> That could be it. But why do we need some sanctioning body to recognize it? > There are running clubs, bicycle clubs, swimming clubs, etc. that are > populated by people who will never compete, but they'll do it for the > camaraderie or the exercise or whatever. Then, some of them will train > together so they can all go run some event with a gazillion other people. > Which leads me to believe that in many people with lemmingitis, the > affiliation isn't the motivator. It's the recognition by the sanctioning body. > Again, why?
I'd suggest that it provides a focus for the training - a reason to be fit. Although I don't think I'm every likely to run a marathon, I do jog and cycle, and I'm in fairly good shape. Being fit for its own sake is fine, but it also helps to have something else to be fit for and in my case playing squash is part of that. Years ago I used to go to the gym several times a week, but after the initial enthusiasm wears off it becomes really, really dull as an end in itself. Of course, there are also people who love to be part of a crowd which shares a motivation, and that I suspect is what motivates the charity runners who only do minimal training. It's similar to what inspires people to go to football matches, demonstrations, lynchings and Nuremberg rallies. I'm personally not one for the madness of crowds, but I can understand something of what people get from it when I cycle to work in the mornings and find myself in a fast-moving peloton weaving through the traffic. Rather like Cotty and his synchronised swimming. B -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
