Can someone explain how this is humanly possible?
I guess the classic ‘explanation’ is that the human mind and body is capable of far more than we think, that physiologically we’re well suited to being endurance machines and that mostly we’re not conditioned or used to pushing beyond a certain comfort envelope.
And then there’s Mike’s ability to focus, the fact that he has a very logical, analytical brain that still works when most of us would be delirious through lack of sleep and a certain level of competitiveness.
On the latter, I remember SITS five or six years back, when he was soloing and sat in a comfortable second place with four or so hours to go then blew himself to pieces trying to make up the gap on first and DNFed in the process. Most people would have settled for a podium finish, he didn’t really see the point and would rather have a go and not finish than come second. That sounds a bit dour and serious, but in reality he was quite playful about it.
Plus he has the benefit of having ridden the route twice before now and knowing where and when to re-supply, which helps a lot, or so he says. He was sat in my kitchen just after the first time he did the TD and already analysing the logistical nuances, where he’s gone wrong and specifically where he could make up time by knowing where to find, say, food stores that would be open, rather than having to scrabble about randomly.
I guess the bottom line is that he’s physically well conditioned, which goes without saying, but has a level of mental focus that goes quite a long way beyond most people’s.
And he used to be such a nice, apparently normal young man… 🙂
