Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

  It seems to me that we can work on making 100 mile rides easier 
either from the outside or the inside. From the outside, there have been 
strategies suggested to encourage riders to attend by easing the 
requirements of completion or offering options of elevation or 
de-elevation. While I have my opinions about these options, I don't 
presume to know how they would work until they are actually tried and 
possibly perfected. I think that the way in which many riders may feel 
overwhelmed by a 100 mile ride is how they perceive it in their head 
when they vividly imagine trying one. We probably don't presume that 
there is a mountain or valley or stretch of trail that our horse simply 
can't cover. Most horses have already been on many trails no less 
difficult than those included in any given 100 miler. (Except perhaps 
for the Tevis canyons.) But all of us have been tired, hot, cold,chafed, 
muscle sore, sleep deprived, nauseated, confused in the dark, and felt 
what it means to endure. I'm guessing that some of us draw on those 
experiences and construct an image in our minds of going through much of 
that on a 100 miler, only it will be longer, and more painful/miserable. 
So we recoil, stand in awe of those who are out on the trail at 2:00 am, 
and doubt whether we could ever succeed at such a thing.
 Maybe we can start a thread of people's suggestions for making the 100 
mile ride seem easier "on the inside." I'll start. I have learned the 
importance of eating and drinking even when I am not hungry or thirsty 
yet. I break the ride down into sections in my mind. I can't conceive of 
100 consecutive miles of riding. But I can ride 20 miles five times in a 
row with breaks along the way for me and my horse. I know I can always 
make it to the next vet check. A little Ibubrofen takes my mind off the 
aches and pains. Serious conditioning at home helps me have more 
confidence in my physical ability and that of my horse so I'm not 
worrisome or doubtful on the trail about our capability of finishing. 
Worry and doubt will empty my bucket faster than any difficult stretch 
of trail. Riding with a partner helps me and my horse, as long as the 
horses' rate of travel and recoveries are well matched. Pocket hand 
warmers can help me protect my body core heat at night. If I lose that, 
I'm useless. When I remember and use these streategies, the ride seems 
much less daunting "on the inside," and I'm happier going down the trail.
  In short, I think the difficulty of a 100 miler is as much in our 
heads as it is out on the trail. Anybody out there have more suggestions 
for how they make their day on the endurance trail easier and thus more 
"doable?"  Bruce Weary


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