I think most people will find a little of themselves somewhere in the following article from the Sunday New York Times. A teaser:
“I ran my first marathon on a flat course and was feeling quite proud of myself when at around mile 19 I fell into conversation with a stick figure of a guy who seemed fresh enough to have just started. He explained that he was training for an upcoming 100-kilometer race and that this was his off day, so he had decided to run the marathon. Then I noticed he was wearing hiking boots. “I need to make this a challenge,” he said.”
or
“Almost inevitably, I’d fallen into a triathlon stage, a near mandatory passage for someone like me — middle-aged, unaccomplished at any specific sport, afflicted with an equipment fetish and in desperate need of new ways to underperform. Why be good at one sport when you can be unimpressive at three?”
or
“The key is to reassure yourself that what you are doing is perfectly normal and worthwhile and that it’s all those other people who clearly don’t understand the true meaning of life. I’m sure that’s how Jim Jones or David Koresh kept wavering disciples from leaving the cult — What are you, crazy? We have everything figured out. Here, drink some of this.”
or
“I asked if his partner had any problems on the ride. “Not really,” Bob said. “He had some trouble with food and was throwing up, but no real problems. As we rode, Bob kept pushing harder and harder, as if eager to reach the point when muscles surrender and the long battle begins between exhaustion and will.”
Enjoy.
http://www.nytimes.com/...LWKf/vHtJU/V/VClI09g