I’ll share a little of what I’ve been thinking (for what that’s worth :))
I crewed for a friend that attempted the same 100 mile ultramarathon 3 times. His last and successful attempt, I had the honor of pacing him for a 20mile leg at night after he had already logged 60 miles. It was amazing watching him continue to suffer alongside — not against — his competitors.
I think competition (if done well) drives us to simultaneously inspire and spur each other on in a way that spectators, coaches, and crew just cannot do. Winning in my opinion should be an afterthought; to be truly enjoyed it must be a result of grinding out the best race that could have been run that day. A win to a true athlete is only sweet if it hurt - if you left everything you had out on the course where all your fellow sufferers left all they had.
As someone who’s run 30 marathons and done the Iron Man your comment about competing alongside and not against others really struck a chord for me. I never won a race. But the camaraderie I enjoyed in each race, knowing each person I ran along side had paid similar dues to be matching my stride was one of the best parts of competing.
Mark, yes we are reading, indeed! Please continue with your story as it evolves--we know you and we know you won't quit until you're through telling it.
This is so great! I always look forward to your newsletter because it contains snippets of his emotional experience that athletes of all ability levels can relate to.
You can see this particular topic of winning vs. not winning in the conversations you have with people who aren’t athletes. 9 times out of 10, you will be asked about a recent event and the question inevitably comes up.
“Did you win your race?”
Now, the answer might be different for the elite versus the amateur athlete, but even then, there can only be one winner. Now, there are age group winners of course, but even then, 99% will enter a race, and only 1% will win.
In my previous job, I worked for an equestrian publication, interviewing winners at major events like World Championships. That’s great, I told them. It’s notable and worthy of attention.
But so too are the people whose stories don’t get told. The 99% matters too and WHY they did it matters even more.
I used to be a triathlon racer, always doing the best I could muster on the day. Won a few, learned valuable lessons and went out on top with an Ironman PR in 2009. Now I ride brevets where the goal is simply completing absurdly long distance rides within (reasonable) time limits and doing so in a self-supported manner. Camaraderie is of utmost importance within our sport. And it's the anti-racing scene, with the first finisher given hardly a glance while the last finishers are welcomed with great fanfare and food. It's been a great shift in the twilight of my athletic career.
Love this. Please keep writing!
I’ll share a little of what I’ve been thinking (for what that’s worth :))
I crewed for a friend that attempted the same 100 mile ultramarathon 3 times. His last and successful attempt, I had the honor of pacing him for a 20mile leg at night after he had already logged 60 miles. It was amazing watching him continue to suffer alongside — not against — his competitors.
I think competition (if done well) drives us to simultaneously inspire and spur each other on in a way that spectators, coaches, and crew just cannot do. Winning in my opinion should be an afterthought; to be truly enjoyed it must be a result of grinding out the best race that could have been run that day. A win to a true athlete is only sweet if it hurt - if you left everything you had out on the course where all your fellow sufferers left all they had.
As someone who’s run 30 marathons and done the Iron Man your comment about competing alongside and not against others really struck a chord for me. I never won a race. But the camaraderie I enjoyed in each race, knowing each person I ran along side had paid similar dues to be matching my stride was one of the best parts of competing.
Mark, yes we are reading, indeed! Please continue with your story as it evolves--we know you and we know you won't quit until you're through telling it.
This is so great! I always look forward to your newsletter because it contains snippets of his emotional experience that athletes of all ability levels can relate to.
You can see this particular topic of winning vs. not winning in the conversations you have with people who aren’t athletes. 9 times out of 10, you will be asked about a recent event and the question inevitably comes up.
“Did you win your race?”
Now, the answer might be different for the elite versus the amateur athlete, but even then, there can only be one winner. Now, there are age group winners of course, but even then, 99% will enter a race, and only 1% will win.
In my previous job, I worked for an equestrian publication, interviewing winners at major events like World Championships. That’s great, I told them. It’s notable and worthy of attention.
But so too are the people whose stories don’t get told. The 99% matters too and WHY they did it matters even more.
Many thanks for sharing! Please keep writing. This sport changed my life!
I used to be a triathlon racer, always doing the best I could muster on the day. Won a few, learned valuable lessons and went out on top with an Ironman PR in 2009. Now I ride brevets where the goal is simply completing absurdly long distance rides within (reasonable) time limits and doing so in a self-supported manner. Camaraderie is of utmost importance within our sport. And it's the anti-racing scene, with the first finisher given hardly a glance while the last finishers are welcomed with great fanfare and food. It's been a great shift in the twilight of my athletic career.