PAC commentary on pulls

["Michael K. Maul" <mmaul@flash.net>]

The final data will be coming soon according to Scott.

Some comments on the reason for pulls.  The course looks 
deceptively easy.  no real hills and rolling... The temperature
was perhaps a high of 78 and the humidity moderate to low.
Some riders were talking about a 9 hour ride time before the 
start.

I just talked with Myna - the ride manager.  She feels many
riders underestimated the course and rode too fast.  She said
that when the first loop results were so fast yesterday there was
a strong possibility for problems later in the ride.

The sand is a very significant factor.  It is fine and bottomless
at times.  She said that the horses work much harder than you 
would expect.  As a result - there were lots of muscle cramps
and lameness.  Metabolics happened due to the extra work
moving in the sand.

The two known pulls at the finish were due to lameness.

Mike


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