I’ve barely begun my own journey, and it remains to be seen if I’ll ever be able to push myself to the limits of endurance that some of the great athletes of the past have seen, but from my training in other areas I know well that in addition to the physical struggle there is an enormous mental struggle to all great endeavors and challenges to the human spirit.
Mind Hacks – a great little blog (and book) if you haven’t yet seen it – recently posted a small bit entitled Ultra marathon for the mind, which is a link back to an old New York Times article from several years ago, about “ultra-endurance cyclist Jure Robič who apparently regularly loses his sanity during his races – literally becoming psychotic as he pushes himself to the limit.”
Literally.
It poses the question “What happens when the human body is pushed to the limits of its endurance? Where does the breaking point lie? And what happens when you cross the line?”
It’s a fascinating read. The human mind and body continue to amaze.
Mind Hacks: Ultra marathon for the mind
New York Times: That Which Does Not Kill Me Makes Me Stranger
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