[RC] Everest and true "endurance" riding - Mary HowellTruman's comment about Everest and our sport getting easier hit home for me. Preparing to tackle my first Old Dominion 100, I read books about climbing Mount Everest for inspiration (my brother is a rock climber and I've belayed for him several times - way tougher sport than sitting on a horse!) I kept telling myself, "what those climbers are trying to do and the number of days it takes to get there makes a 1-day 100 seem easy by comparison." My reverse psychology worked and I made it through the OD! No matter how much our sport evolves, a true way to test one's endurance mettle is to tackle a ride Calvary, with no crew and no outside help. As an Old Dominion volunteer this year, I was impressed by the combination of confidence and good humor this year's sole Calvary finisher, Farzad Faryadi, showed at each of the 3 holds where I saw him. Finishing a Calvary-style 100 is a significant accomplishment and proof of reaching a perfect balance between pragmatism and the power of positive thinking. Do anyone know if any other rides in the U.S. other than the Old Dominion offer a calvary division? Mary in VA =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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