Searching

I think people take on the challenge of endurance events because they love the challenge. They love the idea of pushing themselves, managing their own demons, and that incredible feeling of victory at the finish. (and victory can be defined very differently for every athlete). I was drawn in to the ironman because it scared me and I couldn’t conceive how the human mind, body, and spirit could endure 140.6 miles of racing. The more I didn’t understand it, the more I was drawn to it. And eventually I reached the point of magnetism as my coordinates locked on and the rest is history.

A decade ago it was easy to keep the motivation up to train for an ironman (or a marathon for that matter). But as time marches on, and the medals accumulate in a box, that well of motivation seems to become a little more finite than it once was. The races don’t become any easier, they sure as heck don’t get any shorter, and training motivation gets tougher; so that’s a potentially dangerous combination.

 As much as I remain committed and addicted to the sport of triathlon, I find myself searching for that slightly different flavor of the sport. Years ago, the ironman was considered THE quintessential brass ring of the sport of triathlon. Completing an ironman was the ultimate measure. I don’t believe that anymore. Ironman has become saturated, much the way the marathon became to the running community. And what happened to road racing when the marathon became a little old news and stale? The ultra marathon was born. Runners found a way to push beyond “normalcy” and create new and longer distances. And as the masses catch on to ultra marathoning, I’m sure that bar will again be raised.

Ironman just isn’t unique enough anymore. Everyone now has become an “expert” and you can practically pick up a training plan at any local convenience store. So with ironman becoming a little too common place, what’s next? What is the next drug of choice for endurance sports junkies? I can hear and feel the underground energy as athletes search for that next …. “thing”. Eventually, endurance athletes reach a point where they feel the need to either go faster or farther.

Adventure racing is gaining a stronger foothold but I still think there is something mystical in the swim/bike/run format that John Collins gave birth to in the late 1970s. I think we will see a surge in more off road triathlons such as the XTERRA series and I even suspect we’ll see more iron distance off road triathlons being offered. But for me personally, I have a difference answer to that “faster or farther” question. I see the double ironman and triple ironman becoming the next true measure of mettle. I have had many conversations with double and triple ironman triathletes and race directors and find myself in that same position of being drawn into something because I don’t understand it … and am afraid of it.

 Stay tuned.

This entry was posted in ironman, motivation and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.

2 Comments

  1. Bill Lane
    Posted August 5, 2010 at | Permalink

    Thanks, I agree with you that none of these races are any easier, but we just know more about them so they seem to be more attainable. I truly believe that as much of us who go out there and complete Ironmen races can also go out there and complete these longer races. We are only limited by how we interpret the past, the present is only limited by what we think we can do, and the future has no limits.

    As I have been competing in triathlons over the last 30 years, I have noticed that triathletes are wonderful people who seem to appreciate the privilege of being able to do these events. The other thing I noticed is that the longer the event the greater the time commitment needed to prepare for the event and also the more a way of life for the individual athlete. For these ultra distance athletes it is almost like a religion.

    Some people I have met think it is the huge amount of endorphin release, but I believe there is more to it. I wish everyone could have the experiences of completing triathlons. I think the world would be a better place.

  2. Posted August 5, 2010 at | Permalink

    I am with you! There is more to our lifestyle than the almighty “M-Dot”! I’ve done a lot of soul searching while training and racing, and written a book about transforming aerobic fitness into spiritual fitness. The book is called “Zendurance, A Spiritual Fitness Guide for Endurance Athletes”.
    http://www.totalimmersion.net/store/books/zendurance.html

    Distance and speed are relative – quality of life is what we will view with endearing eyes as we lay on our death beds. (This from someone who will do my first triple in October. And no, I do not triple double or increase my training volume for this. I can send you links to articles I written on such matters.)

    Be well, live gracefully, Shane

Listen to internet radio with RemissionMan on Blog Talk Radio
"Be the change you wish to see in the world " - Gandhi
string(18) "/home/jw3x14i9m7i0"