2016 races in review

2016 brought about many new races. Some we will definitely return to; 18 Hours of Scouts Honor is one of them.  Some we will probably not return to; like Summer Solstice. And then then good old favorites we will always be at; Rothrock Trail Mix, French Creek on the Rocks, the Michaux races.  Trans-Sylvania Epic is always a highlight of the year, as is Hardcore 24.

But all in all it was a season filled with lots of riding.  Three 24 hour races, a five-day stage race, and numerous marathon events.  We raced in two countries and six states and providences.  Many nights were spent sleeping in the van and many meals were made on the camp stove.

There were good races and there were bad races.  There were smiles and tears. But each race brought about it's own challenges; we learned from these challenges and came away with knowledge as to how to help us ride stronger and faster in the future.  We can't say enough about our Liv and Giant bikes; the carried us through an entire season with minimal mechanicals.  

And what do we have to say now that it is all over?  It's time to relax!  Time to ride with friends. Time to sleep in a bit.

But not for long!!!!  2017 race season is right around the corner. And stay tuned, there are some major changes happening in 2017.

2016 Race Results

Jess

IIGO Team Relay, April 2, Marysville, PA- not really a race, just a fun day

Rattling Marathon, April 17, Halifax, PA- 2nd overall female

Michaux Maximus Endurance, May 1, Gettysburg, PA- 1st overall female

6 hrs of Brady's Run, May 7, Pittsburgh, PA- 2nd overall female

Long Sock Classic Marathon, Ganaraska Forest Center, ON, Canada- 2nd overall female

Trans-sylvania Mountain Bike Epic stage race, State College, PA- 2nd co-ed duo, 4th overall duo (racing with husband Joël)

Rothrock Trail Mix, Boalsburg, PA- 1st female

Cranky Monkey 6hr, Rosaryville, MD- 1st female

Summer Solstice 24hr race, Bolton, ON, Canada- 2nd female

6 Hours of Power, Ellicotvile, NY- 2nd overall female, 1st age group

Michaux Curse of Dark Hollow marathon, Shippensbug, PA- 1st overall female

Hardcore 24, Naples, NY- 1st overall solo female

On the Rocks at French Creek marathon, Elverson, PA- 1st overall female

Dirty Dirty Weekend marathon, Marysville, PA- 1st overall female

MASS (Mid Atlantic Super Series) Overall Enduance Championships- 1st overall female

Kingston XC Marathon championships, Kingston, ON- 1st overall female

Michaux Terror of Teaberry marathon, Michaux, PA- 2nd overall female

Michaux Endurance Series championships- overall female winner

18 Hours of Scouts Honor, Maidens, VA- 1st overall female 18 hour solo

Erie 80, Port Jervis, NY- 2nd overall female

Joël

IIGO Team Relay, April 2, Marysville, PA- solo rider- rode with wife Jess as duo team practice for upcoming TSE, unknown placing

Rattling Marathon, April 17, Halifax, PA- 8th overall male

Michaux Maximus Endurance, May 1, Gettysburg, PA- 3rd overall male

6 hrs of Brady's Run, May 7, Pittsburgh, PA- 4th overall male

Long Sock Classic Marathon, Ganaraska Forest Center, ON, Canada- 5th open men

Trans-sylvania Mountain Bike Epic stage race, State College, PA- 2nd co-ed duo, 4th overall duo (racing with wife Jess)

Rothrock Trail Mix, Boalsburg, PA- 6th men

Cranky Monkey, Rosaryville, MD- 2nd open men

Summer Solstice 24hr race, Bolton, ON, Canada- 6th open men

6 Hours of Power, Ellicotville, NY- 2nd age group, 4th overall male

Michaux Curse of Dark Hollow marathon, Shippensburg, PA- 6th open men

Hardcore 24, Naples, NY- 1st overall solo men

On the Rocks at French Creek marathon, Elverson, PA- 2nd overall male

Dirty Dirty weekend marathon, Marysville, PA- 3rd overallmale

MASS (Mid Atlantic Super Series) Overall Enduance Championships- 2nd overall male

Kingston XC Marathon Championships, Kingston, ON- 1st (tied) overall male, 1st division

Michaux Terror of Teaberry marathon, Michaux, PA- crashed hard and needed medical; still finished but easy pedaled most of race

18 Hours of Scouts Honor, Maidens, VA- 2nd overall male 18 hour solo

Rodale Thursday night crits, Trexlertown, PA

Erie 80 marathon, Port Jervis, NY- 14th open men (multiple flats)

Erie 80, Port Jervis, NY

Erie 80
Event: Erie 80- 80K mountain bike race
Where: Port Jervis, NY
When: October 2016

The Erie 80 was an inaugural event in Port Jervis, with the intention to showcase the ever evolving and newly worked on trails in the area.  Put on by DJ Birch, a crazy single speeder that Joël and I met many years ago at Trans-Sylvania Mountain Bike Epic, we knew we were in for a challenging but yet fun event.

Challenging it was, fun not some much. The trails were amazing, the volunteers excellent, and who doesn't appreciate a bottle of whisky hidden in a "trick-or-treat" bag mid race. But it was just one of those days where things suck.

Liv Cycling embodies the idea of 'Actually, I Can' where there is a moment you decide whether to meet your fears or retreat; a battle of determination, of will, of spirit. Yesterday had many of those moments at the Erie 80 mountain bike race.

People always comment how at races I am smiling, happy, and cheerful. Well, this race was definitely not one of those days. It took everything I had just to start (I told Joël I would be perfectly happy getting back in the van and going home). It was cold, my body was tired from a tough season of racing, I knew it was going to be a long day on the bike.

For the first portion of the race my fingers were so cold I could barely shift and depress my brake levers. For those that know me I am not a happy camper when it's cold. This made me miserable.
Then came the back issues. Maybe it was being cold, maybe it was the constant jarring from the rough course, or maybe being tense from all the sketchy, off camber roots and trail...whatever it was my back hurt. I stopped at the 25 mile cut-off and took some time to seriously consider if I was going to keep riding. I decided to suck it up and go out for the second lap.

And let's throw in constant gut issues the entire race. I knew I had to keep drinking and eating but everything I consumed made my belly rumble and gave me fear that I would have to run into the forest to relieve myself. Not a fun feeling.

So the characteristic smile was not there. There was no chipper chit-chatting with fellow racers like I usually do. I barely even sang songs to myself (a little Ozzie or Wheezer sung out loud always cheers me up).

But in the end I kept riding. I decided that #ActuallyICan suck it up and battle through the negative thoughts and keep going. I decided that I can #LivBeyond the feeling that this sucks and keep pushing towards the finish. I pulled myself out of that deep, dark, hole and kept riding the best I could and managed to keep things together for a 2nd place finish.

Thanks to everyone at the race for putting together a great event. I may not have had the best of days but overall it was a top-notch event with a challenging course with beautiful views.