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[RC] Old Dominion - The Epilogue to Super's Story - 4 P's - Stagg_Newman


This is the epilogue to Jayel Super's story of the Old Dominion.
(with apologies for the long delay but overseas business trips
and personal obligations delayed my getting back on ride camp)
Super suggested that I compare the ride with the 4 "P's" that
I talked about at the pre-ride clinic and in the Preface to his story
(see ridecamp archives - June 17).
He particularly wanted  me to point out two big mistakes.
-not reading my map at the first vet check which cost us
several extra miles
-stumbling on foot down the last mountain in the dark and
falling in a ditch when I should have been taking
advantage of Super's better night vision.

The Four P’s are:  Patience, Practice, Pacing, and Pulse.

Patience.

Patience was definitely key this year, particularly after the extra
5 miles or so leaving the first vet check.  We had to slow down
to allow for the fact that our horses had to have enough reserves
to do the OD 105.  Charlie with the help of Sue was very good
at reminding Super and Stagg to key a steady pace.

Patience was also necessary when Super lost a shoe before
the 4 th Vet check and we lost time while he was being reshod,
particularly since other horses arrived in the vet check.  Sue
helped me fight the tendency to want to speed up too much.

As an aside, having another horse to ride with in a 100
is a tremendous benefit provided the horses are well matched.

Practice.

At the first check I forgot part of my normal practice which is
to always look at the map so I have a good idea of the
next section of the trail.  Well most of the ride paid for that
mistake as station management sent all of us out the wrong
way.  Sue and I probably did close to 5 extra miles while
other riders did somewhat less.  Moreover we gave up
the lead we had earned in the climb up from McCoy's Ford.
Had I looked at the map, I would have realized that we should
have gone the other way and pointed that out to the
station managers.

Also while I had practiced running on foot down Hickerson
Hollow, I never tried doing that at night.  Turns out running
down a dark woods trail with uneven footing is far more difficult
than I thought.  I fell in a ditch at one point and stumbled frequently
going down the trail. I suspect Super was laughing at me given
he can see much better in the dark than I.  In retrospect it would have
been safer and I probably would have made better time
by staying on Super.

Pacing.

My goal was to take about 3 hours into the first check (just
over 8 MPH) and then adjust accordingly.  The pace
would have to slow down over the really rocky sections
of the course and the steep climbs.  Sue and I came
into the first check just shy of 3 hours as planned.  We stayed
on that pace through the second check and then slowed down
after that due to a combination of
- the terrain,
-having done the extra milage,
-and being in the lead and so could ease off the pace.

Pulse.

Pulse recovery is the best indication of whether the pace is right.  
At each check Charlie and Super were both able to go straight
into the pulse check as soon as we dismounted and checked
their pulse, indicating that the horses were well able to maintain the
pace.

End of Super's OD Story.