12/21/24
April 21, 2010
That Which Does Not Kill Me Makes Me Stranger:
Jure Robič goes crazy during his endruance biking races.
Literally.
In a 2004 race, he turned to see himself pursued by a howling band of black-bearded men on horseback.
"Mujahedeen, shooting at me," he explains. "So I ride faster."’
nice, thanks
posted by mystical symbols at 06:40 PM on April 21, 2010
To add to this post he has won the last 4 out of 5 race across america-epic
posted by mystical symbols at 06:59 PM on April 21, 2010
I remember reading that years ago and thinking it deserved a Pulitzer.
posted by Hugh Janus at 07:07 PM on April 21, 2010
This was recently part of a very good episode of the always very good Radio Lab.
posted by yerfatma at 07:24 PM on April 21, 2010
I just recently read "Born to Run", and in that book the author says that a lot of ultra-marathoners will have vivid hallucinations during their 50 or 100 mile treks, and their pacers get a little freaked out when the runners start having long conversations with no one.
It seems to be part and parcel of the effort: your body is pushed so far, with god knows what kind of chemical strain of using and processing that much energy, it induces a form of euphoric madness.
posted by hincandenza at 11:00 PM on April 21, 2010
It's an older article (from 2006), but I thought it was still an interesting (and scary) read.