An Experiment in One

Why does somebody forgo the convenience of their automobile to brave the daily transit on their own power?

Why does another pound the miles away on the hotel treadmill after a long day on the road?

And why does one zip up booties and apply an extra layer when the commute gets chilly?

Or another pushes it a little more during early morning runs, having just recovered from injury?

And what about the one who cycles alone over the lunch hour when it's below 40F and drizzling?

What drives that person to put in 30 minutes of cardio at least three times a week?

And how about the person who plunges in the pool at dark thirty when it's below freezing outside?

Why do we hang up our road bikes for the 'cross and mud, or mount the studs and fenders for snow and ice?

And how about those who put in 600+ hours of training a year to willingly suffer an ultra endurance event such as an Ironman?

Sound familiar?

Is it to give us something to blog/tweet/Facebook/socialize about? Maybe.

Is it for vanity? Could be.

How about ego? Perhaps.

Reduced, I say it's simply because 1) we can and 2) we're driven.

You don't have to do this stuff. It's all optional. It'd be easy to take the easy way out and quit.

But you don't give up.

Instead, you do it because you can. Somehow, despite work, family and outside commitments, you're still able to carve out enough time to make it work.

You do it because you are motivated. It's not always fun nor exhilarating. Along the way, you've learned that there are two times to stick to your goals: 1) when you feel like it, and 2) when you don't. You may be striving to achieve something that you deem to be a great feat. You may be compelled to conquer your demons. You may desire to stand alone at the top of your game. Regardless of the reason, you have passion and have found the will power to face the challenge.

Your mind and body are like a science lab. Your recorded metrics are a testimony to your endeavors. In your trials, you have encountered countless failures that have taught you something about yourself that will assist in the next challenge. And you've learned in victory that the sweet taste of success is fleeting.

There's always another goal, another test, another experiment ahead.

Indeed. Your life is an experiment in one.

To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.
-- Steve Prefontaine