Suffering..

I have had a lot of time to contemplate various topics during my long rides and runs while training for Ironman.  One topic that keeps surfacing is the amount of "suffering" one endures when training for and racing an Ironman.  During this morning's 13.5 mile run in the rain I had a lot of time to contemplate this issue. 

Does one really suffer in Ironman?  Let's analyze this a little closer shall we.  Those that compete in Ironman triathlons have put in a lot of miles and time training to be certain.  The have swam, ran and cycled ad nauseam by the time the event takes place.  On race day they will be out on the course anywhere from 8 to 17 hours trying to complete the 140.6 mile course as quickly as they can.  Most assuredly these athletes are exposed to a great amount of physical stress.  But are they suffering?

To further review this question consider these few facts.  Many of these competitors are financially secure.  They spend a lot of money on equipment.  The bikes used in triathlon alone can range anywhere from $1500 to $10,000.  Then you need to upgrade components and add wheel sets and other fine accessories.  You'll need pedals, shoes, helmets, sunglasses, hydration systems, pumps, extra tires, tubes and various other goodies to enable you to get the speed you desire out on the course.  When it's all said and done another $1000+ is easily dropped on this equipment.

You'll need a wetsuit for the swim which run anywhere from $200 to $700.  What good is a wetsuit without a pool to train for the swim?  Pool membership!  How much does that cost?  Goggles?  Swimsuit? Fins and hand paddles?  You get the point.

Running gear.  Just shoes right?  Wrong.  Socks, shoes, shorts, shirts, hat, fuel belt, several pairs of shoes, GPS watch to track your workouts. Etc etc.  Again you get the idea.  Several hundred dollars dropped again.

Coaching?  A lot of people hire a coach to train them to reach their goals.  How much does that cost?  Entry fees for these events?  Several hundred dollars easily.

I could go on and on but you get the idea by now.  All this equipment prepares us to endure and meet the demands of the Ironman and starts to dimish any thought I have of "suffering".

Suffering to me means the children in third world countries who are malnourished and go to bed each night not knowing if they are going to wake up.  Suffering to me is the cancer patient who is battling that dam disease as hard as they can ever day enduring the pain and fighting for their lives.  Suffering to me is the athlete that suddenly finds out they have ALS or MS and their joy in live of movement is soon going to be stripped away from them forever.  Suffering to me is the homeless kids that attend school everyday fearing that their classmates will find out they have no home to go to after school.  I could go on but I think you get the point.

So I ask myself again will I really experience suffering in the Ironman?  Compared to the real suffering that others face in the life, the Ironman is going to be a walk in the park.

My thought from today's long run in the rain.