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[RC] Riding First 100 - Stagg_Newman(believe my first attempt to launch this was trashed by the email systems so here goes again). Kathie Ford wrote: ps..do you have any suggestions for a good first slow 100 in the west region? Also, what do you suggest for fitness for the rider? Diet, exercise, developing a proper mental attitude regarding riding the 100's? thanks, kathie __________________ Per your question on good first slow 100 in West region, the 20 Mule Team put on by Jackie Baumgardner is a well run straight forward 1st 100 although you will have to do a good bit of night riding as ride in in late February. Stark but beautiful desert scenery. Colorful rocks. Flatwoods ride in Northern CA put on by Churstie Evans would also be excellent first ride. (if ride is still being held - we were living in CA in '92). There are also some good 100s in Orgeon for a 1st 100. Two we did were Horse Ridge and Bandit Springs. Re your second question on fitness and diet. Rule one is condition your own horse. The very first 30 mile competitive ride that I did (on an ex-throrough bred race horse that I now know was designed for 6 furlongs not distance), at least half of the horse's conditioning had been done by a 4H rider. Horse did great and I was a basket case. So I learned the hard way. Exercise: I try to supplement riding with some type of aerobic exercise (jogging or ski machine a couple times a week but am not a regular as I should be due to work). In terms of strength training, I believe doing something to condition the upper body is a excellent idea as I find it is the smaller upper body muscles that get tired more than my lower body. I also do situps. Diet: IMO quite important and often over looked. Go for high fiber diet that will stay with you all day and through the nite. Make sure you are on high fiber diet well before the ride. Try to keep blood sugar levels steady, i.e. avoid highly refined carbs and sugars that are digested too quickly (e.g. doughuts are a bad idea). Have lots of diferent foods available so that there will be something that appeals to you. And make sure you eat regularly at each stop or even eat snacks while on trail. Some of the foods that I particularly like are Quaker oat squares (great on fiber), lots of different types of fruit, cheese, rye crisp crackers with a great veggie dip my wife makes, fig newtons, herring, barbecued chicken thighs. My horse claims I gain weight during a ride. In terms of liquid I recommend using a camel back filled with a water mixed with a powdered electrolyte (human kind that you can get at a running store) or gator aide. And then have lots of gator aide or equivalent and water available at stops. My wife likes the coke for the caffeine and a bit of a quick sugar hit. I avoid caffeine as I have to take too many pee breaks anyway. And nothing like having a high strung Arab dancing at the end of the lead line while ..... Mental preparation. There is an excellent set of tapes called "That Winning Feeling" by Jane Savoie that talks about developing the rigt frame of mind that I used in prepration for the North American (USET has sponsored Jane Savoier for a clinic for the riders.) Doug Lietzke, a psychologist and excellent endurance rider (former National Heavyweight Champion) also has some excellent tapes. I mentally rehearse the ride and try to envision success. I like to ride that last few miles the day before so I can picture finishing the trail on ride day. On ride day the key is to "ride your own ride". For me this is easier said than done as the horse may have other ideas, i.e. he wants to be with other horses or just go. Also one has to not get caught in the competition early on. And be prepared to deal with the unexpected. Keep calm and regard it as part of the adventure. In 100s I believe it is very important to ride a well paced ride. You must save horse. Most people do the first loop and even the first half to fast. Even in most of the rides that I have won, I have been well back of the leaders for the early part of the ride. I try to calculate how long I think the ride will be by looking at the times in past year, the nature of the course, the weather, and the fitness and ability of my horse. Then I try to ride a evenly paced ride based on my time goal for the ride. Stagg +---------------------------------------------------------+ 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. 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