Tandi Sherlock is the second woman to finish Prescott’s Man Against Horse Race.
She squeezed in her attendance at the event between training hard for an upcoming Ironman race and her demanding 40-hour-plus workweek at Mile-Hi Animal Hospital on White Spar Road in Prescott.
Sherlock is a woman on the move, spending many of her waking hours focused on raising money to help charities through participation in cycling, running, swimming and horseback riding competitions.
“Raising money, I feel passionate about that,” she said. “I work with a lot of rescue groups as a vet, anything I can do to give back. If you’re happy doing it, it’s time well spent.”
Spending her time well has included training and then running in the Oct. 28 Man Against Horse Race in Prescott, a unique 50-mile/25-mile/half marathon competition that follows a loop up and over Mingus Mountain.
Originating as Man Versus Horse, it started in Wales when two men in a pub placed a bar bet after discussing whether a man was equal to any horse in a cross-country race.
According to the Prescott event website, the tradition continued in 1983 on Whiskey Row when Gheral Brownlow bet Cowboy Steve Rafters that he could outrun his horse in a race.
Today, in addition to the Prescott competition, annual races are also hosted in Scotland near Loch Ness and Central North Island in New Zealand.
For Sherlock, competing in the race began shortly after she moved to Prescott in 2000. “I rode a horse in the event several times. You are allowed to get off and run with your horse, so I would do that often throughout the race and it helped me feel a stronger partnership with the horse.”
Next year will be the 40th anniversary of the local Man Against Horse Race that raises money to support local food banks.
This year, Sherlock said she competed as a runner only in a pack of 40 participants who either rode a horse or ran. She was the second woman to finish across terrain that is very rocky and challenging for man and horse.
“There are checks and balances on the health of the horses, but there are no restrictions for the humans,” she said. “That’s why it’s so hard to beat the horses, who get two vet checks to get heart rates to come down. But, their feet aren’t all that cut out for rocks. A lot of horses end up going lame and coming out of the race.”
She began to think it was hard on the horses, so she decided to run the 25-mile distance. “I was hooked and have since gone on to run several marathons and ultra-marathons, including three 100-mile runs.”
She believes these daunting efforts make us better people. “For me, I see that we’re always underachieving and not accomplishing as much as we could. I don’t really feel awake or alive until I’m outside doing something, being the best I can be and setting a good example. I think we’re all going along living under our potential. When you push yourself at something like this, it helps to be better at everything you do.”
Sherlock has been active throughout her life. She played high school volleyball and showed horses growing up in 4-H. “I’ve always been into horses. I had an uncle who had a big ranch in Nebraska. I’ve had horses since I was 12. I babysat and mowed lawns to make money to buy a horse. My parents thought it was just a phase, but it’s still going.”
In fact, the veterinarian says her favorite animal is the horse. “They’re so versatile; you can do so much with them and they have amazing personalities and work ethic. For example, in endurance racing, they learn what there is to do. They’re very good at competing and enjoying it.”
Sherlock has three horses: Lucy, who won Man Against Horse one year, Frankie and the youngest, Caesar. Sometimes, she rides Lucy to work. “It’s a lot on trail, but we go through the neighborhood in the last bit. I always have really nice people stopping me, saying they’ve never seen that in 20 years.”
This love for horses and all animals led to her career as a veterinarian. Sherlock graduated in 1999 from Kansas State University, followed by an internship on Prince Edward Island in Canada.
“I love it,” she said. “Every day is different. I have the most amazing clients and patients. I am certified in acupuncture and feel it is a wonderful additional tool to use to help my patients.”
Even at work, Sherlock is on the go. “I don’t exactly rest; I’m running around keeping up with emergencies. It’s like I’m also training – it’s exciting.”
Sherlock also is the veterinarian for United Animal Friends and performs 20 to 30 spay/neuters once a month to help cat and dog owners in the community.
As a member of the Prescott Area Trail Runners (PATR), she runs whenever she can. In addition, she is the mother of two children: her son, Zane, who is a junior and basketball star at Prescott High School, and her daughter, Cadence, who is in her second year at the University of Arizona.
“They inspire me, and I try to be a role model for them,” she said. “It feels good to set a goal and go after it. They can see that example.”
Sherlock has trained for a year to compete in the Paradox Ironman Arizona race on Nov. 19 at Tempe Town Lakes, including swimming in Lynx Lake to get use to cold water. The event includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, followed by a marathon run of 26.2 miles.
She is grateful for dear friends who have helped her train, including Kay Lyons. Lyons, who retired from a pet emergency hospital in Prescott Valley, was part of Sherlock’s pit crew in the Ironman event.
“She has amazing energy and always a contagious positive attitude,” said Lyons. “She can accomplish more in one day than most can in a week. Somehow between working as a veterinarian and her intense training schedule, she finds time to attend her son’s basketball, volleyball or baseball games, ride her horse with me and other good friends, and support anyone needing help.”
Sherlock, who will be 50 in the spring, shows no sign of slowing down. “I have signed up for a 250-mile foot race next May called Cocodona. It starts in Black Canyon City and you have six days, I believe, to run, hike and crawl to Flagstaff! I am wearing a charity bib and my goal is to raise $5,000 for the Foundation for Women’s Cancer.” QCBN
By Betsey Bruner, QCBN
Photo by Kay Lyons: Tandi Sherlock’s support team includes Lucy, an Arabian horse that she won the Man vs. Horse 50-mile race with years ago, and Chuy, her rescue dog that runs with her.
