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Re: [RC] Rocks, Hills, Weather, OH MY! - rrohwer Rohwer
Guess it's time to toss in a couple pennies on the 100 subject. From
my opinion anyway. I have been a 50 mile rider for several years now. I
just did my first 75 last year at Klickitat and had a great time. It was a
little more of a struggle. I had to do some adjusting to my riding,
clothing, eating, drinking, and horse care, but it was fun and a learning
experience. I guess the point I am trying to make is for me going to a 75
felt like a good interim jump and I needed that step for my psyche. The
night before the ride I could have entered the 100. Several of my buddies
were there riding the 100, so would have had support to do it, but my mind
just had a hard time wrapping around the idea of going from 50's to a 100 in
one step. And the funny thing is it wasn't that I felt my horse couldn't do
it, it was that I didn't think I could do it. After completing the 75 I
felt I could have done the 100. But sure didn't feel that way at 5 AM that
morning.
One of the things that seem to be missing from many rides is that next
step up the ladder. A lot of rides don't seem to offer a 75. It may be
that there are a lot of riders out there that need that distance to help
them get their mind around being able to go farther. I am not sure if it is
a matter of paper work, lack of participation in that distance or what. But
after doing that I find myself feeling like I would like to be able to maybe
do another 75 or two or some multiday 50's. Then I might be more willing
the next time a 100 comes into my riding path to go for it. As I said, just
my 2 cents.
I think that quite a few riders choose these days a ride to go to that has minimum challenges time after time. I think the concept of "challenge" says it all. The same applies to the recent discussion of 100 milers--the question appeared to be "why do them"? It ought to be--"once you're succeeding in 50s, why would you NOT do them?" Why keep doing something at a level you are already succeeding at? Why not challenge yourself with something harder/longer/whatever? Perhaps the problem lies with the concept of "success". We seem to have become very focused on accruing points and miles; rather than risking a pull by taking on a greater challenge, we want to stick with what is safe. The feeling seems to be that there is a 'stigma' attached to 'failing', but not one attached to never trying. But this is so wrong!--not just for us as athletes, but as people! The vast majority of our growth and learning experiences come from the 'bad' times, not the good ones--and the good times are so much sweeter by contrast. The more 'challenging' the ride-- whether it be terrain or weather or distance--the greater the feeling of accomplishment at succeeding; and even our 'failures' are something to be proud of when they come from trying to hit a higher standard. terre =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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