 |
Re: [RC] vermont 100/50 - Stagg_Newman
Rene,
Vermont is one of my favorite rides and was Drubin's first 100. If Jayel
Super and I are on team to Pan Am then probably will not have vacation time
to do Vermont this year as it is two day drive each way. If we are not on
team then may try to do Vermont.
Here is my advice for Vermont based on lessons learned some the hard way
and recently!
Save horse, save horse, start out slowly particulary in the 100.
Vermont is a really tough ride because of lots of long gradual uphills
(more total climbing than OD and almost as much as Tevis)
and long downhills that pound the horse.
And hard dirt roads.
You should either go with a shock absorbent sythetic shoe or steel shoes
with very good shock absorbent pads.
Drubin complete the ride 3 times with a fourth in 1989, a second in 1995,
and a second in 1999 (ten years after his first completion).
Both times when he was second I was near the back of the pack at the first
check point. The first 20 miles fool people because
there are a lot of long gradual climbs that take more out of the horse than
people realize. And then when you hit the climbs in
the middle of the day the horse does not have enough left.
If it is hot and humid really slow down. In 1999, which was hot and humid,
Drubin was in a group of 6 horses that came in together at that 62 mile
checkpoint.
There were 3 horses out in front of the group of 6. Only 1 of those three
finished. And of the group of 6 that came in together Drubin was the only
one that made it out of that check point. So Vermont is a tough ride
where saving horse pays.
In 2002 I did not finish because I did not save enough horse. We started
out slowly according to plan. By 60 miles Drubin and Jayel Super (with my
wife riding him) had moved into first together and were getting A's at the
vet check. At 71 miles we pulled Super as he was starting on a quarter
crack
and was grade 2 LF. The hard roads had been his downfall. And we now
realize we were not paying enough attention to how our farrier was shoeing
him.
This sport is great at humbling one and teaching provided one learns from
one's mistakes (and we make plenty).
Drubin got essentially all A's and was now in front alone. Drubin was 19
but felt to me like he was back in his prime. (but of course this sport
makes you pay for errors of judgement.) I took it easy to the 82 mile
checkpoint. My wife said he looked good on trail At that checkpoint
Drubin came in cooled off and
the seem to get a slight cramp in the RH. Believe it was a tight hamstring
but we could not get it massaged enough to go on. I had not saved enough
horse. And it was probably the downhills that did it.
(Drubin did come back and complete 3 rides later in the season but I am
still having to regularly massage the hamstring.)
In summary Vermont is the type of ride I really like, a tough ride over
beautiful scenery with great ride management and great hosts (the Rojek's),
excellent vets that rewards smart riding and penalizes mistakes. The
Vermont completion buckle is won to wear with pride.
RENESPONY@cs
.com To: stagg_newman@xxxxxxxxxxxx
01/24/2003 cc:
12:19 AM Subject: vermont 100/50
Hi
I was wondering if you had any plans to do Vermont 100 or moonlight 50 this
year?
Sounds like good ride for me, and I can get myself there. Was going for the
50.
who knows maybe I'll try the 100 if the season goes as good as last year.
You've done this ride I believe? Any advice?
you can share your reply on ride camp if you want.:-)
RENE
+---------------------------------------------------------+
This message may contain confidential and/or privileged
information. If you are not the addressee or authorized to
receive this for the addressee, you must not use, copy,
disclose or take any action based on this message or any
information herein. If you have received this message in
error, please advise the sender immediately by reply e-mail
and delete this message. Thank you for your cooperation.
+---------------------------------------------------------+
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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!!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|