For some of you who are looking for incentive to move up in
distance you might want to check out Jonathan Shortland, from Orlando,
FL, via Las Vegas, who started the Tevis this year riding a Tennessee
Walker. I mention him because it was just last year when John was doing
only 25's. I remember when he attempted and finished his first 50
miler at Ponce last year. Not only did he finish it, I do believe he top
tenned.
The unusual thing about Jonathan at Ponce was, near the finish line, he
was in 5th place or so and 3 or 4 50 milers went racing past him. He
didn't understand why they were doing this because John had been doing 25's
for so long he assumed that the same rules applied to 50 milers and he knew
his horse's heart rate would get down quicker than theirs by not racing to the
finish line. I hated to be the one to break the news to him about the
difference in the two distances while he was waiting in line at the vet
check. The look of shock on his face is one of the reasons why I really
wish we had the same exact rules for 25's as we do for 50's.
Man, even though his horse got pulled at Robinson Flat, has he come a
long way or what? Knowing Jonathan like I do, and remembering his
reaction at Ponce, actually has me thinking about the big 100 now.
Someone slap me, please (bet there's a long line for that one). It must
be the heat or something; watching this Tevis ride unfold via the internet has
made me delirious.
Ole Claude Brewer, from Hickory, NC, (not far from Leatherwood) is still
in the game.
cya,
Howard (100's are scary, verrrryyyyyyyy scarrrrryyyyyy)
