Official Tokyo Olympic Eventing Thread

[Darkwave]

@FitzE

That’s interesting. You mention “warmth”. I imagine there is a temp/humidity beyond which beneficial warmth becomes harmful heat. But it sounds like you’re saying really oppressive heat like one can experience in FL is still beneficial to T&F athletes, is that right?

It depends on the type of T&F athlete. Basically, the longer the distance the colder you want it to be. 40 degrees F is ideal marathoning weather. The 1500m runners would prefer 60-70F. And the sprinters like it hot. I am not a sprinter, but I have been told that 90 degrees is great weather for sprinting. Below 70F, they feel that their performances start to suffer.

Similarly, altitude can be a detriment to performance in many sports, but is great for sprinters, high jumpers, and long jumpers. Since they are working anaerobically, less oxygen in the air isn’t an issue for them. And apparently the thin air assists their performance with less air resistance.

[punchy]

I was just being silly, actually, about the comparison

[FitzE]

Ah, sorry I missed that!

I remember my first “significant” snowfall in Tokyo (about 4-6 inches). No one, business or residential, has snow shovels. Not even the Russian Embassy!! The snow cannot be cleared from the pavements and there are no plows for the streets. The mild days cause slush which then freezes overnight. It is treacherous! I could not believe they had, basically, zero snow removal capabilities and snow that Easter PA would laugh off ground the city to a halt.

But, in a decade there, we saw snow that stayed on the ground only 2 or 3 times total, so I guess it’s just not enough of an issue to invest in removal measures.

Mind, in the ski areas their snow handling is spectacular!

[FitzE]

That is legit really interesting, thanks. I don’t even like to walk in 90F so I would never have guessed that.

[Jealoushe]

I see Sam Watson mentioned he was sweating standing still at 8am.

[Djones]

Thanks @FitzE for your perspective! Very interesting and informative.

[kmwines01]

Living in florida, I just think of that as normal in the summer. Amazing how adjusted we get to our own realities. Lol.

[Djones]

It is normal, lol. I hate summer sometime.

[Equibrit]

She’ll rock the Europeans.

https://www.iena.ch/courses-concours/concours-hippiques/

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

Wow, thank you so much for that perspective, @FitzE, that was really interesting! Some of my close friends after college taught English in Japan (most of them spoke the language at “college level fluency” and had studied abroad for a semester). I definitely agree that there are many factors that intensify the sense of brutal heat in Tokyo, perhaps even psychologically, on some level–the level of crowding is so intense everywhere (the city is so densely populated), the height and closeness of buildings, the lack of airflow. All of them found it quite oppressive.

I’ve only run endurance events, but the comments about sprinters preferring the heat makes sense. It’s similar to yoga, too. Although I’m not a fan of so-called hot yoga, it’s much easier to do anything that requires stretching and using fast-twitch muscles in the heat. But even a wuss like myself generates so much heat during an endurance run.

I’m hoping for a safe Olympics for everyone, human and animal, in every sense. Even under more ideal conditions we’ve witnessed so many terrible tragedies recently. I know precautions are being undertaken, but as excited I am to watch, I’m worried.

[EventerAJ]

@kmwines01

Living in florida, I just think of that as normal in the summer. Amazing how adjusted we get to our own realities. Lol.

Same! Sweating standing still at 8am is an average FL summer day. You hate it, but it’s life here. I don’t wear cotton shirts, only sport or tech fabrics, and it makes a big difference not having a “wet blanket” draped on your shoulders.

[seabreeze]

@EventerAJ

@kmwines01

Living in florida, I just think of that as normal in the summer. Amazing how adjusted we get to our own realities. Lol.

Same! Sweating standing still at 8am is an average FL summer day. You hate it, but it’s life here. I don’t wear cotton shirts, only sport or tech fabrics, and it makes a big difference not having a “wet blanket” draped on your shoulders.

Same. Coastal VA is a sweat bath in the summer. I hate cotton and denim. They are on the “no go” list for me all summer. If it’s not a technical, wicking fabric, it doesn’t go on my body…lol.

[TwiSedai]

I just asked a friend who moved to Tokyo this year from AL. She said it’s pretty miserable right now, around the same as here but maybe a bit worse. Her husband, who grew up in Tokyo, described it as the sun “burning” in N AL but “steaming” there.

I’m really glad they have AC to get under.

[Jealoushe]

Some good insight here:

Olympic athletes, officials prepare to beat Tokyo’s heat

[Jealoushe]

Olympic Updates: Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa & Switzerland’s Felix Vogg Change...

[Jealoushe]

Let The Games Begin?

[Jealoushe]

A lot of talk from the Veterinary Olympic Games Supervisor, lots of talk about the heat and how the horses are doing AND THE BEST PART…some little bits of info about the XC course! Sounds like it is going to be increadible!

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast - The Hold Box: Tokyo Special #3

[NeedsAdvil]

Do we know when ride times will be posted?

[Jealoushe]

I’m looking around to see if I can find them. In the meantime I found a list of Ground Jury and officials;

OG2020-_EQU_C35_EQUOEVEN--------------------------.pdf

[subk]

Nice to get coverage in a general news publication. Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brettknight/2021/07/23/a-puzzle-before-the-games-how-equestrian-teams-and-their-horses-get-to-the-olympics/?fbclid=IwAR0O00VuJD4h0HNtaFqPV71iZc968sH1La2n48i_7DpabIimDJvboYnVfhA&sh=29b59e974fbf