Comments on: Train to live well

By: adan

adan — Tue, 26 May 2009 01:21:09 +0000

Andrew, even at Larsen’s level, where money and fame obviously motivate, I’d like to believe passion is still the thing that pushes someone out of bed at 5 in the morning for interval sessions. For the rest of us, i think it’s safe to say being fit is just a necessary part of living well, and that in itself is the end. As I get older I find that to be truer than ever, but the concept of living well has been evolving. I no longer wish to nor am able to train 20 hours a week. I’d rather ride 10 hours and have time to go to church, go camping, go scootering with Xiaoyu and Meimu, be good at work. Living well takes a lot of training just as riding fast does. Like you said, Larsen was someone we all sort of looked upon in awe (and envy). And he seemed a guy who trained himself to live well. I truly hope that’s the case.

By: andrew shaffer

andrew shaffer — Mon, 25 May 2009 18:24:12 +0000

Tim, Larsen came on the scene in Northern California my last year racing here as a junior. He was vibrant and athletic and I envied him because he so obviously had a brighter future in cycling ahead of him than I. That’s why his death is so shocking. Like you, Larsen was one of the rare bike racers who understood that, for better or worse, garnering sponshorship is a huge part of the sport. Most riders don’t want to deal with that, but Larsen was so good at it he was able to create opportunities for himself to extend his career out of road racing and into mt. biking and triathlon.

By: Rick

Rick — Fri, 22 May 2009 03:01:35 +0000

This story makes me think very seriously. It is good to have a lifelong passion for fitness; but to which end? Steve wasn’t healthy at the time, but continued to physically train. The decision for him to “push” ended in tragedy for his family, friends, and community. This is a lesson for me to “listen” to my body, seek help, and take a break. In life there are times to push, and times not to push. I would not want my family to go through what Steve’s family is going through now. My thoughts are with his children, and even more so, my own children: Galen, Olive and Kai.