 |
Re: [RC] When are you past the newbie stage? - rides2farTruman actually did a decent job of translating some of my opinions (how did *that* happen?? >g<) But I'd like to point something out. You seem to be talking about hitting maybe 8mph in training which is a fast pace (especially for training)...but top 10 around here is often 10 mph, and a win closer to 12 and folks on here are saying they train *faster* at home. Big difference between 8 and 12. OK, Since I've 'competed' for the turtle for two years within the AERC. And > am entering my 3rd season.... And NOW want to learn to go faster - on my two > proven 50milers.... Am I still a Newbie? I still feel like a newbie. So long as there are still people out there who've been doing it a lot longer than I have, I feel like a newcomer. On the speed thing...if you've really been competing for "turtle" it's a big jump to top 10. What about everything in between? I never went for turtle with my new horse simply because I don't think it's an especially good thing to make a point of being out there *that* long. My goal was 7 hr. 50's. Then as the season went on we kinda eased up the ladder a little seeing if he could handle a slightly faster pace with no problems. (he's 11 and had years of trail experience). I didn't shoot for top 10 but it could have happened. At his last ride he was in 7th at the last check but grade 1. Oops. Went too far (actually, think it was too many races too close together). We backed off, finished, and now I'll train this winter and see if we can ease up a little farther in the placings next year and a top 10 might happen. I'm just trying to improve our consistency, I'll start paying attention to hitting my out time instead of being 2 min. late, make a point of having a more efficient vet check, and the top 10s *might* start happening. My training probably won't change much from last year. By the way, I do *some* controlled trotting down hills in training. I do try to condition the muscles that he uses to hold himself back, and want him to learn how to carry himself downhill, but I don't blast down hills. My field is a steep hillside and my horses gallop & trot down it too but that's their perogative. Kaboot was a wonderful downhill horse before age started catching up with him. It was very comfortable, he'd just drop down low in the rear and work his shoulders really smooth down the hill. That's one of the earlier signs he had of age, slowing up on the downhills. Angie =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|