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Re: [RC] More 100 Mile Riders - oddfarm

Well Truman and William, I can't do those numbers like you Truman, but I
have done a fair share of foot races. I also was on committees of two racing
clubs. Our most popular races were the 1 mile and 5K. However, if it was a
well organized run, like our Turkey Trot we had almost as many 10k runners
as the 5k and 1 mile. Last count was over 10,000 runners participating. The
longer runs had fewer entrants except our 15K Gasparilla which always had a
huge draw. There were international runners and money involved. Once the
money disappeared.... well you know the story. The really big marathons have
a huge number of runners, but again top runners and money. The money only
goes to the top runners but the rest of us shmoes, just like to hob-knob
with the goober-smoochers. The Ultra Runners, well they are running to some
off beat music that the rest of us can't hear. I love running and have
always wanted to hear that music, but I can't do it all.

So I guess it is all about how much you love to do what you do. I love to
ride. I can't be in the saddle long enough and hope to one day do many 100
mile rides. I love to race as well, and I hope to be able to do 100's at
that level. But, some riders want a quick race. 25's and 50's cover that.
There is nothing wrong with that. I love running, and hope to do more
marathons. It is not about speed so much as it is about the action itself.
If I were a fast runner, I would compete in the 5K races. That is where the
real action is. Instead, I just go long. I think too it is more mental once
you go past a certain distance. Running or riding long with a mentor or
friend sure does make it a lot easier to do than going alone.

Truman, you could find race results on many websites. Running Times and
Runner's world may even have some info on that. For a true race, I think the
5k is the most popular and almost always has the most entries.
Lisa Salas, the Odd fArm
Why do people run when nobody is chasing them?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Truman Prevatt" <tprevatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "William Rice" <WER@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2003 10:41 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] More 100 Mile Riders


In the forest where I ride they have a 50 mile race every April. Yes FL
heat and humidity and running in sand. I asked one of the organizers
last year how many people run 50 and 100 mile events - compared to those
that run marathons (26 + miles) and shorter 5 k, 10 and 20 k events. He
didn't know but he said the longer distances are a very small precentage
of the total number of what you would call distance runners.

It would be interesting to see the statistics on distance running say 5
k and above to see how they compare to distance riding. Anyone know.
This may just get down the the human issue as much as the horse issue.

Truman

William Rice wrote:

Newbie here talking, but also wondering why endurance riders might not
steal a page from the endurance runners.  Tom N. can you chime in on this
also?

If we want more to ride 100 mile distances then those that have can
influence that by being the mentors at each and every ride and encouraging
us beginners along the way.  BTW I have plenty of support and have my sights
on a 100 already and I really appreciate the kind folks here in Maine for
mentoring me.

For example:

The endurance runners do this by allowing pacers for the 100 mile
runs--perhaps riders could have an experienced horse go with the new horse
and rider for their first 100?  Also at every 50 mile run we do all we can
to help and encourage a 50 mile runner to step up to 100 miles.  The end
result is that we have more runners than ever wanting to run 100 miles
(crazy huh) so many in fact that most runs of 300 runners have huge waiting
lists and now fill up months in advance.

Crews, fueling and care of horses and other insights to successful
distance completion should also be freely shared.  I do find that everyone I
have ever asked a question of in this sport has bent over backwards to
answer but some are more shy than others about asking the "experienced
riders" questions.

Further there are special awards/buckles etc for those completing a 100
miler.  So if it works to convince people to run 100 miles on foot (which is
certainly outside the norm) then perhaps we can do the same in endurance
riding?

I realize I am very new to this sport but I find the riders/crews/race
directors to be the same friendly type of people one finds at ultra runs.
And I want to see the sport continue--heck I am even trying to get more
runners involved although they are not convinced that a horse is the best
way to go :-)

One other thing riders might steal from the runners is proper care of
themselves.  At every ride I see the horses treated with the best
electrolytes etc and the riders look like dead men walking :-)  A quick look
at Kevin Sayer's web site can provide a ton of info we runners have learned
the hard way about taking care of oneself http://www.ultrunr.com/ .

Which brings me to the final point, and that is the horse.  I never
thought I would enjoy being on a self willed animal quite so much, but if I
can do it and I just learned to ride at the ripe (but still young) old age
of 48 then anyone can.  So to you other newbies out there, you CAN do this
and you CAN ride 100 miles--you just gotta' want to.  So grab your horse and
get going, I plan to see you out there.

Bill In Maine--doing some early morning musing



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Replies
[RC] More 100 Mile Riders, William Rice
Re: [RC] More 100 Mile Riders, Truman Prevatt