It seems like cyclists in general have fallen into the Ironman mentality. It's easier to pretend to be hardcore on a 100 mile gravel race than a 30 mile gravel race you actually have the fitness to pedal hard during. At the heart of it I don't think there is anything wrong with people finding satisfaction in any time of athletic pursuit or ride, it's just a bit of a disappointment that so few cyclists seem to prize true competition and aren't willing to allow competition rather than monotonous miles to define what is difficult.