Round #2 Race Recap

Flying Dutchmen hosted Round # 2 of the PA State Harescramble Series this past Sunday and let me tell you it was a perfect day for racing. Conditions were much better than the preceding Round #1 two weeks prior, late showers during the week left the remains of a loamy track for race day. Some would argue and say muddy, but with soft soil and some puddles laying on the track it made for some nice lines that formed quickly. I would bet and also say that some would argue with soft, due to the loads of rocks that are supposedly “shipped in.” When it comes down to it, I thought the track was great besides the fact of it getting beat up a little bit by the end of the two hours.
I got a really good jump off the line and kept a good hard push the first few turns. Unlike last week I made it a point to remind myself to stay relaxed. The last thing I wanted was to get all pumped up again and ride over my race pace. And that is exactly what I did - stayed relaxed and set my pace. I felt good for the first lap and then my arms got a little tight for the second lap. I continued to push and it wasn’t long before my forearms were relaxed and started to loosen up. I maintained my focus for running “my race” but it didn’t take much to get sidetracked for a second. As I mentioned the track conditions were muddy and slick and just before the half way point I went down. After I regained my composure I was back on my pace pushing harder after the half way board was up. About a lap into the second hour I was racing hard with two other guys in my class. We had a good fight going on passing each other back and forth until about the third lap of the fight I made a pass and stuck to it. I stepped up my pace knowing that there was about a quarter of the race left. There were a lot of lappers on the track; one of the classes had 55 riders on the line. With such a good turn out for the day it only meant that there would be a lot more racing within the race. As the track got beaten down with deep ruts, braking bumps, and more exposed rocks, riders were begging to feel the wear of a two hour harescramble race. I began to feel a little fatigue myself as a result of giving it all I got for the last lap. With about 4 minutes left in the last lap I went down on a really tight turn. My front wheel rode up on the berm and got washed out because the end part of the berm broke away. By this time in the race I was spent and I had to pick up my mud caked bike, weighing about 300 pounds, with what little energy that I didn’t save for a situation like this. While picking my bike off the berm I placed my foot down to find that there was no ground for about 2 feet and I hit the dirt with the bike falling right on my leg. Again I got up and to make matters worse here comes the two riders that I worked so hard to pass for three laps, they passed me. I kicked my bike about 4 times and it finally started. I managed to find a little bit of strength to try and finish strong and I did. It turns out that I finished 5th in my class, which is good and bad in some aspects. It’s bad because I would have had 3rd considering that I made some little mistakes that cost me two positions on the last lap. It’s good to know that I can run with the top guys and I can disregard my worst outing at Round #1. It’s also good that I have my confidence back and it’s even better that Round #3 is at Hurricane Hills. It’s closer to a true haresrcamble track and in two weeks we are really going to find out how prepared I am.
D. Haggs Sr. also ran at Dutchmen putting in a good race even though he was sick all week long. Unlike myself he would defiantly disagree when I say that track conditions were ideal. He put in his laps and finished 14th in his class, staying consistent in both rounds. DHaggs Harescramble Racing continues in two weeks for the PA State Harescramble Series Round #3 at Hurricane Hills in Clifford, Pa. Until then it is back in the gym and back in the saddle this weekend for practice. I would like to thank Mary Anne, Sean, and Logue for making an appearance this past weekend. It was nice to see you all at trackside and it was nice to have photos available for all too see on the site. Thanks again…