racing at 50+??
#1
Roadie
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racing at 50+??
i just finished (2nd place) in a short but difficult road race - 6 times 5 km lap ca. 500 ft vertical climb each lap. while killing myself on the hill I asked myself "what for?" Admittedly a bad time for such a question, but I really wondered what drove me and for that matter other people my age to continue their competitve "folly". I'm trying to make sense out of this so that I could rationalize either continued masochism or an easier life.
Any psychologists out there that can help?
Any psychologists out there that can help?
#2
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Originally Posted by berts
i just finished (2nd place) in a short but difficult road race - 6 times 5 km lap ca. 500 ft vertical climb each lap. while killing myself on the hill I asked myself "what for?" Admittedly a bad time for such a question, but I really wondered what drove me and for that matter other people my age to continue their competitve "folly". I'm trying to make sense out of this so that I could rationalize either continued masochism or an easier life.
Any psychologists out there that can help?
Any psychologists out there that can help?
#3
Roadie
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My definition of competition -
A contest between rivals where the winner usually stands to gain something.
Thus by definition serious competitors are trying to prove something, ie, that they are better than their fellow competitors and to earn recognition of their prowess.
I never considered myself to be very competitive, but being a relatively strong cyclist always found myself in competitve events - just for the ride and a great way to improve my riding skills.
Your right skydive, it's got nothing to do with age, it's in the blood.
thanks for your well wishes and good luck to you in future events. Our season is winding down with only 2 more events this season. I'm looking forward to improving my performance next year.
A contest between rivals where the winner usually stands to gain something.
Thus by definition serious competitors are trying to prove something, ie, that they are better than their fellow competitors and to earn recognition of their prowess.
I never considered myself to be very competitive, but being a relatively strong cyclist always found myself in competitve events - just for the ride and a great way to improve my riding skills.
Your right skydive, it's got nothing to do with age, it's in the blood.
thanks for your well wishes and good luck to you in future events. Our season is winding down with only 2 more events this season. I'm looking forward to improving my performance next year.
#4
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Originally Posted by berts
My definition of competition -
A contest between rivals where the winner usually stands to gain something.
Thus by definition serious competitors are trying to prove something, ie, that they are better than their fellow competitors and to earn recognition of their prowess.
I never considered myself to be very competitive, but being a relatively strong cyclist always found myself in competitve events - just for the ride and a great way to improve my riding skills.
Your right skydive, it's got nothing to do with age, it's in the blood.
thanks for your well wishes and good luck to you in future events. Our season is winding down with only 2 more events this season. I'm looking forward to improving my performance next year.
A contest between rivals where the winner usually stands to gain something.
Thus by definition serious competitors are trying to prove something, ie, that they are better than their fellow competitors and to earn recognition of their prowess.
I never considered myself to be very competitive, but being a relatively strong cyclist always found myself in competitve events - just for the ride and a great way to improve my riding skills.
Your right skydive, it's got nothing to do with age, it's in the blood.
thanks for your well wishes and good luck to you in future events. Our season is winding down with only 2 more events this season. I'm looking forward to improving my performance next year.
Yes, it is assuredly in the blood my good man. Tear them up in your remaining events. I have 12 competitions scheduled in late October through the first week of December, and I have no intention of losing! I love those endorphins!!
#5
Time for a change.
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I no longer race, but have concentrated on the longer enduro type rides. Nice easy riding, but 65 miles offroad up against a bunch of youngsters still takes some fitness and stamina to finish. Part of my training for this is to go through the pain barrier at certain parts of my normal rides. I cannot sprint for long distances, but those steep inclines for 200 to 400yards are taken at full speed. They hurt and I often wonder why I keep doing them. The legs fall apart, the lungs are bursting, and at times the body falls apart, particularly on the 4th or 5th sprint of the ride. As I have said, I cannot sprint for long distances, so the long drags uphill are taken at a pace, that will put me somewhere near 90 to 95% of my maximum HR for extended periods. Why do I do it. They hurt.
The reason is to extend my basic fitness and stamina. My thought when it starts to hurt is that there must be a flat bit soon, or even a downhill, so that lung bursting effort I am putting in now, will have its recompense. Problem, all I have been able to do by my 30 seconds or so of effort, is to stay with the fit 30 year olds, and the next few miles are taken by them at a fair pace, with me hanging on the back. Till the next short sharp hill When those of half my age have to really push themselve to stay in front of that old man that will not go away. Competitive-- NO, but I do like to make others know that they do have a hard job to stay in front of me.
The reason is to extend my basic fitness and stamina. My thought when it starts to hurt is that there must be a flat bit soon, or even a downhill, so that lung bursting effort I am putting in now, will have its recompense. Problem, all I have been able to do by my 30 seconds or so of effort, is to stay with the fit 30 year olds, and the next few miles are taken by them at a fair pace, with me hanging on the back. Till the next short sharp hill When those of half my age have to really push themselve to stay in front of that old man that will not go away. Competitive-- NO, but I do like to make others know that they do have a hard job to stay in front of me.
Last edited by stapfam; 08-01-05 at 01:21 PM.
#6
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I didn't have what it takes to race when I was 20, but 35 years later ...
I still don't.
I still don't.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#7
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Eat, race, eat, train then eat some more. What a life! My non-biking friends think I'm a screwball, but I outgrew golf many years ago. Plus my wife likes what bike racing does to my physique. But the real reason (besides eating), EGO!
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