Top 100 Mile Rider Interviews

Rider Name:   Stephen Rojek
Years in Endurance:   20
# of 100's:   84
Career AERC Mileage:   11,985 (thru 2004)

Age that you did your first 100 at:    Don't remember

How is your 100 mile conditioning program different from your 50 mile conditioning program?   I started with 100s, so NA. I condition for 100s only, 50s are conditioning rides.

Describe your feeding program, before during and after a 100:   Very complex, more than you want to know . The only differences from normal is alfalfa day before, during and day after and electrolytes.J See next question

What kind (if any) supplements have you used -- do you think they made a difference?   Many, yes, I feed no processed grains or concentrates, just whole oats, which I supplement and have balanced and analyzed by KER or PHN. Forage is grass hopefully and orchard grass hay

How close to the 100 mile ride do you do your last conditioning ride? Last 50 mile ride?   Depends on horse, 100-mile goal

How do you know or feel that the time is right to do a 100 on your horse for the first time?   I never “know”, every horse is different. It takes a couple of years to prepare for a 100.

How do you handle riding in the dark?   No problem, designed my own lights.

Glowsticks on your tack or not? Headlamps, flashlights (describe)    Breast plate with fluorescents I can reach from the back to turn on and off.

Do you have a preference on color of glowstick?   NA

How do you and your horse feel at different points in the ride?  What are the "low" spots and how do you handle them?   85 miles; I know it's coming and will pass.

Is your post ride horse care any different than a 50 mile ride?   Not really, longer rest period

Any advice to first time 100 mile riders on post ride rider-recovery?  Don't be proud; it's OK to go down stairs backwards till Wednesday. Oh and Potassium helps

What kinds of food and drink do you like on a 100?   PB &J, bananas, sandwiches, yogurt, corn on the cob. Preride and postride protein very important to me

What are your recommendations for someone attempting their first 100 miler?   Find someone to ride with, stay headed, go slowest in the beginning, train your horse to behave at home, do it as a series of little rides (from hold to hold- “ will ride 15 miles”). DO NOT LOOK AT IT AS A WHOLE.

How often do you electrolyte on a 100 mile ride?   Depends on ambient temp and humidity.

How about pre-ride or post-ride electrolyting?   Yup

How many 50 mile rides would you do on a horse prior to doing his first 100 miler?   Sometimes 0. I prefer starting in competitive, where the brains are less likely to get fried.

Over what period of time?   Competitive - 2 years or more.

What is your most memorable experience on a 100 miler?   The starts

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you on a 100?  Ripping my shirt off on a branch.

What is your favorite 100 mile ride and why?   VT, the runners

What do you look for in a good 100 mile horse?  Steadiness, good brain

How old do you think a horse should be when it does it's first one day 100?   8years old

How many 100's a year do you think is doable for the average horse and rider team?   Depends on speed, terrain and what average means.

If they are riding to complete?   Many

If they are riding competitively?   I don't know what constitutes an average horse and whether the horse would be over-ridden to be competitive (what does that mean? Winning, top 10?). As you know, each horse has his own “perfect pace”, doesn't it depend on that? I can't answer this, beyond my experience. This is based on having a sound horse able to go the next year: To win a couple, to place top 5 on every ride I would probably not ask my current horse for more than 4-5 100s per year. If top ten, then more.

How much time off following a 100 mile ride do you recommend?   Every horse is different; when they are ready to go again.

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