Thursday October 16 2008 - 100 Mile Championship
OK, looks like we're up and running at least for the time being. If you get impatient with the quality of my reporting, try to picture me holding my power cord in the one position where it connects with my left hand and my internet antenae thingy up in the air with my right hand, and pretty much typing with my nose. :-P Add to that that the connection is best under the Easyup, but it's raining and the wind is blowing pretty hard so there's the fear of getting the keyboard wet. If I have problems getting to the away vet check it will be because I drained my truck battery leaving this on all day. >whew< We'll get this down to an art eventually.
Finally got on weather.com and the news looks good! We have light sporadic rain right now, and it lists RAIN at 9 AM, but by 10-12 it's scattered, and by noon we've got some SUN!!!! Unless it drops a deluge as the main front passes over this may work out just fine.
The riders were all in good spirits as they started. People were asking if Cici made it. Always hard to tell who's out there in the dark. I heard Darolyn check in just as they were starting and ask "Is there a helmet rule here?" The starter said "Yes" and Darolyne shouted, "Cici, helmet rule!" So, looks like she was able to make it up from Houston some time between 9PM and 6 AM.
I asked Jody Buttram, who has done this trail many times about the first loop. Her comment was, "They go out about two miles and then they're going to hit some slick-ass pavement.They go down that and take a left and hit some 'slicker-ass pavement', that's why Cash Pony has on aluminum shoes. We did a big trot right up the middle of that last year and neither of them slipped once." I suppose if you add to that that it will be wet "slicker-ass pavement" this year that could be interesting. Other than that mile or so of pavement they'll be doing some ridge line jeep roads, some big hills, and have their share of climbs, but overall sounds like they'll be able to make time so I've got to get down there and see if anybody is in yet.
Angie
I'm back at camp and have e-mail. I've been sending in reports on spotty phone service so may have some communications.
The three "turtles" weren't 2 hrs. behind. Closer to 1:10 behind, so that was the spread at Gate 1.
Val came in at a fast canter, whipped off the saddle and trotted fast to their buckets. No "easing in" for Ali. The rest of the racers came in shortly thereafter. Word was Val started Ali 10 minutes after the pack (just an estimate) to keep him sane.
2nd check. Surprised to see several horses had caught up with Val and they all came in together. Farzad Faryadi's horse looked great and was right there with her.
Pulls so far:
Roxi Rivkand
Elroy Karius
Bob Walsh
Kelsey Kimbler
Laura Hayes
I'll get all these times keyed in now that we're back and you can analyze what you want. Bill got some great shots of the horses going down the trail at speed so I'll start downloading those shortly.
It's 3:30 PM, the sun has come out and it's getting pretty warm but there's still a cool breeze. The rain didn't amount to anything other than made it discouraging to get out of bed. No more than an hour or so of fine mist that didn't amount to anything.
We're expecting the front runners in shortly at Check #4 64.5 miles.
There was some kidding earlier that Val's horse wasn't quite himself...he was being kind of *good*. :-) She seems very happy with the situation. I did get a shot of the head gear though.
Angie
Nikki Meuton's out. She just hauled in from check 3 where she pulled herself at the end of the hold.
4 horses have arrived at check 4 as of 3:58
Here are their out times:
211 Val Kanavey 4:10
303A Farzad Faryadi 4:25
110 Cici Butler 4:30
116 Christina Phillips 4:31
Angie
Since I'm kinda caught up for a minute I'll just say a little about the ride itself.
I have NEVER in 20 years of endurance been to a ride where there has not been one mention of riders off trail, comments on possible mileage off, complaints about ANYTHING..until today. The Daniel Boone Distance riders have had their act soooo together it's just easy to forget things *could* go wrong. There have been tons of workers, no lines to speak of, they fed everyone Subway sandwiches at the away check, now, with it really kinda cold out they have put out a fantastic spread of home made chili, dumplings, good WARM food and if you're not a worker or rider it's $1. (hope Steph can handle that on my expense account!)
Nobody has had anything but smiles and complements on the trail, even when they're not around management :-). Just saw AERC Pres. Mike Maul. He said he got here around lunch. Bet it's a relief to come in and see a well oiled machine!
So, unless you've heard your rider is out, you needn't worry that they're off trail, etc. Just not much of that stuff going on.
As soon as possible I will update everyone on the remainder of the riders. With the away check I had to get back here with the leaders and an internet connection but as soon as I get my hands on the list I'll put it up.
Angie