Ridecamp: Re: [RC] LD

If I'm riding the 50, and there is a backlog in the vet check, I will
gladly offer my place to a 100 miler, primarily for the reasons Joe Long
detailed in a previous post, but also because I was taught that as
"common courtesy" in Endurance. That's the same "common courtesy" where
Endurance Riders, even while running in the Top Ten, stop to help a
rider in trouble. While I'm on my soapbox, there are other important
"common courtesies" such as waiting while another rider's horse drinks,
waiting for another rider to remount, asking to pass, permitting a pass,
teaching your horse manners, swapping the lead, checking the shoes on
the horse in front of you, signalling a stop or slow down, calling
hazards or obstacles, etc. 

Under the same circumstances, as a 25 miler I would defer to 50's and
100's.  Keep in mind this would only happen in unusual circumstances
where the vet check got slammed with riders at the same
time....otherwise, FIFO applies.  This IS training for moving up.

IMHO, there are several good reasons not to do fast 25's if you're
planning to move up to 50's and 100's. 

Pacing....the horse needs to learn to pace to do the longer distances. 
Just don't believe a fast 25 teaches that.  "Strolling along" is better
training. It's an excitable enough environment without adding speed to
the mix. One of the reasons I don't train on 25's....Someone put it
pretty well..Heidi, maybe?...I want him to "See God and maybe the
desciples" from the git-go.

Time in the Saddle....By being out there a longer time, you learn to
ride better and not tire as quickly.  The first time I did the OD 50, it
was miserably hot and humid.  It took me 11:47 minutes to finish it.  I
was grateful I had done quite a few of the tougher rides in the SE
(Leatherwood, Longstreet, Biltmore, NCR) which kept me out there
awhile.  Big difference in blowing thru a 50 in 4+ hours and toiling
thru that same 50 in just under 12 hours. Try it yourself...you will
find that slow 25's are harder on you than fast ones....especially for
beginning riders. Been there and done that.

Jim, Sun of Dimanche, and Mahada Magic

EgyptianMirage@xxxxxx wrote:

> I feel as though the LD's are the first step to 50's and riders need to
> understand what they are getting themselves into to accomplish, to the best
> of their ability, a 50 miler when they reach that plateau with their horse.
> A do not feel that teaching someone to stroll along on an LD is the best to
> adequately prepare them for a 50.  Isn't that what the LD's where originally
> created for?  Training for longer distances?  Shouldn't they be treated
> exactly the same as longer distances so they fully understand the concept of
> what their 50 is going to be like?  Who cares about the awards!  Just the
> training and treatment is what I would be concerned about if I ran across
> this "pushing the LD's back" behavior.
>


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