Oct 10 2018
Tevis Cup 2018
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If there ever was a year to sit out the Tevis Cup, it would have been this year. I had a million reasons not to enter this year… it’s been over a year since I have actually slept any decent number of hours in a row, I am still carrying around an extra 10 pounds of pregnancy weight even though I am no longer pregnant, I am grossly out of shape (at least compared to 2014 when I rocked the Tevis Cup), I had every day of the week leading up to the ride crammed with commitments, and even though my horse had finished her last 50 mile race, she had not done as well as I had hoped. Talk about major self-doubts.
The day before we were supposed to leave for the ride, I had a complete emotional breakdown. It was impressive, complete with tears streaming down my face and sarcastic comments under my breath. I told my husband I was not riding. I told him Jakob was going to ride in my place. I found him a sponsor, he was ready, the trailer was packed, he was going to ride. I would crew.
My husband looked at me and said simply, “I didn’t draw Jakob on the front of the crew shirts this year. I drew you.” He did. He drew me. The pony tail gave it away. Definitely not Jakob on that t-shirt. Then he said, “You will regret it if you don’t ride.”
And so that is why I ended up on top of the horse at the start of Tevis this year. Me and my pony tail. They say it’s not the things you did that you’ll regret, but the things you didn’t do. And so I was at the start of the Tevis Cup again this year. Me and my pony tail.
The start of the ride was uneventful, and quiet actually. I started about 8 minutes behind everyone else, as I had a baby on my breast up until the moment I knew I had to mount and head out. The first several miles were beautiful as we settled into a consistent pace with a couple out-of-state riders. I enjoyed riding in solitude at times, as that is a rare treat for me these days. I remembered to glance back over my shoulder as we climbed up to High Camp, and the sight made me smile. Seeing Lake Tahoe in the early morning sun is stunning, and something I only get to see once a year if I am lucky.
By the time we got into Red Star, however, I was battling the stress of the ride. My horse was famished and dove into food and water so intensely, she almost pulled me off my feet. My breasts were engorged with milk and leaking painfully into my nursing bra. I kept glancing at my watch and knew we were getting more and more behind schedule.
We were the last riders to make it to Robinson Flat before cut-off, entering the vet check with a group of other riders who were racing against the clock. An endurance friend standing on the side lines grabbed my horse and began sponging her as my crew rushed to help. We vetted through and I sat down to nurse my baby. I was hopeful the hour ahead would provide a much needed rest for me and Asali, but as Asher drained all the milk from my full breasts, I began to feel sick. Really sick. I don’t know what exactly happened, but I think it was a combination of the adrenaline wearing off and becoming volume depleted as Asher nursed. One of my amazing crew members made me a cinnamon tea and handed me small snacks that I could stomach, which helped enough that I was able to mount and ride out of Robinson Flat.
Riding down the long boring road towards Dusty Corners was torturous as I tried not to vomit off the back of my horse. As I prayed for someone to ride up behind us so I wouldn’t have to be alone, Brenna Sullivan appeared. We have ridden together before and our gaited horses matched pace nicely, so we decided to stick together. She was a godsend during that tough, hot stretch into the first canyon as we continued to stress about the time.
Ultimately, our ride ended at Devil’s Thumb, 54 miles into the 2018 Tevis Cup. Asali came out of that first canyon extremely hot and fatigued, with muscle tremors and a pulse of 120. I was in awe of the volunteers who rushed to my aid to pull tack, cool my horse, walk her and feed her. She recovered nicely, but I still opted to pull her. We shared a ride back to Auburn with Brenna and her horse, who also pulled at Devil’s Thumb.
We didn’t end up with that second buckle I was so hopeful for this year, but we walked away from the Tevis Cup with a wealth of memories, stories, new friends, and hell, some bragging rights (breastfeeding a baby on the trail, conquering Cougar Rock, climbing out of one bitch of a canyon in the heat and smoke, and almost puking off the side of my horse)!
The day after the ride, I skipped the awards banquet and spent almost the entire day snuggling in bed with my little babe as he nursed to his heart’s content. And when asked if I had regretted starting the ride, I answered in Julie Suhr fashion, “I have never regretted a Tevis Cup start.”
The trail taught me one valuable lesson this year. It doesn’t matter how many times your horse has finished, how many times you’ve started, or if you have finished in a past year. The trail just doesn’t care. It doesn’t matter how much you’ve prepared, how fit your horse is, or how badly you want another buckle. The trail just doesn’t care. It doesn’t care how much money you’ve spent, how far you’ve driven, or how good your crew is. The trail just doesn’t care.
But however brutal the trail is, it is equally beautiful. However difficult, it is also forgiving. However scary, it is also welcoming.
It is a gift to be at the starting line, and an even greater one to have another year to try again…
Volunteers at Devil’s Thumb taking care of my beloved Asali. The volunteers at this ride never cease to amaze me! It is incredible to see so many people come together for a love of horses and the sport of endurance.
Waiting for Mommy and Asali to arrive at Robinson Flat.
Covered in trail dust and dirt, I was still happy to see my baby!
With crew member Julie. This was Julie’s first Tevis experience! She was a fabulous member of our team and tried to help me manage my nausea when I began feeling sick.
Back in Auburn!