It was a lot more chaotic last year - 10 teams did the short course last year, while this year was only 4, which probably accounted for the much more sedate Stashi and the total lack of company the first third.
What's funny is that Michele and I looked very much the same at the end of the event last year as we did last year - I was filthy dirty with various injuried body parts and Michele had a scrape on arm - last year from being pushed into a "tree" this year from being rubbed into a manzanita on a tie.
I still agree with my assessment from last year. RnT is the most fun I've ever had on horse back. I love endurance, especially going out on the last loop of a 100 after dark. But I adore RnT in a visceral and deeper way. It has an element, which I haven't quite figured out, that endurance doesn't have, which leaves me with no regrets of choosing championships over a potential 100 next summer.
Here's some pictures of the ride :) Enjoy!
No particular order
Coming into the start. am I starting to see a bit of muscle definition in my upper thigh???????? Just maybe if I squint and blur a bit?
The start. I'm hidden behind another runner and my rider is already up the hill
A great photo of me and my partner after accepting our awards at lunch.
What start would be complete without a bucking horse?
Nothing better than a post ride roll followed by.....
an almost picture perfect finish. What's up with my wrist?
Hanging out the day before.
Drying off the pad for tomorrow (it was still damp from being washed) and looking at the sunset.
Evidence of Stashi's crime....
Pre start
A bit of my "art work"
In addition to the lightening bolt down his face, he also had racing stripes down the back of his thighs, on either side of his tail down to the level of his hocks. Really helps to ID the horse from a distance when there's a bunch of random grey horses tied to trees.
Mounted and ready to start.
Posts
You RnT people are NUTS. In a good way, but still...
ReplyDeleteI'm with Dom! You are! But I love the photos & the sunset was something else!
ReplyDeletegreat pics and story! Do you not ride with a helmet during a RnT? Not trying to judge, just curious. During my one and only 12 mile RnT the helmet was the biggest challenge. My husband has a huge head so we couldn't share and running with it on was horrible. So was carrying it.
ReplyDeleteI started with my equestrian helmet and then handed it off at an aid station about half way through the course. Last year I rode in a bike helmet for the entire course. I agree that the helmet is the hardest thing logistically to manage and I think really carefully what I want to do before each competition. I wear one for the duration of our practices. I'm very much a helmet believer for all sorts of sports I do including snowboarding. However, some of my horse activities I don't wear a helmet for like civil war reenacting (which is ironic because its by far the most dangerous thing I do on horse back), and some portions of the ride and tie course depending in the horse, heat, and how it's going. Everything in life is a calculated risk and I do my best to balance that risk with performance and being able to live life.
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