Single Track Sunday
Place: Iron Hill County Park, Newark, DE (Iron Hill Challenge)
Ridden: May 2014
The road trip for this week took us to Delaware for the Iron Hill Challenge. This race includes both XC and endurance races, Joël and I racing the 4 hour endurance and many other Giant Northeast team members racing the XC.
The day started off a bit awry. Parking for the race was in numerous lots all over the park, most of which were a substantial distance from the race headquarters. Joël, Cliff, and I walked for what seemed like miles carrying all our gear to get to where we needed to put our extra bottles and supplies and to check in. All this walking made for a good warm-up but it made us a little late in getting ready. After a quick race prep we were off to the start line just in time for the race to start.
Mud, mud, and more mud was the theme for the day. Downpours all week made for sloppy conditions. The course was tight and twisty with a few short ups and downs. The occasional rock and root but nothing too substantial to worry about. The XC course contained a feature called "the mega dip", a steep down and immediately up that resembles (or maybe is) a hole dug from a previous strip mine.
One nice aspect to the course was the way it looped through the team tent area; it was great to have the support of friends and know that the team was there if help was needed. Every time through it was uplifting to hear the cheers. Also, having the team there was helpful; thanks to Lester's quick work with the ProGold lube and Jed helping to fill my Camelbak I was able to make quick work of my pit stop and thus could catch back up to the lady I just passed in no time.
Despite the mud it was a fun day out there. Both Joël and I just plain enjoy being on our bikes. We certainly would not ride 6 (for me) or 7 (for Joël) laps in the muck and mud if it wasn't fun.
As for results, Joël was 6th in a tough field of many really fast guys. After the start he was first going into the single track. After hanging the lead group for some time, in the words of Joël "I burned to many matches and just didn't have any left". I was 2nd, first place being a local uber fast pro, so second is the best any of us regular women could have hoped for. My first chance to stand on the podium in my new LIV/Giant kit and I missed the awards ceremony! Joël and I were out with Cliff. Cliff is such a good dog waiting in the Jeep all day for us that after the race we felt it was only right to take him out for a few miles on the single track. Family time; an easy cool down for us and a super fun adventure for Cliff. We heard awards being announced but could not get back to the podium area fast enough.
Giant Northeast racers April and Amy were also on the podium; way to go ladies!
On the way home was a stop with friends from Saucon Valley Bikes racing team at Joe's Crab Shack. Filling our bellies with beer and crabs was a great way to end the day.
- written by Jess
- video by Joël
- photos taken by friends/spectators
- written by Jess
- video by Joël
- photos taken by friends/spectators