the almanzo seems like a big thing to me. a real thing. that feeling of something really pushing your limits. it is an untoward thing to say it is a feat. a feat is something like working two jobs, six days a week to support your family, and doing it while keeping yourself true. i would say the almanzo is a good training tool. the real reward of something like the almanzo is the training that it drives.
a real thing impels you to get over those little bumps in motivation.