One of the many things I did love about NATRC was
the letters that let you know where (miles) you were on the trail. I
could get the trail set in my mind as we went along. The one mile marker
from camp was great too.
<<<One thing that I have trouble with is pacing. I know the
pace I *want* to ride, but during a ride I don't always know how close
to that pace I am. Some people may not know the pace they
*should* ride.>>>
On pacing...I had asked around before my first
ride and never got a really good answer. At the pre-ride meeting we were
given a trail map and it showed trail markers we would come across and how far
each marker was from the other...
Night before the ride, I used my cell phone
calculator and figured out the EXACT pace I would have to go to get to each
marker and make the cutoff time. I figured in the 45 min vet ck plus 30
minutes for any hold ups - my safety buffer.
So I had 6 hr minus 1 hr 15 min or 4 hr 45 min to
"complete" the 25 mile ride. or a pace of 25/4.75 mph = 5.26 mph
It becomes an algebra problem...If we left at 8:00 am, what time should I
be at the 4 mile marker if riding a 5/26 mph pace? the 8 mile marker? the 15
mile vet ck? and so on.
5.26 mi/hr = 4 mi/x hr 0r divide your mile marker (4 or whatever) by
5.26. This equals 0.76 hr. You must then convert to minutes by
multiplying by 60... and wa la... 46 minutes. I should be at the 4 mile marker
at around 8:46. If you figure the 15 mile marker... equals 2.85 hr or 2+ 0.85
or 2+ (0.85x60) or 2 hrs 51 minutes. I should be at the 15 mile marker at
10:51.
If the vet ck was at 15 miles... then add your 45 minutes plus any extra
hold time for the rest of the ride. The 25 mile finish line would happen at
25/5.26 or 4 hr 45 min - plus 45 min...wa la,,, you've just finished at 5 hrs
and 30 minutes w/ 30 minutes to spare.
I did this for all the markers. I knew if I was running ahead, say, by 15
minutes. Then by 30 minutes. or If I was "right on time"...
I rode w/ another lady for awhile who was concerned about over-riding her
mare who was acting up. I yelled out how we were doing as we passed a mile
marker. and She said only a CTR type would know how to rate like that...
All I know is that I couldn't sleep and the next day having those numbers
figured out gave me confidence on the trail. Now, why didn't anyone suggest
that?
Donna
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