I was always famous for overriding the course. Missing flags for turns and ending up scratching my head wondering where everybody else went. The other, missing double X signs marking extreme hazards. Last one I missed turned into a pile driver into the opposite embankment of a 40 foot deep ravine. Then there was the underwater tree stump, man those days were fun.
I’ll add one I found out the hard way on several times, don’t eat anything too hard to process within a couple hours of racing. Something light is okay but don’t try and jam in a high calorie protein bar 20 min before the start thinking that will help 2hr from then or close to the end of the race. The work it takes your body to digest food takes away from your cardio ability so it screws up your digestion and can cause cramps and all kinds of other misery lol! All of this spoken from experience, just like other xc/hare scramble guys know.
Walk the first mile at minimum and look for any bottle necks and plan on how to get around been doing HS for 15 years saved my ass more than once. You don’t want to get left in the back of the class and have to push for 2 plus hrs.
I haven't worn anything with water in it since my early days of racing. It's not that I don't appreciate it. I just know that I can make it through without taking a drink. I'd rather keep up the pace than fumble with getting water and looking like a dork.
Great information and recommendations Donnie. Even 3 years later. Best advice is to not only wear a hydration pack but make sure it works. My last race I had a full hydration pack but the connection from my helmet to my pack wasn’t seated so I didn’t get to drink for 2 hours- not good.
If you have not tried it yet, mix some Liquid IV in with your hydration pack, it is amazing at keeping you hydrated and maintaining your electrolytes, works a lot better than most sports drinks.
I've never run a harescramble, but always drink pickle juice (vlasics) halfway through most all the enduro's I've run. Great tip to help with cramps! And I'm here now checking your tips out for next year when I may give a harescrambe or two a go....thanks!
What do you wear for protection? Anything or just jersey pants gloves helmet and boots? Do you think its necessary in hare scrambles to wear a protection suit? Knee pads, padded under shorts etc. I want to have some extra protection until I get in better shape but I don't want to get to hot especially in the summer races. Thoughts? Great Videos. I looked back at your Videos but I could not find anything on the subject.
@@DirtBikingwithDonnie Good stuff. I think I might do something similar vs the pressure suit protection jacket I have from years ago. Have you by chance seen or heard feedback on the leatt chest protector with the built in neck brace? I hear neck braces are a pain on steep down hills or uphills. Thoughts or suggestions on neck brace? I have never worn one before. Thanks Donnie.
@@MR.TOYBOX Leatt neck braces are too tall for me. You have to try on various ones to see which is best. My atlas doesn't prevent me from looking up hills. There may be a sacrifice in safety, not sure, but there's always a trade off somewhere. In the heat of the summer I sometimes wear less protective gear. That certainly increases risk of injury in a crash but overheating is a real risk too. Every piece of safety gear is some sort of tradeoff between being able to ride effectively and survive the crash.
Great tips. I found pickle juice really helps me. Stay safe
Thanks!
I was always famous for overriding the course. Missing flags for turns and ending up scratching my head wondering where everybody else went. The other, missing double X signs marking extreme hazards. Last one I missed turned into a pile driver into the opposite embankment of a 40 foot deep ravine. Then there was the underwater tree stump, man those days were fun.
I’ll add one I found out the hard way on several times, don’t eat anything too hard to process within a couple hours of racing. Something light is okay but don’t try and jam in a high calorie protein bar 20 min before the start thinking that will help 2hr from then or close to the end of the race. The work it takes your body to digest food takes away from your cardio ability so it screws up your digestion and can cause cramps and all kinds of other misery lol! All of this spoken from experience, just like other xc/hare scramble guys know.
Derek Woods This is true! Thanks for watching.
Yep
Walk the first mile at minimum and look for any bottle necks and plan on how to get around been doing HS for 15 years saved my ass more than once. You don’t want to get left in the back of the class and have to push for 2 plus hrs.
Absolutely dead nuts on the money. Great job sir. Going to share this with a friend who will be doing his first on a quad soon!
Derek Woods Awesome, thanks!
What in pickle juice helps - Magnesium? Or was this a joke to throw off the competition.
Definitely not a joke, it really helps and a lot of us do it. I don’t know the science behind it or why it works but it does. Thanks for watching!
@@DirtBikingwithDonnie Ok, Thanks -I'll try it.
I haven't worn anything with water in it since my early days of racing. It's not that I don't appreciate it. I just know that I can make it through without taking a drink. I'd rather keep up the pace than fumble with getting water and looking like a dork.
With me I am going to start out Harescramble racing with ATV's.
Second season racing for me I finally figured out go around people quit following so much ! Hot lines !
Yep, making efficient passes is key. Thanks for watching.
Great information and recommendations Donnie. Even 3 years later. Best advice is to not only wear a hydration pack but make sure it works. My last race I had a full hydration pack but the connection from my helmet to my pack wasn’t seated so I didn’t get to drink for 2 hours- not good.
Great video as always. Tums help me avoid cramps. Along with lots of sports drink and mixing sports powder with my water.
Tums, never knew that would help with cramps. I have to avoid sports drinks with sugar but the sugar free ones are ok. Thanks for watching!
If you have not tried it yet, mix some Liquid IV in with your hydration pack, it is amazing at keeping you hydrated and maintaining your electrolytes, works a lot better than most sports drinks.
My recurring race related dreams have be forgetting things and being unprepared, so I'm usually well-prepared in reality. lol
Same here!
Pickle Juice...who would have thought!
I just looked it up and realized it's not actually pickle juice, never mind.
ADVsquared It works really well. The packaged kind is great but if I’m out I’ll drink actual pickle juice too. It works great.
I've never run a harescramble, but always drink pickle juice (vlasics) halfway through most all the enduro's I've run. Great tip to help with cramps! And I'm here now checking your tips out for next year when I may give a harescrambe or two a go....thanks!
Thanks Donnie.
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching.
Great video, as always. Love the trophy wall!
Thanks for watching!
Great stuff.
Thanks!
What do you wear for protection? Anything or just jersey pants gloves helmet and boots? Do you think its necessary in hare scrambles to wear a protection suit? Knee pads, padded under shorts etc. I want to have some extra protection until I get in better shape but I don't want to get to hot especially in the summer races. Thoughts? Great Videos. I looked back at your Videos but I could not find anything on the subject.
In addition to helmet, goggles. boots, gloves I wear a Atlas roost guard and neck brace, leatt 3df elbow pads, and leatt articulated knee guards.
@@DirtBikingwithDonnie Good stuff. I think I might do something similar vs the pressure suit protection jacket I have from years ago. Have you by chance seen or heard feedback on the leatt chest protector with the built in neck brace? I hear neck braces are a pain on steep down hills or uphills. Thoughts or suggestions on neck brace? I have never worn one before. Thanks Donnie.
@@MR.TOYBOX Leatt neck braces are too tall for me. You have to try on various ones to see which is best. My atlas doesn't prevent me from looking up hills. There may be a sacrifice in safety, not sure, but there's always a trade off somewhere. In the heat of the summer I sometimes wear less protective gear. That certainly increases risk of injury in a crash but overheating is a real risk too. Every piece of safety gear is some sort of tradeoff between being able to ride effectively and survive the crash.