Five time RAAM winner and widely considered one of the best, if not the best, ultra endurance athlete out there:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/09/news/raam-winner-jure-robic-dies-in-traffic-accident_142872
Really too bad.
Kevin
Terrible. Jure was insanely tough. Good article on his mental game from NYT a few years back:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/sports/playmagazine/05robicpm.html?pagewanted=print
that does suck . Mt heart goes out to his family and freinds. Another reason I am glad to have gotten a computrainer and rollers.
I would have no idea who is is except that I just listened to the RadioLab podcast about him this morning. What a tragic coincidence. He sounded like a truly unique individual with a singular talent for pushing past mental barriers. I would really recommend finding the RadioLab website and downloading the podcast called “Limits” for a great perspective on what he was able to do. It also has a great intro interview with Julie Moss.
I also had not heard of him til recently …I was looking into ultracycling and came across this article…its worth reading:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/sports/playmagazine/05robicpm.html
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Thanks for the link to the article, it was very interesting.
So sad.
I also had not heard of him til recently …I was looking into ultracycling and came across this article…its worth reading:
http://www.nytimes.com/...azine/05robicpm.html]
Interesting article. I have illogical fear of failure which I wonder where it comes from. I know exactly how I will react to a new job/event/etc.
- I commit with bravado
- I panic that I can’t do it; lose sleep thinking how I will fail
- I over prepare like a mad man.
- I panic again that I am not preparing/working hard enough
- Test myself to see how I coming along and adjust work/training
- Get totally phsyc for the event as I know I have worked my a$$ off. I know I am going to do well.
- Crush my initial goal.
Two examples:
I graduated 10 in my HS class of 440 students and scored 90 percentile on the ACT. Paniced that I wasn’t smart to make it in college and I study 20 to 30 hours a week. I panic because my study time was 100% efficient; adjusted how I studied. Was pumped for my first round of test. Lowest score of 5 test was a 98. I graduated Summa Cum Laude.
Signed up for the Bob Cook Race up Mt . As soon as I hit the pay button….PANIC. WTF am I thinking I live and train in Kansas……The altitude……I train hard for about 4 weeks and Panic that it’s not enough. Decide I need more power training and join a group “hill” ride. Lined up on the starting line knowing I would crush my goal…beat it by 10 minutes.
I always look back and laugh at how ignorant my panic attacks were; but, it happens everytime even though I know the drill. Oh the webs we weave.
I told a guy this once during and interview and why it ensured I would be successful at the potential job. I could tell by the look on his face….nada….I think it scared him……LOL
Just so that we’re clear on the “significance” of this … try to imagine the press if any 5 time winner of the TdF was killed by a car while out riding. Robic didn’t just win RAAM 5 times, he won many other ultracycling races, sometimes piggy-backing on RAAM, which is just … insane. Robic was to RAAM and similar races what Armstrong has been to the TdF. If he wasn’t a particularly notable cyclist outside of his element, he knew how to race 2000 miles and more like almost nobody else, and for years there has been essentially nobody that could challenge him
A tragedy for the ultracycling community, and for whatever family Robic has.
This is brutal.
Jure was huge. I can’t fathom the sleep deprivation associated with RAAM, much less doing so while trying to race. Of all the super-hardcore badass ultra cyclists, he was king.
Just so that we’re clear on the “significance” of this … try to imagine the press if any 5 time winner of the TdF was killed by a car while out riding. Robic didn’t just win RAAM 5 times, he won many other ultracycling races, sometimes piggy-backing on RAAM, which is just … insane. Robic was to RAAM and similar races what Armstrong has been to the TdF. If he wasn’t a particularly notable cyclist outside of his element, he knew how to race 2000 miles and more like almost nobody else, and for years there has been essentially nobody that could challenge him
A tragedy for the ultracycling community, and for whatever family Robic has.
What bothers me most about the death of SUPERMEN like Robic or Goran Kropp are that their deaths happen in relatively “benign” situations that they would have dealt with daily. It’s like they do miracles at their events and at times redefine what humans are capable of and then they pass away in situations that they would have dealth with many times before.
For those who do not know Kropp…read on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Göran_Kropp
RIP Robic…we’ll all meet you in that place eventually. We don’t leave this world with our wealth or successes or material possessions…what we leave with is the impact on the lives of other…no doubt Robic inspired many of us to push outside our comfort envelope