Concept2 Forum

There is a question to which there is no 'one' answer but which is fascinating all the same .... Why do you push to the physical limits?<br><br>I know there are many that erg for health or enjoyment or maybe out of necessity due to illness or injury, but there are also some of us that go beyond that. That go beyond what is enjoyable sometimes that push our physiology to the point of serious adaptation to cope and the question is why. Why do I get up at 5:30 on a winters morning to walk to a gym to then subject myself to severe physical stress not just once but ongoing.<br><br>I think for me the answer is 'ego', because if I am honest I love to compete, to be the best, to beat others and to recieve the recognition for doing so. I no doubt could train as hard as I do and be as fast as I will get in the privacy of my own home and gain the satifaction of knowing that I have become the best I could be .... but ya know what that holds little pleasure or motivation for me.<br><br>I think that the key for me is competing against others and the 'thrill' and the 'challenge' that brings head to head. .... For me it is ego.<br><br>What about you?

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> </td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Why do you push to the physical limits?<!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br>So I can drink beer and still have a six pack

EGO you say? That's your hormones talking.

Hey George, I think I'm on the same page as you, although I sometimes wonder why.<br><br>When I returned to college after a stint in the army I was married, and my coach used to encourage me to bring my wife to the cross-country and track meets because he thought I ran better due to "showing off" for her. I'm sure he was right. Unfortunately she wasn't impressed enough to stay married to me.<br><br>Many years later now I'm also sure that subconciously I'm trying to impress my current wife even though she shows no sign of giving a diddly squat what my erg times might be. What's wrong with me?? <br><br>Both in running and erging though I've also greatly enjoyed the camaraderie and the ability to occasionally get a "Hmmmm, not bad!" from my peers. So I guess that comes second on the list of why I push myself so hard.<br><br>Third would be physical fitness. Although like reason one I'm probably banging my head against the wall here too, since I surpass the amount that is optimum for good health and do so much that I regularly injure myself. <br><br>It seems to be the thing that I can count on and most look forward to doing when I get up in the morning. I'll undoubtedly try to keep doing such things until it's time to check out.<br><br>Rick

i'm with cran. nothing stops a beer belly like a 20k the day after a heavy drinking night.

1- Survival<br><br>2- Freedom<br><br>3- Independence<br><br>4- Fitness<br><br>5- Enjoyment<br><br>6- Accomplishment<br><br>7- Health<br><br>8- Longevity<br><br>9- Curiousity<br><br>10- Perseverance

Pushing the limits in sports is pretty much like pushing the limits in anything else that takes unlimited effort and has uncertain outcomes (art, job, politics, etc.)--and (potentially, at least) has many of the same benefits: excitement, challenge, competition, discipline, routine, personal development, recognition, comraderie, etc. As Rick mentions, pushing the limits of rowing/erging has the additional benefit of high levels of physical fitness--health--one the most primary values imaginable. <br><br>ranger

Hey Guys, It's only rowing. <br><br>Sir Pirate

<!--QuoteBegin-Sir Pirate+Jun 14 2004, 08:39 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> (Sir Pirate @ Jun 14 2004, 08:39 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Hey Guys, It's only rowing. <br><br>Sir Pirate <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br> True Pirate true for some, but then Everest is only a mountain and the Atlantic only an ocean, and a 4minute mile was only one more PB , but then I guess as I stated at the begining people have different motivations for pushing the boundry.

<!--QuoteBegin-Sir Pirate+Jun 13 2004, 03:39 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> (Sir Pirate @ Jun 13 2004, 03:39 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Hey Guys, It's only rowing.    <br><br>Sir Pirate<!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br>Sure, sport is only sport.<br>And jobs are only jobs. And the arts are only the arts. And politics is only politics. And...<br>Pushing boundaries is its own reward. Some aren't interested. They are rewarded in other ways.<br><br>ranger<br><br>

<!--QuoteBegin-Sir Pirate+Jun 13 2004, 08:39 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> (Sir Pirate @ Jun 13 2004, 08:39 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Hey Guys, It's only rowing.    <br><br>Sir Pirate<!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br>...Or as Fonzie (Happy Days) once said, "Yeah? And I suppose your Mother was ONLY a Mother??" <br><br>Rick

For me, when I started it was all about competition. After I realised I wasn't that bad on the machine during team practice, I entered every race I could do, and trained like a crazy thing to try and win every time.<br><br>Recently I been travelling a bit, so it's taken a back seat, but I'm sure once the lure of competition comes back I'll revert back to the old training demon.<br><br>Plus Cran does have a point - keeps the size XL clothes in the wardrobe. <br><br>Xav

I love the people who say winning isn't important, it is the taking part that counts .... then they keep the score !!

winning is nice for the ego... but it's not the real prize

Real winners don't have ego's. IMHO.<br><br>Sir Pirate