishness is the go to. Stupid brain should know me better than that.
It is a little depressing that race brain me is much more considerate of my family than rested brain me.

By: Corrine

Corrine — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 03:02:03 +0000

Oops, don’t know why that posted twice. Sorry!

Maybe it’s because you have such a bad memory? – FC

By: Corrine

Corrine — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 03:01:21 +0000

Been there, done that. Every race, I think “I hate racing, I’m just going to ride and enjoy myself next time” but next time I’m lining up again. It’s a sickness, or endurance racers just have very bad memories!!

By: Corrine

Corrine — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 03:00:48 +0000

Been there, done that. Every race, I think “I hate racing, I’m just going to ride and enjoy myself next time” but next time I’m lining up again. It’s a sickness, I think or endurance racers just have very bad memories!!

By: dnwdoc

dnwdoc — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 02:54:18 +0000

Good one Fatty! I’ve had every one of those same thoughts!

By: Bad Dad

Bad Dad — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 02:15:39 +0000

Yeah. I love racing. I’m way better at riding, but I love racing.

And I love it because when I have nearly those exact same thoughts, I keep racing, and I push them away, and I don’t quit. Because neither I, nor any of the people supporting me on the course or back home wants to hear that I quit.

It’s only a few more hours to beer and pizza and ice cream. Unless THEY ate it all! Those ungrateful fools on my crew eating all the pizza and ice cream and drinking all the beer!! I bought all that for us to share and they’re drinking all of it!!

When I get done faster than they expected I’m going to eat all THEIR ice cream and get more beer and show them!!!

So I guess I ride for beer and pizza and ice cream with friends.

By: Jill Homer

Jill Homer — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 01:23:07 +0000

This is perfect. The little voice of every endurance race ever.