Why Am I Doing This?

Over the last several days, I have spent a considerable amount of time asking myself a very simple question: why am I doing this? Why have I subjected myself to this silly game?

Most days, the answer that I give is this: to be able to say that I did it. To be able to look back on 2008 and say that in one year I completed nine NYRR Races, two 100-mile bike rides, and one NY Marathon. While that may not be much of an achievement for many people, it will mean a great deal to me. At a time in my life when most of the accomplishments in my life seem to center around my children, this is something I am doing purely for me. If that sounds selfish, you are obviously not a parent.

A few years ago, my friend Tom and I were talking. He said that on a personnel application, he was asked about his hobbies. As a busy father and huband, it suddenly dawned upon him that his spare time was rarely spent doing anything on his own or for his own enjoyment. If he could grab a minute, maybe he'd watch a football game. Otherwise, it was his job, his son or his wife.

This weekend, I will be riding in the first of my three main events this year: the NY Century Ride. I did this ride for the first time last year and had a great deal of difficulty. Not only is the ride long, the roads are all open for traffic, raising the stakes as every rider must dodge traffic, pededstrians, dogs and a host of other obstacles. The route is poorly marked and marshall's are virtually non-existent. It's a day-long game of follow-the-leader -- even when you can't see the leader.

Plus, there are lengthy portions of the trip where I will have to walk my bike over bridges and across muddy parks. Sometimes the ground is covered in sand, mud or even glass.

I completed a nice 20-mile ride this morning in Prospect Park to try and work out some of the pain in my left knee. It appears to be healing. But slowly.