 |
Re: [RC] "Endurance" riding - Barbara McCraryOne of the wisest and best descriptions of endurance anyone could find. I particularly like the comparison to Mt. Everest.Barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce Weary DC" <bweary@xxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 10:58 AM Subject: [RC] "Endurance" riding But, just as there are shorter mountains out there to conquer, no one confuses those shorter mountains with Everest, nor expects similar accolades of having conquered it--until they actually do. And when they do, they will have "suffered hardships patiently," and truly endured at a high level. Each person's personal definition of suffering shouldn't define the challenge of this sport, anymore than our tolerance levels should determine how much recognition we get for any other achievement. Asking for increasing levels of recognition and awards for decreasing levels of challenge tends to water down the core principles of endurance riding, in my mind. The challenge is there in endurance riding, fixed and constant. The 100 mile trail awaits us, licking it's chops. An additional level of challenge presents itself as we pit ourselves against the long and difficult trail, helped or hindered by our own strengths and weaknesses, whatever those may be for each individual. Endurance riding truly allows us to embark on our own personal odyssey, to learn what we are really made of. These are experiences not often found in daily life, and they should be treasured, not modified to be more easily achieved and awarded. Where would be the challenge in that? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|