Less predictably I'm here to explain why we, the 'folk of big bones' and/or the 'fitness impaired', are the true heroes of the sporting world.
Why? Here's why.....
I started this years Tuscany Trail with my buddy from back in Chamonix.
I'm overweight and under-trained, he is not.
He finished yesterday after a stunning ride in a time of 3.5 days. I'll finish tomorrow after 5.5 days.
In the 3.5 days of riding he burned 8656 kcals and I burned 12076 kcals.
He was constantly within his comfort zone, set off later, finished earlier and recovered faster.
I was absolutely foooooked, needed to start early and finish late and each morning i felt like I'd been run over when I woke up.
He had less time between water stops and food supply points and spent a lot less time in the baking sun.
And at the end of those 3.5 days he'd finished and i still had +150km to go.
He was celebrated, saluted, congratulated and complimented by the same people and in the same breath as people laughed that I was so far behind, couldn't keep up and clearly wasn't trying.
Ignoring for a minute the fact that I get an extra 2 days of 'holiday' out of my trip than him, I do think that there's something a bit off about the way in which we decide what is worth being impressed by and what isn't.
I'm not, for a single second, trying to take anything away from folk who eat right, train right, plan things, put the hours into getting ready for an event etc... BUT.....when it comes to looking solely at the effort put into an event I think there's an argument to be made that the fat lad/ladette at the back doesn't get enough (any?) credit from the public at large for their efforts.
This fits is nicely with what ScotRoutes said in the HT550 thread:
Right, enough waffling, I've got a great big bloody hill to get up and over and I've rested/procrasted enough.....ScotRoutes wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 8:07 am I'm a bit disappointed that the dotwatcher site already has a post-race wrap up. Seems a bit disrespectful to those still taking part, who deserve our admiration just as much (if not more) as those only spending 3 days on the course.
Laters, Gairy.