Thank you so much for the information. I appreciate it!
Happy riding,
Jen

--- In new100milers@yahoogroups.com, Char Jewell <ban_zus@...> wrote:
>
> I started using Cosequin on my 20 yr old 5 years ago as a
preventative.  He's high mileage and usually has a fairly heavy schedule.
>
> I started my 10 yr old on Cosequin 2 years ago because he had an
arthritis problem start in a hock.  I treated that with Legend, and
started him on Cosequin to help keep his joints tip-top.
>
> I am starting a 7 yr old this year & will not start him until he has
a problem or becomes a teenager with high miles.
>
> I recently asked the head vet at an Equine Hospital what he
recommend & he said Cosequin ASU.  He said Cosequin products are the best.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Char Jewell
>
> Every endurance rider knows more about electrolyte therapy for
horses in competition than any vet I know. author to remain anonymous
>

Thank you so much for the great information!

--- In new100milers@yahoogroups.com, "Kathy" <k_m_sherman@...> wrote:
>
> I would not jump to the assumption that your horse is going to have
> excessive wear and tear on the joints due to the mileage alone since
> the type of exercise that the endurance horses gets is a natural >type

Good point. :) And my horses are mustangs who spent their early years
on the range, so I suspect their bodies are used to quite a bit of
exercise. :)

> The E/se requirement for endurance
> horses is higher than what most horses need also, so that is generally
> supplemented separately so you can give the higher dose needed.

Oh! Thank you!

>
> And I'd personally never stick a needle in my
> horse unless it was required.

Me, either. I don't believe in fixing something unless it's really
broken - especially if the fix might end up introducing infection. :/

> Once you start conditioning, it would be a good idea to get your
> horse's selenium level checked. That is one thing that can really
> cause problems if it is low. The normal range for horses is .05-.50,
> but an endurance horse should be between .25 - .30.  My horses had
> problems with muscle cramping and tying up with levels at .187 which
> is well within "normal" for a non-endurance horse.

I will be sure to do this! Thank you so much.

Happy trails,
Jen

I'm at my brother's in Louisville, taking a day to visit before making my way
back home. What a
trip this has been!

I can't believe we completed the 100 at the Bighorn. It is an unbelievable but
beautiful ride and
very T-O-U-G-H!!! There were climbs throughout; no "downhill" ride here. I'm
glad I spent the time
and money to trailer to sandy up and down trails to condition. Had I not done
that, we'd have not
finished. Boomer is far tougher than I imagined. He finished looking pretty
good.

I did not have a good day physically--I started out with hip pain that just
didn't want to let up
despite medication and then my left ankle decided to quit on me, rolling in the
stirrup. Sure made
me forget the hip pain! I don't recall a ride in which I just felt so off so
soon and for so long.
The constant pain really dulled my enjoyment of the ride as it was happening. I
was pretty
demoralized because I just couldn't imagine getting through the entire 100 miles
and was worrying
about how my pain was impacting my riding and affecting my horse. Riding at a
walk was about the
only time I felt OK. I borrowed an ankle brace from the Stalley's at 75 miles;
that made the
remaining ride possible although it was still very painful but with my ankle
stabilized, I could
deal with the pain and ride Boomer's energized trot(I think I've ground a few
millimeters off my
teeth though!).

Boomer, however, did a lot better than I did although he did get to the point
where any climb was
greeted with a slow crawling walk. He went into a big slump between 60 and 75
miles. I didn't think
we'd ever finish that portion of the trail but he came alive after the hold at
75 miles and I had a
lot more horse than I could comfortably ride for the final 25 miles. This turned
out to be a good
thing as we finally reached the base of the long descent at 2:20am with 10 miles
to go in the
remaining 1hr 40 mins. I needed all that horse to get us done in time. I was
riding with 2 WY
people. Had they not asked if I wanted to ride with them I would not have made
it as my ankle was
impacting my ability to get off and on and there were multiple gates to
negotiate; they kindly took
care of the gates (and one was on a 16.1 Anglo). Needless to say, they rank high
in my book on
great riders! We did the last 10 miles in an hour (they actually did it in 55
mins; I dragged a bit
behind). The winners took 1.5 hours . . . but they weren't worrying about going
OT! I almost cried
when we reached the highway and my companions pointed out we were within 1.5
miles of the finished
with plenty of time left.

One thing this trip taught Boomer is the importance of eating and drinking. He
did not travel well
to CA but since I loaded him back in the trailer at Auburn to head east, he has
turned into an
eating and drinking machine. He ate like a starved horse at the holds; he was
grabbing and digging
for feed faster than I could get it out of the bags and then cleaning up
leftovers.

I'll have a longer more detail version of my trip put together within the next
week. I expect to be
home on Friday. Apparently my internet is down at home so it may take a bit of
time to get that
fixed (or I'll just go up to Panera Bread and hang out there!). I know Boomer
will be very happy to
be out in his pasture. He's getting at least one full month off and very likely
more time than that
before seeing a saddle again. He deserves it!

Debbie

I second the comment. And an extra congratulations to Steven from the
North East. Some rides are easier than others. VT is a challenge on
the best of days.  Riding it while dodging falling trees and hail
stones must have felt like a Biblical trial.

For those you haven't made it yet, don't give up! The sense of
accomplishment and the humbling awe that you will have for your horse
is such a reward.
Cecily



--- In new100milers@yahoogroups.com, Lucy Chaplin Trumbull
<elsietee@...> wrote:
>
> Yay to all of you who finished your 100s this weekend - and
> yay to those of you who tried but it didn't quite work out.
>

Hi Jen,

Welcome to the group! I suspect you'll get many different
recommendations regarding feeding supplements. One thing I did when I
started riding long distance rides is to read the "Decade Teams"
interviews on the AERC website. These are horse and rider teams that
have been doing endurance riding for 10 years and longer. They discuss
their feeding, conditioning, equipment, living conditions, etc. You
will see that some horses stay sound and healthy on the simplest of
diets, and others are given supplements.

I would not jump to the assumption that your horse is going to have
excessive wear and tear on the joints due to the mileage alone since
the type of exercise that the endurance horses gets is a natural type
of movement for the horse that doesn't put excessive stress and wear
on the joints. Reining, roping, barrels, jumping, and many other horse
sports put extreme stress on the horses joints in a way that is not
natural for them and is usually started at a very young age. I'd be
more concerned about those horses needing joint supplements than the
endurance horse. Sort of like the football, baseball, or vollyball
player, or the gymnast or cheerleader are more likely to damage joints
etc, as opposed to a marathon runner.  I know runners in their 70s
still going strong. I know vollyball and basketball players who had
such damaged knees that they needed replacements in their 40s.
baseball players with destroyed elbows at 17 yrs old, and cheerleaders
who at 17 have chronic back pain. I've seen reining horses retired at
4 and 5 years old due to pastern and hock problems, heck, we barely
start our conditioning program for endurance horses at that age!

Anyway, that's just my way of looking at it. I do give our 19 yr old
MSM, all our endurance horses get a multi-vitamin and E/selenium
(blood tests showed a selenium deficiency). I wouldn't depend on a
concentrated feed to supply the vitamins because you usually have to
feed 2-4 pounds daily to get the required vitamins and most endurance
horses aren't fed that much concentrated feeds since bulky hay is
better for their digestive systems. The E/se requirement for endurance
horses is higher than what most horses need also, so that is generally
supplemented separately so you can give the higher dose needed.

However, I do also know people that give their horses supplements
whether they need them or not, hoping that it will avoid some problem
in the future. Read the Decade Team interviews, it'll give you lots of
different opinions and results.

Oh, one more thing, I've read that oral joint supplements don't really
provide any protection for horses because of their inability to
properly absorb glucosamine or chondroitin, I think it was due to the
size of the molecule or something like that, and that only injections
really do any good. And I'd personally never stick a needle in my
horse unless it was required. Then again, experts also claim that oral
glucosamine and chondroitin doesn't help people either, but it
definitely helped me with my arthritis and joint pain.

Once you start conditioning, it would be a good idea to get your
horse's selenium level checked. That is one thing that can really
cause problems if it is low. The normal range for horses is .05-.50,
but an endurance horse should be between .25 - .30.  My horses had
problems with muscle cramping and tying up with levels at .187 which
is well within "normal" for a non-endurance horse.

Good luck!
Kathy







--- In new100milers@yahoogroups.com, "Jen" <jatatahoe1@...> wrote:
>
> Hi everyone,
> I'm sorry to intrude - I've been lurking for a long time. I had
> planned to do some 50s and then a 100 last year, but various minor
> crises forced me to take a hiatus. Fortunately, my mare is healthy and
> I'm back to being sound so we've started conditioning again. :) I'm
> not sure when we'll actually be ready for a 100, but that's our goal.
>
> Anyway, right now she's getting Buckeye's Grow and Win. When I told my
> vet we were hoping to do some AERC rides, he suggested I put her on a
> joint supplement to prevent wear and tear. She's only 7 or 8, in great
> shape, no joint issues right now. She's got good conformation and
> she's a lovely mover, but he said the miles would start to wear her
> down and that adding a joint supplement now might help her down the
> road. I know Buckeye makes a formula with glucosamine and chondroitin
> added, but I've always been a little hesitant to feed supplements if
> they aren't necessary.
>
> He even said I should start my 5 year old on it - he said it wouldn't
> hurt anything and it might help prevent joint damage.
>
> What do you guys think? Do you feed joint supplements even when there
> is no sign of a problem? Is this a good idea if I want to do 100s with
> my horses?
>
> Thank you so much for your time!
> Jen
>

Hi everyone,
I'm sorry to intrude - I've been lurking for a long time. I had
planned to do some 50s and then a 100 last year, but various minor
crises forced me to take a hiatus. Fortunately, my mare is healthy and
I'm back to being sound so we've started conditioning again. :) I'm
not sure when we'll actually be ready for a 100, but that's our goal.

Anyway, right now she's getting Buckeye's Grow and Win. When I told my
vet we were hoping to do some AERC rides, he suggested I put her on a
joint supplement to prevent wear and tear. She's only 7 or 8, in great
shape, no joint issues right now. She's got good conformation and
she's a lovely mover, but he said the miles would start to wear her
down and that adding a joint supplement now might help her down the
road. I know Buckeye makes a formula with glucosamine and chondroitin
added, but I've always been a little hesitant to feed supplements if
they aren't necessary.

He even said I should start my 5 year old on it - he said it wouldn't
hurt anything and it might help prevent joint damage.

What do you guys think? Do you feed joint supplements even when there
is no sign of a problem? Is this a good idea if I want to do 100s with
my horses?

Thank you so much for your time!
Jen

I finally wrote my story. It is way too long. If you are considering
reading it, it might take less time to actually ride a 100.

So, first the short version:
1)Picked a relatively easier ride where I knew the trail and
surrounding area.
2) Had crew
3) Rode very conservatively
4) Was really lucky that the weather was ideal, even if I did get
too cold.


I don't have  a website to link to.  I'd edit but I'm tired of
looking at it. On my plus side, so much writing was cathartic. It
should help me remember the positive and negative for the next 100.

The full 5 pages:

Our Completion - Cecily and Aari

I had a history of 3 100 mile starts.  2 on Hibi, one on Aari.
1 100 miles on Aari at VT 2007 which resulted in pull at finish line
due to hind lameness.

Goal for 2008 season had been to try Tevis again. Job demands kept
me from conditioning appropriately. Rethought goal.  Looked at what
I should have
been learning from my experiences.  Reset goal as 100 mile
completion.

Which ride?
  Choice of 3, which was determined by work schedule: Big South Fork
(TN in June), VT, Pine Tree, ME, in that order.

My "big picture," I am a trail person. I love to see different
trail. I'd love it if that trail fits my idea of beautiful, too.

However, I'm pretty much a one woman show. I rarely have dedicated
crew.  I travel in a 2 horse gooseneck with a dress. I don't have
all those lovely accoutrements like a shower. On the other hand, I'm
pretty pushy and often ask for help from anyone who looks like they
might give it.

I choose Pine Tree as I realized that it was the ride that would
best allow me to reach my goal. Why?

I knew the trails from a number of rides.  I have good trail
memory.  I had a very good idea of the expectations and benefits of
the terrain.  I had a good idea of water, shade, and hills.  I knew
the support systems available in the community. I knew where to buy
food, ice, fuel, and where I could take a shower.  I knew how ride
camp would be configured and what it would offer.

I also had a part time crew person.  Teddy Lancaster of Running Bear
Farm Tack was going to be at the ride. My horse's name is RBF
Aaristotle.  I purchased him from Teddy.
Aari is a 7/8 Arab, the product of her CMK, proven endurance horse
breeding.


Big South Fork – too many unknowns, longer trailer ride, no crew.
Vermont – The ride is very demanding.  I did it with excellent crew
last year, my friend Lory Walsh.  Lory was so great that now there
is no way I'd attempt it with out the crew.

So I loaded up the truck and headed to ME. I did my usual – pull in
for vetting at the last minute. For me I see the plus of letting the
horse stay in the comfort of his own pasture  to continue eating,
drinking, etc.   It also gave me time to pack my crew stuff in one
well organized container (well organized, a word that I don't get
apply to myself too often.)

I don't have a lot to say about the trail staging except that when I
heard that we'd repeat the last 11 mile loop twice, I knew this ride
really had been the ideal choice. At VT the year before Aari slipped
and went down on rocks around mile 96.  I mentally plotted the ETD
onto that trail for the first trip at 7 PM. Two hours on the loop
and I'd be back at camp at 9 when all ambient sunlight would be
gone.   Again, my goal was only to complete. If I could keep to this
schedule, even if I had to hand walk the last loop I stood a good
chance of finishing before 2 AM.

I had some other good news in that Teddy decided she would crew for
me at the two away vet gates and would meet us on trail when she
could.  Add that to the forecast of temps in the 70s and it sounded
like everything was in the perfect place.

Got some sleep, tacked up no problem and headed out at whatever time
we started.  . I lost my Kimberwicke at Michaux so I was riding in a
snaffle. Aari quickly figured out that he didn't have to listen to
it so we tucked in with the frontrunners.  I also had opted to skip
the technology, I didn't have a HRM.  We were clipping along with
Steve Rojek, Hernan, and Kathy Downs.  Aari was trying to take the
lead. I warned Kathy that I had to do a one rein stop. I don't think
she heard me. She seemed pretty surprised when Aari spun into the
middle of the trail. But she was kind and only asked
matteroffactly, "snaffle not working for you?"  That gave me a
chuckle.

We wound up with Kyle and his mare. I found the company pleasant. I
may have yakked too much for him or Aari just may have been setting
a faster pace.  Kyle fell back and a
woman from Nova Scotia joined us.  She and I rode with each horse
swapping the lead for maybe a mile or two.  We had a similar goal,
only completion but we both recognized that our horses weren't
suited to each other.  They were going to burn themselves out trying
to compete.    That first loop had  my longest stretch of company
all day, maybe 13 miles.

Came into the first VG a little ahead of schedule.  No problems.
Aari doing everything right.  Loved the crew.  I think I woke up
right around then.

Second VG pretty much the same.  Steve Rojek told me a funny joke
and I thought I was going to pee my pants.

Next VGs back at camp. I kind of did the VG to VG approach.  Every
time I left a vet gate, I told myself I was heading out for my first
loop of the morning.  The weather went from overcast and cool to
damp and cool.

I can't remember when Aari seemed to loose steam. I think it was
around mile 50.  I had been letting him eat on trail all day.  But
we'd been alone a long time. He began to act more like it was a day
to graze rather than be ridden.  Because my horse Hibi isn't a good
eater I figured it would be better to err on the side of caution.
The Walker family caught up to us. For Aari it was a boost.  He went
from grazing slug to Man O'War.  Once he pulled way ahead; however,
he became the grazer again.  The Walkers caught us again on a
beautiful stretch of dirt road. They were riding at a steady canter.
Aari bolted ahead of them, snaffle still not working.
Being with the Walkers was a good influence on me.  I saw how they
rode through a stretch of mud full of sharp rocks. I had jogged it.
They walked.  Next time I walked. Later my friend Deb Fiske told me
that her horse sliced his foot.

The Walkers finally came upon us shortly after a vet gate and I
waved them by.  Aari and I settled into a long, lonely slow loop. He
kept eating and eating grass.  For a long time I felt that he needed
to pee but wouldn't.  I'd get off, give him opportunities to stand
on soft areas of trail, act as the model. Nothing. In camp he'd
stretch out, but nothing.

I still had my crew in camp for the most part. If Teddy had a
customer I was up to my old tricks of begging. Deb Fiske crewed for
me during one of my holds. She massaged Aari to encourage him to
relax and pee.  He loved the rub but remained shy. He probably went
20 miles before he finally pulled over on trail and urinated.

By around mile 60 I was crewless on trail. During Aari's grazing
loops I asked two other crews for grain. I also realized that I
needed human electrolytes so I bummed Gatorade.
Mel Bittersdorf's crew and the Canadian crew were a huge help. Aari
chowed down about a quart of the Nova Scotia grain.  In camp I fed
him a lot and stayed extra time to let him eat all he wanted, but,
the majority of what I offered was beet pulp.  That grain only
ration seemed to perk him up a lot.

One thing I did that was really smart was change my clothes during
the holds.  The weather had transitioned to light drizzle.  Teddy
kept drying my gloves so I always went out in a warm pair.  I
changed my helmet, shirt, socks and bra.  I couldn't believe how
much better I felt after I put fresh clothes on.

  I also ate well most of the day. I rediscovered that peanut butter
crackers are the snack of choice for me.  I've been eating granola
bars as my in saddle nourishment. I was much more myself with
packaged Ritz peanut butter crackers.  For human electrolytes for
me, Gatorade with some No Salt mixed in works wonders.

I've never been one to take a lot of ibuprofen, mostly because I've
forgotten. At Pine Tree I was good about taking 4 periodically then
eventually dropping down to two. This also seemed to be a really
good decision.

I maintained electrolyting Aari on trail about every hour to hour
and a half, usually with Lyte Now. In camp I electrolyted with
Perform n Win.

All was going pretty well. Aari and I were hitting our marks,
arriving at the vet gates at the times I set as my ideal. This
surprised me as I felt like we were moving like snails.

The magical time of 7 PM came and we were at the timer's to step out
for mile 78. Exactly the time I wanted to be on trail for the first
of the 11 mile loops.  I felt really good.

We headed out alone again.  Aari really felt like he was just sick
of being alone. He would pick up the slowest of trots. I kept him
moving but progress was slow. Out on the
penultimate loop we ran into crew. I asked who they were crewing
for. They answered, "Kathy Downs."   I said, "I thought Kathy was in
front of me." The answer was, "She is."
I was about to be lapped by the frontrunners.

We slugged along for a while longer until Aari could fell the other
horses. We must have been at around mile 85.  It was Kathy, Steve
and Hernan Barbosa. I thought the 3 of them would breeze by and Aari
would continue to plod.  How wrong I was. The three blew by and Aari
leapt into his 8 mph trot. I still had horse.

I stayed on the leaders' tails for about 5 miles. I backed off to
make sure that Aari wouldn't come in with a high pulse.  The net
result of being lapped was that I made it back to camp just as the
last glimmers of sunlight disappeared.  I was still exactly on plan.

The drizzle now was light rain and the temperature was falling. I,
of course had plenty of clothes for summer heat and next to nothing
for the cold.  Teddy made me hot soup (bless her) and I dug up more
dry, long sleeved clothing. Unfortunately most of it was cotton.  I
stuffed a few flashlights in my pockets and Aari and I ventured off
into the dark. The glowing blips from fireflies welcomed us into the
night.

I was adamant that we were completing, not repeat of VT. So, I sat
on Aari at a walk.  We knew the entire trail but he was more
comfortable in the woods with a flashlight. The light allowed me to
duck the wet branches.  On the roads I saved batteries.  The rain
grew steadier.  I knew that my cotton clothing would soak and I
would become very cold. I flailed my arms against my chest to keep
my core warm.

We encountered the Canadian crew. I asked if she had a spare
raincoat. She had rain pants but no coat.  The next day I realized
that I should have wrapped the pant legs over
my shoulders and covered my chest with the pant seat to keep in the
heat.

My last loop was uneventful. We simply walked. Somehow I amused
myself mentally.  I never felt nauseous.  I heard that people in
base camp were worried about me as my speed dropped so sharply.  Tom
Hutchinson and Kathy Brunjes drove out to check up on me.  The
Canadian woman relayed that I was cold. Tom and Kathy had a dry coat
for me but couldn't quite get to the road crossings before me.

I came to the finish line around 12:45. Kathy asked me to dismount
so she could put me in a Polar Fleece. I was so cold I didn't dare
walk. I was afraid that my legs would give out.  I rode into the vet
gate. Kathy took Aari for the trot out while I stripped out of the
clammy cotton clothes under the vet tent.  Aari trotted like a fresh
horse.

Teddy heated the soup up beyond boiling and set me in her LQ. The
sky opened up and poured. Teddy wrapped Aari while getting soaked.
She is one hell of a horsewoman. I didn't have a heavy rain sheet so
we opened the partitions in the trailer for Aari to use it like a
stall.  I figured totally dry and warm in the trailer was better
than standing out in the rain.  Teddy tried to load him but Aari
broke free and literally trotted around camp.  For me that was the
real proof that he was fine. Once he was in the horse quarters and I
was in the dressing room, the two of us snuggled under our covers in
the trailer and had a restful sleep.

I am very proud of my horse. What did finishing Pine Tree do? It
made me feel like 100 milers are very doable, especially with the
right horse.  Now that I've completed I'm looking at the AERC
competition calendar and the map.  I hope to see many of us out
there.

Woohoohoohoo! Congratulations Debbie and Boomer!!! What a feat,
especially after that long, long trip!

Kathy



--- In new100milers@yahoogroups.com, "websbyteri" <teri@...> wrote:
>
> Debbie just called.  She wanted me to let everyone know that she
> FINISHED the Big Horn 100 with 40 minutes to spare.  Boomer is tired
> but eating very good.  Debbie is exstatic but now it is time for her to
> get some rest.  She said she would post her trip and ride when she
> returns.
>
> Teri Hunter
>

----- Original Message -----

From: Cecily

To: new100milers@yahoogroups.com

Sent: 7/20/2008 4:02:39 PM

Subject: [SPAM][new100milers] Re: Oh, and ...

Yes, I'd highly recommend it. Being at it was like being on a high.
Hours and hours and hours of thought provoking, informative content.
Well organized in a logical progression with breaks where attendees
were able to ask indepth questions. Not one of the clinicians seemed
to tire of sharing their knowledge. This clinic was well worth the
money and time.

If I can get away for another I'll go in a heart beat. I learned a
lot but they couldn't cover everything.

Cecily

--- In new100milers@yahoogroups.com, "Patti Stedman"
<procompsvc@...> wrote:
>
> Congratulations, Debbie, of course! :-)
>
> Also, Cecily and I attended the APEX clinic in Vermont this week
if anyone has questions about it.
>
> Am pretty sure that she and I (and everyone in attendance) would
highly recommend it!
>
> --Patti
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Patti Stedman
> To: new100milers@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: 7/20/2008 3:45:04 PM
> Subject: [SPAM]RE: [SPAM][new100milers]
>
>
> Lucy,
>
> I have some information from the VT ride but none of it is
official in any way, shape or form. Just what I've heard from
various folks there.
>
> Ranelle Kohut and John Crandell both got pulled at VC 1.
>
> Steve Rojek, Gene Limlaw, Patti Pizzo all pulled at the 40 mile
hold. I think that Sharon got pulled there for OT? (They have
closing times for each vet check at the VT ride.)
>
> Heather Hoyns got through.
>
> Christina Phillips was first to cross the finish line but got
pulled for lameness, therefore Farzad got the win. I believe I
heard that Hernan Barbosa came in 2nd on Rojek's Winnstar.
>
> I so wish I could have been there, but between the heat and one of
my key crew people having TWO broken wrists, it seemed the fates
were telling me to stay home. :-(
>
> Am looking forward to official results myself and keep checking
back.
>
> --Patti Stedman
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Lucy Chaplin Trumbull
> To: new100milers@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: 7/20/2008 3:35:31 PM
> Subject: [SPAM][new100milers]
>
>
> Hurray for Debbie!!
>
> I wish they'd post the VT100 results though! It seems that
> the published starter list was only the pre-registered riders,
> since Sharon didn't even show up on it. And nothing more
> since posting the 1st place finisher... <grrr>
>
> (The moon *was* gorgeous. Had Tevis happened, it would
> have been a little toasty. We drove through the canyon at
> No Hands Bridge around 5 pm yesterday and it was 99°F,
> so I imagine it would have been similar in the deep canyons.
> But there was a very slight breeze. The smoke wasn't too
> bad, but definitely still visible. In the evening it cooled off
> nicely to the low 70s).
>
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Lucy Chaplin Trumbull
> elsietee AT foothill DOT net
> Repotted english person in the Sierra foothills, CA
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>

Just got home, thanks for thinking of me.  I pulled at 42 miles (Hold
2) because I was running overtime.

The heat/humidity and mountain took their toll on both of us, as did
the fact that the mileage on the first leg was off by 3 miles
(everyone agreed, even the vets, b/c of the new more accurate GPSs).
I think the biggest problem, though, was that we ended up alone for
most of those miles.  I started alone, then rode for a while with Tom,
Laura, and Bill after they caught up to me at Hold 1, and then during
the leg from there to Hold 2 we got split up again.  Zephyr does not
do well alone.

I arrived at Hold 2 half an hour after the closing time (which they
weren't officially enforcing) and I would have needed to really boogie
the leg from Hold 2 to Hold 3.  I just didn't see how I could possibly
push him any harder than I just had... so I pulled.

There was NO moon at the VT 100, just a horrific thunderstorm with
dime-size hail and winds of 50-60 mph... which happened RIGHT after I
got Zephyr back to camp and safely loaded in the trailer.  By right
after, I really do mean RIGHT after... I was still outside retreiving
his hay bag when it hit.  I have never experienced anything like that
and I would be happy never to do so again.  I have the UTMOST UTMOST
respect for anyone who rode through that storm to a completion,
regardless of the distance they rode.  In this case, though, I really
feel for the 50-milers because it happened about 2 hours into their
ride.  Nothing like doing a "moonlight" ride while you're soaking wet,
cold, and completely in the dark because there's NO DAMN MOON!!

Yes, I'm very disappointed, but at least I know I made the right
choice.  Zephyr had plenty of energy when we got back to camp, and was
completely sound throughout.  No heat/filling in his legs, either.

Pictures and stuff later.

Congratulations, Debbie!

-Sharon L. in Maine




Quoting Lucy Chaplin Trumbull <elsietee@...>:

> Hurray for Debbie!!
>
> I wish they'd post the VT100 results though! It seems that
> the published starter list was only the pre-registered riders,
> since Sharon didn't even show up on it. And nothing more
> since posting the 1st place finisher... <grrr>
>
> (The moon *was* gorgeous. Had Tevis happened, it would
> have been a little toasty. We drove through the canyon at
> No Hands Bridge around 5 pm yesterday and it was 99°F,
> so I imagine it would have been similar in the deep canyons.
> But there was a very slight breeze. The smoke wasn't too
> bad, but definitely still visible. In the evening it cooled off
> nicely to the low 70s).
>
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Lucy Chaplin Trumbull
> elsietee AT foothill DOT net
> Repotted english person in the Sierra foothills, CA
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

----- Original Message -----

From: Patti Stedman

To: new100milers@yahoogroups.com

Sent: 7/20/2008 4:06:41 PM

Subject: [SPAM]RE: [SPAM]RE: [SPAM][new100milers]

<laughing> 

Yes, after one last ride with the youngster, in which he ripped off a LF shoe, and deciding that in general he could use just a bit more cooking in order to be completely done, I decided that Ned would go *if* it was cool. 

Which it was not.

 

The double-broken-armed crew was just the final nail in the coffin in deciding not to go.

 

Am eyeing a Canadian 75 in a couple of weeks for the young one though. 

 

Re: Sharon.  I can recall being so frightened about those vet check closing times the first year I did Vermont.  Turns out we moved along in the a.m. and had no issue with them, despite a warm and muggy start, but in the heat, taking your time, being conservative, they can definitely sneak up on you.  Of course, we'll hear all about it from her and find out what went on.

 

Hate to see a high attrition rate, but it's a challenging course, and if you add heat/humidity, it only gets tougher.

 

There is a very real part of me hugely sad I wasn't there to ride.   Ah well, next year.  :-)

 

Will look forward to the ride reports from both BH and VT.

 

--Patti

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Lucy Chaplin Trumbull

To: new100milers@yahoogroups.com

Sent: 7/20/2008 3:59:43 PM

Subject: [SPAM]RE: [SPAM][new100milers]

...John Crandell ...got pulled at VC 1.

I saw this and was thinking about what would have happened
if he'd driven all the way to Tevis. At least VT isn't quite so far
to drive for an LD. But that's too bad for them.

(Jury's still out as to whether it's better to be pulled at 20 miles -
at least you don't have to ride all day, or at 93 miles - to come
so close, but not finish).

Steve Rojek, Gene Limlaw, Patti Pizzo all pulled at the 40 mile hold.  I think that Sharon got pulled there for OT?

Awww. That's too bad for Sharon. But it sounds like it wasn't
their day, regardless as to which distance she'd picked. I hope
she enjoyed the part she did get to ride. There's always next time.

Christina Phillips was first to cross the finish line but got pulled for lameness, therefore Farzad got the win.

I saw that too. Gah, that's hard. I wonder if she knew her horse
was going off, or if it was one of those "out of the blue" lamenesses
that you don't feel in the saddle (or it's from cramping/stiffness that
doesn't show up until you get off).

I so wish I could have been there, but between the heat and one of my key crew people having TWO broken wrists, it seemed the fates were telling me to stay home.  :-(

:(    Sounds like their weather was pretty awful, though.
Did you ever decide which horse you *would* have
taken if you'd gone?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lucy Chaplin Trumbull
elsietee AT foothill DOT net
Repotted english person in the Sierra foothills, CA
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

----- Original Message -----

From: Lucy Chaplin Trumbull

To: new100milers@yahoogroups.com

Sent: 7/20/2008 3:59:43 PM

Subject: [SPAM]RE: [SPAM][new100milers]

...John Crandell ...got pulled at VC 1.

I saw this and was thinking about what would have happened
if he'd driven all the way to Tevis. At least VT isn't quite so far
to drive for an LD. But that's too bad for them.

(Jury's still out as to whether it's better to be pulled at 20 miles -
at least you don't have to ride all day, or at 93 miles - to come
so close, but not finish).

Steve Rojek, Gene Limlaw, Patti Pizzo all pulled at the 40 mile hold.  I think that Sharon got pulled there for OT?

Awww. That's too bad for Sharon. But it sounds like it wasn't
their day, regardless as to which distance she'd picked. I hope
she enjoyed the part she did get to ride. There's always next time.

Christina Phillips was first to cross the finish line but got pulled for lameness, therefore Farzad got the win.

I saw that too. Gah, that's hard. I wonder if she knew her horse
was going off, or if it was one of those "out of the blue" lamenesses
that you don't feel in the saddle (or it's from cramping/stiffness that
doesn't show up until you get off).

I so wish I could have been there, but between the heat and one of my key crew people having TWO broken wrists, it seemed the fates were telling me to stay home.  :-(

:(    Sounds like their weather was pretty awful, though.
Did you ever decide which horse you *would* have
taken if you'd gone?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lucy Chaplin Trumbull
elsietee AT foothill DOT net
Repotted english person in the Sierra foothills, CA
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *