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RE: [RC] What's in a name? - David LeBlancJoe Long [mailto:jlong@xxxxxxxx] said: Then 50's camealong, and"endurance" got expanded to 50's too, even though a 50 isn'tanywhere near as hard as a 100. Others have already corrected you on this -- when the AERC was founded there were rides at many lengths, some shorter than 50 miles. The AERC needed a good working definition of an endurance ride, and "a minimum of 50 miles in one day" was established as a key part of it. Yup - thanks to Heidi and Bob for the interesting history lesson. Esp. Heidi - what she points out accounts for a lot of why long-time folks have a very different impression of shorter rides than newer people. I hadn't really though of that aspect before. I pay my dues to the AERC, but somehow I'm not an endurance rider? Why didn't I join the American Limited Distance Ride Conference instead? Is it any wonder that alot of new LDriders feel like they're second-class members? I don't thinkthat's the message we want to give to these folks. Alas, you put your finger on a sad trend in society today: too many people want to attempt some challenge, but they want the challenge made easier rather than do all the hard work and preparation to achieve it. In this case, people wanting to lower the definition of an endurance ride instead of working up to riding 50 miles in one day. I don't agree with that argument. Whether or not the label "endurance rider" applies to someone doesn't have much to do with the dumbing down of society, at least in my mind. If you're new, or coming off an injury, or challenged in some way, 25 miles can be a serious challenge. There's a lot of levels of challenge here - 50 miles, 75 miles, 100 miles, multi-days, winning a ride, top 10, BC, being in the top horse-rider teams for the season, 1000 mile (or more) horse. I've managed attaining several of these, but haven't pulled off others (like 1st place, or doing a 100). I felt like the lone LD ride I did in 2002 was a bigger challenge than many of the 50's I've done - Laser and I were both coming off an injury (turning the 25 into a 40 by mistake didn't help - doh!). Level of challenge can be very personal. I don't think it diminishes my achievements or anyone else's if someone who has only completed LD rides calls themselves an endurance rider. They're a LD endurance rider (to me), and if they're happy doing that and support our sport, that's great. I've managed to attain some very high levels of achievement in other areas, and I really don't support lowering goals so people feel better. I don't feel like what I'm saying implies that. We may want to agree to disagree on this one. Frankly, it doesn't matter if you like it or not, but until you successfully complete a 50-mile (or more) one-day endurance ride, you are not an endurance rider -- no matter how many LD rides you've done. Just as it doesn't matter how many 10K races someone runs, she's not a Marathoner until she completes a Marathon. Sorry, but that's the facts, folks. I think that's an outdated and somewhat harmful definition. Again, I'd be really surprised if I managed to change your mind on this. I also think it's an artificial distinction - in my book,75's and up are _real_ endurance. If you read my previous posts you know that I largely agree with this. There is so much variation in trail diffulty and weather conditions that not all 50-mile one-day rides are what I regard as a real test, on an easy trail it takes 70 - 80 miles for that IMO. However, there are many 50-mile trails that are genuinely tough, and a real challenge. That's true - some 50's are pretty darn tough. Did one Labor Day that was that way. An average 50 isn't all that hard, IMHO. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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