Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Daniel and I just returned from Hoosier Daddy this afternoon. I used to write nice long ride stories and send them out to RC for those that were bored and needed something to put them to sleep. However, I haven't had time to write those long missives this season. Work and other responsibilities crowd in, leaving me without a detailed description of recent rides. I enjoy going back and reading those ride stories occasionally and reliving those rides. But I digress...

Hoosier Daddy was a 3 day ride this year. So I rode the 55 on Friday along with some 30-odd others. Came in somewhere near the back in about 9 hours. I rode with my friend, Angie, all day. Wouldn't have finished without her (or at least have been out there much longer) as the day was warm (~90) and by the 3rd loop I was spacing out and Tanna was slowing down, taking full advantage. Angie just forged ahead and I kinda followed along. Thanks, Angie!! :-)

Tanna looked great at the end, but I was having a few issues. My right knee was very swollen and had a huge blister on the inner knee. I'd forgotten the Body Glide during the last vet check. I decided I wouldn't attempt Sunday with that knee and with the heat being what it was. I did not have very much heat conditioning on me or my horse due to the county black-topping 6 miles of my only home-based training route. :-( So I decided to let the "big brain" do the thinking and go home with my one completion. I withdrew my entry and informed the camp ground that I was going home.

The next morning, though, I felt much better and discovered that my knee had merely been swollen. There was some rubbing, but no big blister as I had thought the weirdly-shaped swelling was. I hopped on the internet to check the weather forecast for Sunday. High of 78 with rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Ok, I can take that over 90 degree heat! So I reversed my initial decision and stayed for Sunday's 55 mile ride.

Sunday, I started out in 3rd place. There were only 12 starters in the 55 and I saw no point in wasting any time since there was rain in the forecast. So I headed out after Debra L. and another rider. I tried to stay back as Tanna gets stupid when there are other horses in sight. Occasionally, though, I would ride up on them as they navigated a tricky part of the trail. Soon I passed the other rider (not Debra) and was in 2nd place. Headiest feeling. Hehehehe! ;-) Dixie H. caught up and passed me very quickly, though, so I was back to keeping Tanna back out of sight of her until she pulled further away. We kept trucking on, expecting to be caught and passed at any moment. Coming in from the second loop (22 miles), I was still in 3rd behind Debra and Dixie. Debra had come and gone away on her last loop (15 miles) by the time I came in for my second vet check. She was trucking right along! :-) My last loop I went out about 10 minutes after Dixie and had a leisurely loop. Getting off and walking up and down some of the hills to give Tanna a break from my weight. I met Dixie coming back from an out and back spur and we exchanged pleasantries before she kept on. Tanna perked up, but I knew he was tired and we just finished the last few miles without pushing anything. Even though there was really no reason to and there was nobody at the finish line, Tanna and I cantered across the finish line at 3:38 (official time was 3:43 as I still had to walk into camp and that took me 5 min.). I was very pleased with my horse and our 3rd place finish! :-) The highest placing I've actually earned. I have a 2nd place on my record, but I was 2nd out of 3 finishers and the 3rd place person came in 30 seconds behind me as we had pre-agreed who would place where. And since this was the 2nd day of the weekend that my horse completed, I was very pleased with him.

Thanks to the Keesees for putting on this ride. And thanks to the vets and the volunteers. I had a great time!! I know it's hard to put on a ride and I have a lot of respect for those that do it. I really liked the trail and never once got lost. Never had to look at my map either. It was great that they ordered in the good weather for Sunday. ;-) The rain even mostly held off till later and never did storm really bad on Sunday. I missed this ride last year, so I was especially happy to make it this year. I already have my reservations at the camp ground for next year! Can't wait. :-)

April
Nashville, TN
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