Why Do Rich People Love Endurance Sports?
#26
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For those who weren't born rich, becoming rich is an endurance sport. It takes extreme motivation and effort (though not necessarily a lot of smarts). If I go to the financial district and spend the day there, I will see bankers, executives, and others running laps around the park at lunch time, or spending an hour or two in the gym after a day of work. These guys typically spend 10 to 12 hours a day in the office, in busy firms they may work 6 days a week, those who are hungry might take only two days off per month.
I was formerly one of those 6-days-a-week, 12-hours-a-day people, and I began cycling to maintain my health and sanity. The more I worked, the more I needed to ride. I would get in 90 minutes before work every morning, and 3 to 5 hours per day on my day off. If you have enough discipline to push your body in endurance sports, you probably have what you need to become rich, and vice-versa.
I was formerly one of those 6-days-a-week, 12-hours-a-day people, and I began cycling to maintain my health and sanity. The more I worked, the more I needed to ride. I would get in 90 minutes before work every morning, and 3 to 5 hours per day on my day off. If you have enough discipline to push your body in endurance sports, you probably have what you need to become rich, and vice-versa.
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#27
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Cycling, running, and obstacle course racing are dominated by white-collar workers.
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#28
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Go run the Cedro Peak 45 miler in Tijeras NM, there is a tequila shot table 1 mike from the finish line. The Durango Double trail section has free beer at the mid point as well as 2 beers waiting at the finish line. Don’t know of any cycling like that...but when I find it I will be there.
#29
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Cycling, running, and obstacle course racing are dominated by white-collar workers.
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#30
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Why Do Rich People Love Endurance Sports?
I posted to this thread “Is Bicycling the New "Golf" and Then Some?”
I sometimes joke that cycling has replaced bowling for many of us older men.
I read this thread in the context of the above quotes, i.e. golf as an adjunct to career advancement…When I joined my current organization in 1982, golf and tennis were those “advantageous” activities.
Nonetheless, I think cycling was a career advantage to me, maybe because I was unique.
Currently those traditional sports are essentially out of the picture (no more tournaments, etc), but I have several strong cycling colleagues.
Indeed the organization held a three months fitness challenge this Spring, and not to brag, but my cycling brought me into third place individually, and our team came in first.
Nonetheless, I think cycling was a career advantage to me, maybe because I was unique.
Currently those traditional sports are essentially out of the picture (no more tournaments, etc), but I have several strong cycling colleagues.
Indeed the organization held a three months fitness challenge this Spring, and not to brag, but my cycling brought me into third place individually, and our team came in first.
#32
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Time and disposable income.
But you can also get into the more complicated aspects of nutrition, education, etc., they're all tied together.
I was just commenting the other day, as I was leaving for the office "late" one morning, on a conference call, and passed two neighbors who were doing the same exact thing, that it seems the more money people make, the more flexibility they tend to have in their schedules. Whereas minimum/low wage workers tend to be tied to a very strict schedule.
But you can also get into the more complicated aspects of nutrition, education, etc., they're all tied together.
I was just commenting the other day, as I was leaving for the office "late" one morning, on a conference call, and passed two neighbors who were doing the same exact thing, that it seems the more money people make, the more flexibility they tend to have in their schedules. Whereas minimum/low wage workers tend to be tied to a very strict schedule.
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I would point out though, that not all people with white collar jobs are "rich", there are many jobs that require people to wear slacks and shiny shoes that don't pay squat, even though the person might appear to as though they earn good money. And likewise, there are lots of independently wealthy people and highly paid tradesmen who drive old cars and dress like complete slobs. White collar =/= Rich
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Some of us, you know, ride or walk to work and, you know, run errands on foot or go to gyms in the middle of the day. One office where I worked in the 90s had its own fitness center. You have a myopic view of how people live. Or are you trolling?
#38
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in addition to everything said in here, rich middle-aged men also tend to avoid the "stick and ball" sports because these sports usually require:
1. skills
2. getting physical contact
3. having to compete younger and more aggressive guys
The middle-aged men like to play something that requires a lot of solitary practices but with little skills. Basically it's partly a "feel good" competition. That's why they give out "finisher medals".
1. skills
2. getting physical contact
3. having to compete younger and more aggressive guys
The middle-aged men like to play something that requires a lot of solitary practices but with little skills. Basically it's partly a "feel good" competition. That's why they give out "finisher medals".
#39
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All good points. I studied sports psychology in college and wrote a paper on this subject. My paper was specifically on rock climbing, but lots of crossover to other sports. There are some arguments as to why rich people are attracted to endurance sports (risk-taking mentality), but there are more arguments as to why low income people don't do it as much. It requires too much mental and physical energy, which low income people do not have a surplus of. They are using that energy just to get by day to day. There have been lots of poor climbers, but mostly that is by choice.
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My good friend got me into cycling as an adult. He's a carpenter and also restores old homes. I'll bet he can ride many of you into the ground.
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I've been working at physical labour job for 9 hours per day 5 days per week for the past 20 years and I still get plenty of motivation and energy to ride my bike and do strength training workouts few times per week.
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Here in Canada ice hockey seems to be very popular activity amongst white collar office workers. I pass by a hockey arena on my morning commute and I see a lot of guys in suits getting out of their cars carrying hockey gear and getting their early morning workout by playing hockey and then going to work after that.
#44
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Cycling, running, and obstacle course racing are dominated by white-collar workers.
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White collar people saw their pensions raided and their kids left impoverished so they need to keep themselves healthy to stay alive forever to pay their HELOC and put their grandkids through college too.
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#47
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Define "rich"
If a person possesses the health and physical ability to participate in an endurance sport or any physical sport, then I think one can argue that they possess a certain wealth that is more valuable than any economic measure of wealth.
"The only incurable troubles of the rich are the troubles that money can't cure,
Which is a kind of trouble that is even more troublesome if you are poor.
" -- The Terrible People by Ogden Nash
If a person possesses the health and physical ability to participate in an endurance sport or any physical sport, then I think one can argue that they possess a certain wealth that is more valuable than any economic measure of wealth.
"The only incurable troubles of the rich are the troubles that money can't cure,
Which is a kind of trouble that is even more troublesome if you are poor.
" -- The Terrible People by Ogden Nash
Last edited by honcho; 04-19-19 at 11:21 AM.
#48
Senior Member
[QUOTE=CycleryNorth81;20890820]Cycling, running, and obstacle course racing are dominated by white-collar workers.
Hello CycleryNorth81,
"Why do rich people" etc
This begs the question..........
What is the definition of Rich.
Back in Ireland I remember my father saying....."The richest man in the world is one with a contented mind."
Another poster mentioned the workplace fitness center.
Our fitness center was the pile of shovels. Giggle.
I was very fortunate in that I was able to commute by bike to work every day. I know it was only 5 miles in the morning and the same to go home at night. Lucky me I guess.
Stay warm. Jim.
Hello CycleryNorth81,
"Why do rich people" etc
This begs the question..........
What is the definition of Rich.
Back in Ireland I remember my father saying....."The richest man in the world is one with a contented mind."
Another poster mentioned the workplace fitness center.
Our fitness center was the pile of shovels. Giggle.
I was very fortunate in that I was able to commute by bike to work every day. I know it was only 5 miles in the morning and the same to go home at night. Lucky me I guess.
Stay warm. Jim.
#49
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Define "rich"
If a person possesses the health and physical ability to participate in an endurance sport or any physical sport, then I think one can argue that they possess a certain wealth that is more valuable than any economic measure of wealth.
"The only incurable troubles of the rich are the troubles that money can't cure,
Which is a kind of trouble that is even more troublesome if you are poor.
" -- The Terrible People by Ogden Nash
If a person possesses the health and physical ability to participate in an endurance sport or any physical sport, then I think one can argue that they possess a certain wealth that is more valuable than any economic measure of wealth.
"The only incurable troubles of the rich are the troubles that money can't cure,
Which is a kind of trouble that is even more troublesome if you are poor.
" -- The Terrible People by Ogden Nash
Nonetheless, good health is invaluable, especially with age, and I liked this post:
The above study referred to above is behind a paywall but, the abstract about CHL (cognitively healthy longevity), is interesting in as much as it addressed frequency (such as daily) as well as the amount that may be considered, moderate [drinking]...
I like that term, as well as the concept of cognitively healthy longevity, worthy of its own initialism.
I have posted previously about my approach to CHL, in my anticipated retirement:
I have posted previously about my approach to CHL, in my anticipated retirement:
#50
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So, how many Rich people did you ask this question?, and how did they respond..
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