 |
Re: [RC] Time and Money to Do This Sport... getting philosophical - Mary Ann SpencerReality of it all: YOUTH IS WASTED ON THE YOUNG!!!I have not had the time to excell in the sport, potential but not able due to 'other priorities. Those that 'go for it' have sacrificed 'somthing' to be able to do it. When we are young and have career and family to deal with, time and money are hard to get. I have been a single parent much of the past 30 yrs. I have worked all sorts of hours. Would get off night shift on Friday am, nap and throw my 'stuff' together for the ride and get there after dark...(u mean it is easier to set up camp in the daylight??? lol). Well, now the kids are grown, I am not as physically able but now the time is there. I am hoping to get to more rides. I did 2 plus most of a third 50 miler when I was 52. So u see, you don't have to do it all when you are young. However, I did give up stuff that other people relish: a nice house, a clean house, volunteering to dowhatever, have fancier horse tack, better truck, make a Good Housing Keeping type of house, etc. Point is we make our priorities and learn to live with them. A while back there was a discussion to get T Shirts with: Only Boring Women Have Clean Houses!!! or something of that thought. Many of us have our saddles in the front room. I figured I could clean a house later when I could not ride. Some take their kids with them on rides and make it a family outting. I remember when there were NO big rigs and we camped the old fashioned way. Now I have a small big rig and am looking forward to sleeping nicer than I did in my truck or a cot or ??? worked at the time when the tent was washed out with a gully washing storm. TIME is a four letter word. We can't get it back so we need to make the most of what we do with it. I am a casual endurance rider but some are into it seriously. Set your priorities and follow your instinct and heart but use LOTS of common sense. Good luck, happy trails. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Lewis" <mlewis73@xxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 7:56 PM Subject: [RC] Time and Money to Do This Sport... getting philosophical
My desire is to ride at least 90% of the rides in my region during any given season, and to go as far with this sport as I can. I want to ride well in some big races overseas sometime within the next 40 years. :-) After riding an old gelding for years, I finally have a horse who might be competitive in long races (and want more such horses in my stable), and being an avid athlete myself know I can take just about anything the trail offers. Bottom line from what I've observed is that it looks like most folks who are successful in this sport are self employed, are part of a wealthy family who share this hobby, or are employed by a gracious employer who allows plenty of time off to trailer to rides on Thursdays/Fridays. It seems difficult for us mid-30-somethings with a "regular job" and family responsibilities to dedicate the time and money endurance racing requires to be successful. I'm not here to gripe as much as I'm looking for folks' anecdotes telling me I'm not so unique in my search to give endurance racing more priority in my life despite job responsibilities and pay situation that makes doing so difficult. :-) Would be interested in hearing from folks who are excelling in this sport despite demands of job/family/pay situations. How'd ya do it? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|