[RC] re: elevator rides as incentive & weight divisions - Jonni
Mary posted: >>>. I've run several
marathons that allow one to stop at the half-way point (13.1 miles) if one
desires a half-marathon "success" that particular day. What's the difference to
anyone else? <snip> I can't remember being tempted to stop at the
halfway point in a marathon with one exception--I had my once-only case of
blisters and was going to have to quit. I managed to limp the last mile or so
and got to say I'd run a half-marathon that day instead of having to say I'd had
to drop out of a race--not a big deal either way but nicer the way it turned
out. <<<<
So, that day, you had an issue that other runners did
not have, that physically prevented you from completing the full marathon. The
blisters stopped you. So, now let's compare this to a horse who does the work
out there. If a horse comes up sore, lame, over ridden, sick, injured, what
ever, after completing 1/2 of the distance the rider entered, why should the
rider get credit for those miles ridden? (remember, the horse does NOT care
about points, awards, mileage etc., it is the rider who receives these
things) They were unable to complete. So, that is a pull. If the horse is
just fine, and able to continue, but the rider is just not up to it, why reward
them? If the horse id UNABLE to continue the full distance, even more reason to
not reward them.
I would not support any kind of "de-elevator" ride
format. I DO support an elevator format, that a rider enters the shorter
distance, and if they find they feel they have what it takes to give the longer
distance a go that day, they can move up. But, if they find they can't do it, as
per the rules, no credit for those miles ridden. But, elevator rides are
difficult for some managers to handle that have different start times for
different distances, often different loops etc.for different distances.
They need to plan the ride with the elevator format in mind.
Sorry, I see the whole de-elevator thing as another way
of watering down the sport of ENDURANCE. You enter and try. If you fail,
hopefully you learned, and can give it a go with a better understanding of what
it takes to get it done.
I would like to see some rides offer those between
distances. Offer 75 milers instead of a 100, and let folks try something longer,
but not twice as long. And maybe some of these LD rides could be made 35 miles,
for the LD riders to give something longer, but not yet a 50.
But don't reward riders who can't finish the distance
that day. Give them a reason to go home and figure out what they can do better
to EARN those miles.......
