Ridecamp: Re: [RC] ready for 55

April, 

You'll get it figured out, I'm sure. One difference between you and me is
that I absolutely abhor pulls. I consider it to be a waste of money and
time. I find it very hard to live with my overtime finish despite the fact
that I know I did right by my horse. She was off, I knew it but the vet
didn't even notice. She was stronger for the experience and both of us
learned some things, but I still wish I had some sort of record of having
done the hardest 25 miles of my life. Feels like I flushed a bunch of time
and money down the toilet. (For the record, my heart goes out to all of
those Tevis overtime people every year!)

Regarding my comment about competition being very exciting and mind-blowing,
I wasn't just referring to the start. The mind-blowing part can occur a few
minutes on down the trail once the horse realizes it's in a competition --
if you're entered in the 55 and have spent the first 15 fighting for
control, it can be a very long day. Back in May, I thought we were past the
running martingale and kimberwick stage and I ended up shredding my hands on
a 30 using the jumping bit that I use at home. After that ride, I decided
that, in order to keep some ability to gain my mare's attention and to save
my hands and her mouth, it's helpful to use the RM and kimberwicke on the
first loop. (And to wear gloves.)

I've also learned that I can't start after the pack has left or my horse
will dog it the whole way and I have to continually urge her along. (I have
this prob. in CTR too if we happen to be the last ones out.) Start with the
pack and she eventually finds cruise control.

So, you see, I want to learn everything I possibly can so I minimize my risk
of a pull or an overtime finish. I also tend to treat the competitions as
building blocks. Sure, I can do 25 miles at home, but training at home is
simply not the same as doing a ride. As a bonus, I get to see some different
scenery and the trail always presents challenges different from the home
trail. 

The way I look at it, if you're going to do the miles anyway, you might as
well get credit for them! But then, I belong to a distance riding club that
counts LD miles.

No harm in setting lofty goals. I thought we'd have our endurance ride done
by this season's end, but it didn't and ain't gonna happen. Doesn't mean I
regret in the least setting that as a goal. And it doesn't mean that you
shouldn't set the 55 in two months as your goal.

Happy trails!

Deanna


on 10/29/02 3:24 PM, April Johnson at eightylee@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Hi, Deanna,
> 
> Tanna threw his right easy boot because I had decided to put the boots on
> without the normal vet wrap. Once I had wrapped that foot and replaced his
> easy boot, he kept it for the rest of the ride. One nice thing about the
> Gator Run is that I shouldn't need hoof protection. I'll have the boots in
> my cantle bag, of course, but I'm not expecting to need them on this ride.
> 
> I have done 2 LDs, you are correct. It was quite awhile ago and both were on
> the same horse...not Tanna.
> 
> Tanna is an old hat at camping. His previous owner took him group camping
> often and his one LD was done with his former owner. I'm sure he might have
> some issues at the start. He's a very alert horse. But I'm also planning on
> taking pre-cautions. Starting after the pack, etc. He'll have those same
> issues if we do the 30 or the 55.
> 
> Gator Run is offering back to back LDs. But we don't do Saturday rides, and
> the second LD is on Saturday. Gator Run is offering a 55 on Thurday and a
> 30/55 each on Friday and Saturday. So my choices are a 55 or a 30.
> 
> I'm quite certain I will pull us if we need to.
> 
> Yes, I'm sure I didn't figure wrong about the 4.4 mph speed. And no, I
> didn't take into account the slow downs or stops because I figure we will do
> some of those things on a ride, anyway. Hanging out at a water spot. Letting
> him eat grass if he wants. Not stopping and talking to people, but plenty of
> other things happen that require slowing down or stopping, so I might as
> well plan for those things. We're not looking to top ten or top 20 or
> anything else. Just completion. A turtle award would be a nice touch. :)
> 
> You're also right about there always being another ride. That's what will
> help me decide to pull or not. Whatever's best at the time.
> 
> I could always do 30 of the 55 on Thursday and the 30 on Friday to make my
> own back to back LDs. :)
> 
> The nice thing about Gator Run is that I don't have to decide what I'm
> really doing until I get there. No pre-entry for this ride. Just show up and
> give them your entry form and your money. So if I get there and we're not
> ready for the 55, we can do the 30. But I'm going to train like we're headed
> for the 55.
> 
> Thanks for your input and you gave me stuff to think about.
> 
> April
> Nashville, TN
> 


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