Event: Iron Hill Challenge
Place: Newark, DE
Ridden: August 2015
Click on video to watch.
It was a last minute decision to enter this race. We were still feeling the effects of the Hardcore 24, all we wanted to do was eat and sleep. We went back and forth about entering Iron Hill; we could use it as a recovery ride and get some team points...or we could spend the day catching up on some much needed yard work. Mid-week a friend and competitor of Joël's who also did the Hardcore 24 put in his entry and that sealed our decision, there was no excuse not to race. So there were were, at the start line of the Iron Hill Challenge 4 hour Endurance, wondering why we were so crazy and stupid to race again just a week after a 24 hour race.
Iron Hill is a city park, right in the midst of Newark and Wilmington, DE. To get in a much trail as possible in a smaller area, the course becomes a twisty and turned filled single track with lots of short, steep, punchy climbs and equally short, steep descents. There are a fair amount of rocks and roots, no major rock gardens, just lots of little baby-heads and chunky rocks. At times one definitely feels like they are in the forest and removed from the city; at other times one can see and hear the highway right next to the park. The loop for the race was approximately 6-7 miles, but there are definitely more miles of trails available to ride in the park.
What can I say about the race it's self? We rode out bikes and had a fun time. We chatted with friends. Both of us felt better than expected; I felt that my legs were ready to go but my body would rather just pull over in the bushes and take a nap, Joël said he felt good overall, just more worn out than usual after the race. We rode lap after lap, both of us putting in 6 laps.
After it was all said and done, both of us were happy we decided to race. Many cycling friends whom we haven't seen for awhile, including many Giant Co-Factory Northeast riders, were at the race. Lots of catch-up time with friends both before and after the race, and having friends to ride with and chat with during the race helps make the miles go by quickly. We had good rides and good races, and overall enjoyed the day.
As for results, 3rd spot for Joël and 1st place for me.
- words by Jess
- video by Joël