Whatever mileage, the glory is in finishing with
a sound horse. Sometimes first, sometimes last, whatever the horse
dictates for that day. Sometimes whatever my body dictates for that
day. It doesn't matter what mileage I do, what it is called either, the
simple fact is that I am still out there riding on a trail somewhere.
Sometimes whooping it up, sometimes I hurt so bad I just want to finish.
But I am THERE. I prefer LD or endurance, simply because I can pick the
speed and whether I am on the horse or off. But I end up doing
competitive. Why? I have no crew, and since no one else is allowed
a crew in competitive, then we are all equal. But since I love what
endurance offers, my competitive becomes enduro comp! One may not like
the average speed of competitive, but one may choose how one wants to run
it. I usually do the first half at an endurance pace, spend more time at
the VC then I need to, then finish the ride at the speed I want to.
Usually there is enough time for me to walk those last 2 miles in so the horse
gets those low readings. The ride is what I make of it, the game of
endurance or competitive is how I play it, the joy is that I am there enjoying
the trail, friends, and riding my horse. Sometimes the extra joy is the
junior I am privileged to sponsor.
Jeanie
