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[RC] 100 mile rides, their future, and the fuure of AERC - Ridecamp GuestPlease Reply to: Eve Spencer especfarm@xxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== Hi, Truman, Joe, and all, I am a newbie who has been lurking on ridecampa while and has done my first LD, and I thought maybe you all could use the point of view of one of "them", the folks out there, who may eventually become one of you. I appreciate your desire to preserve the 100 mile ride. I don't know if I aspire to do a 100, I do aspire to multi-days, but even that seemed a rediculous aspiration a year ago. Like many of us, I am not young, and I have many other responsibilities. I run a business, and am a single mom. The time crunch is everywhere in our society, we all read and hear about it , and experience it. I grew up with a horse, but did not have one for 25 years. Now riding is about all I do for fun. There are trails near me, and people to ride with, and if they are feeling very energetic, and the weather is just right, they manage a 12-15 mile ride once a week, At a walk. There is only one local guy I know who will sustain a pace faster than that for over 15 minutes at a time. I train on my own. I came to my first LD on my own, and I will come to my second (on a new horse), on my own, and I will aim to complete slowly. And I absolutely will feel like the LD stepchild. I was introduced to the sport by an old freind, who has been inactive since I have been training, but I have to tell you that it was made clear to me that LDs are "training rides", not "real" rides. The publications I have read on endurance riding suggest anywhere up to 2 years of legging up, and a season of LDs before doing a 50, then at least a full season of 50s before attempting a 100. What I would like to get accross here is that for a newbie, looking at 100s as the only real goal is overwhelming and offputting. I don't have 4 years to give before I think I am having fun. *ok, I do realize that these are extemes of taking it slow to get there, but still...* I didn't enter the LD to get a Tshirt, or points, or recognition. It was my feeling that few folks did, and it was pretty clear who they were. And I guese they probably enter alot of LDs that way. And that is fine. They are probably the best at 25 mile rides. When I was young I was a swimmer. I excelled in longer races, but was horrible at sprints. The fact that sprints were offered did not make me want to do them. The fact that some people really compete hard at the LD level has no effect on my perspective as a newbie. It does not make me want to "sprint" a 25 mile ride. The folks who really are competitive at 25 miles probably don't want to do 50s. I have to say, I stopped and watched with reverence as the 50 mile frontrunner passed me on her way to the finish, and I felt humbled by that moment. She and her horse were where I only hope to go. That part was not lost on me. A year ago, I just saw a 25 ahead of me, Now, starting a new green 5 year old, and having not yet done an LD on him, I still see 50s in the future. God knows what level of insanity I will arrive at next year. However, if LDs were not offered, I would probably never make it to 50's. and if 50s become the stepchild, well 100s become completely out of the question. I can't yet speak to 75s, but I have a feeling they will sound more do-able than 100s at some point. Also, I love the idea of elevator rides. Maybe there is room here for all of us, after all. Best, Eve Spencer, Newbie in KY =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 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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