Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Ok Bruce, that was very nicely put.  Like you said, lets not focus on the why Not's, but the why's.    I do 100's because:

 

Both mother-in-laws said that I have never had my priorities in the correct order.  Ok, maybe I don't.  The horse eats first, the horse is totally take care of first, I don't go to school plays, heck, Joni isn't in school plays because she has a horse that needs conditioning.  I don't do weddings, showers, parties (unless horse related), birthdays, movies (unless horse related), house cleaning (but do barn chores), buy new clothes, (unless horse related), shoes (unless for the horse).  This could go on and on.  It does boil down to how much are you willing to sacrifice for the sport.  If you are dedicated enough to do 100's, then you will be dedicated enough to "make" room.  I really don't think someone is going to be able to balance work, hubby, kids, kids sports, family outings, civic duties, etc. AND be a totally dedicated 100 mile person.  It's really not a "cake and eat it too" kinda thing.  But, if someone wants to set aside these things for a while, put in the work to get that horse there, then you can relax some of the endurance work and maintain the horse and still do occasional 100 mile rides.  I am lucky, no, bad choice of words....dedicated enough that I put in those years, and it takes years, to get not one, but 4 horses to that point.  I have 4 100 mile horses, that keep Joni and myself happily going to rides all year.  And Angie too from time to time. :))  Point here is , nothing comes without the work, there are no short cuts, and I love 100's, I love the self punishment, relish in it...and relish in projecting it onto my pit crews. :))   I love the challenge, I love riding in the dark, I love the respect and the feeling that I am out there doing what most other people just dream about. Do I succeed every time???  Heck no, but most of the time I do, and that makes it totally worth it.  I don't think anybody could feel worse than I do when they don't finish.  I feel like I have failed miserably each time.  No matter the reason, I blame myself.  I was in charge of that horse, so what he stepped in a hole, I was driving, I should have seen it and prevented it.  I take FULL responsibility.  So, I do the 100's because I can get the most "good feeling" out of finishing the ultimate race. 

 

That's why I do it.

 

Jody and Joni

PS. We rode 23 miles on Saturday conditioning...20 of them in the rain, would have been A LOT easier to have stayed home or went to a movie.

Bruce Weary DC <bweary@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>    
>  The whole 100 mile ride issue is multi-faceted, and I won't attempt to address all the issues involved here. However, there are many reasons (not all bad ) that we have been seeing a downward trend in 100 miler participation. I sense an underlying sentiment amongst our membership that most riders hate to see this trend, even though they themselves may feel uninterested or unable to compete in one themselves. Sort of like lamenting the gradual disappearance of drive-in movie theatres across the country. We feel a sense of loss, and though we may not ever go to one again, the finality of total elimination isn't one that most people probably relish.
>   The evolution of the multi-day ride has had a huge impact on the participation in 100 mile rides, for obvious reasons. One can get more miles at a multiday ride, with an overnight rest every 50 miles. No sleep deprivation, decreased crewing needs, and less fuel costs per outing, among other things. 
>    We can always
>  list the reasons why we wouldn't do a 100 miler. Some folks (and their horses) are probably eliminated at the outset by physical limitations, as well as the other factors that might interfere with any recreational activity--money, time, opportunity and committment. I think it would be more productive to list the factors that one must address in order to facilitate participation in a 100 miler. Adequate training time, effective conditioning program ( that isn't interrupted by the distractions of daily life), proper feeding, well-fitting tack, personal conditioning, night riding, planning, experience, and a horse that has decent genetic potential, and the mental toughness to take on a 100. If these and other factors I've neglected to mention are adequately in place, then your chances of considering and completing a 100 mile ride go up exponentially. Talking with people who have done 100's and had a positive experience can help. And, finally, I would have to say
>  that riding with a partner makes the whole experience more safe, doable and enjoyable for horse and rider alike. Good luck to all aspiring 100 milers. It's a riding experience like no other.   Bruce Weary

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