Originally Posted by
DnvrFox
My viewpoint is that many or most of us come from some sort of work environment or other environment where we are pushed to our hardest to meet eomeone (or perhaps our own) goals. Incessantly. In my case, in teaching, there were tremendous daily pressures for achievement on the part of those I taught, for appropriate "classroom environment" for kiddos with serious and sometimes critical challenges in their own lives, in addition to the pressures we put on them at school, etc. In my personal world, I have been and am continuing in battles with huge systems of bureaucracy full of entropy and, at times, corruption, in a sometimes vain attempt to get services for individuals with disabilities. And etc., etc., etc.
It seems to me that in at least one place in our lives we should be able to have refuge from this intensity and pressure, and that is in our recreation. Yet, I continuously see in these forums where folks are desirous of adding more and more and more pressure on themselves, even in their recreational pursuits.
Why? I just don't understand it. We should all have a place of sanctity and peace, IMHO - at least I need that. I think reasonable goals of fitness and maintaining appropriate body weight are appropriate. Beyond that it just seems as if one is driven by something else that is beyond me.
Different strokes for different folks, DF. I've always been kind of driven, and take a lot of joy and pleasure in planning my goals for each cycling season. Typically, those goals include rides that would be considered "extreme" and/or racing.
When I was first starting out in road cycling (a little over 10 years ago), my goals were smaller - to do a metric century, then to do a century. After I'd done a century, I started doing more, and tackling harder and harder ones. The feeling of accomplishment from training for, and then achieving, these goals keeps me motivated.
After a few years, I started doing week-long cycling tours. I've ridden the length of California, across Nevada, down the Oregon coast, and crossed the Continental Divide 10 times on 5 different tours in Colorado. Touring is a great way to meet other cyclists, learn a lot about riding techniques, and see some beautiful scenery.
If I didn't have these goals, I'd probably find myself slacking off and losing interest...by setting difficult goals, I force myself to put in the time and effort in training.
Lately, I've become more interested in competition, so now I've started entering road races, time trials, duathlons, and triathlons.
In fact, I'm now on a week-long vacation in St. George, Utah, to compete in the
Huntsman World Senior Games. I'll be competing in a 5K hill climb, a 40K time trial, a 60K road race, a 34K criterium, and a triathlon. I'll also find time to do some hiking in Zion National Park.
Just riding along a MUP and "smelling the flowers" doesn't much appeal to me. For me, the "intensity and pressure" is part of the joy of the sport...it's a completely different intensity and pressure from the work-a-day world, and gives me much more in return.