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."’





posted by grum@work to extreme at 05:55 PM - 6 comments

It's an older article (from 2006), but I thought it was still an interesting (and scary) read.

posted by grum@work at 05:55 PM on April 21, 2010

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

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