Steel City Endurance Racing

6 Hours of Power

July 17th, 2011

Ellicotville, NY

Last fall Michelle Johnson and Eryn Hughes, two local MTB racers and enthusiasts, convinced a couple of the SCE ladies to put down their road bikes and try mountain biking. A couple of us took them up on their offer.   After many a frightfully, fun evening rides with the “Girls Rule, Boys Drool” crew.  A few of us (mainly Stacie Truszkowski) were ready to try some MTB racing. Stacie paired up with SCE Team –friend, JR Petsko, for 9 Hours of Cranky Monkey.  They had a blast.  After I heard all about it, I was determined to try a race myself.

I convinced Stacie to team up with me for the Female Duo portion of 6 Hours of Power.   The cou

rse is an 8 mile mountain bike loop with a long climb at the beginning, tons of single track in the middle, and a scary downhill finish.   Our goal was simple.  We were newbies at this sport; we just needed to finish the race!  It was decided that Stacie would start the first lap since I hate running and she was already familiar with the “Le Mans” start.

Stacie went out for her first lap and finished quite a bit earlier than either of us expected.  She met me at the transition area with a huge grin on her face!  Yep, I thought, this is going to be fun.  I grabbed my bike and

started pedaling up the long climb.  The local photographer was there.  I told him he better take my picturenow because I knew I wasn’t going to smiling later.  He laughed at me, took my picture and wished me luck.  I finally reached the top of the climb and turned on to the single track. I told myself, “Don’t blow up. This is your first year on a mountain bike and your first year racing. Don’t blow up.”   I blew up and promptly crashed into a tree.  I got up and rode at a more sedate pace for my first lap.  I was dreading the downhill finish but I made it through.  Stacie was there at the transition area waiting for me.   “How did it go,” she asked?

“Good.  I crashed,” I said.

Stacie took off for her second lap and I went to our tent to rehydrate, refuel, and get ready for my next lap.  I met Stacie at the transition area.  She had a huge grin on her face.  “How did it go,” I asked?

“Good. No issues,” she said.

I grabbed my bike and started pedaling up the climb.  No photographer this time.  Good.  I wasn’t smiling at this point but neither was I grimacing.  I finished the climb and headed into the single track portion of the loop.  I kept a slower pace but became more timid as the trail went on.  Instead of a tree I crashed into a sapling.  Crap!  I hope no one saw this.  I looked around me, no one was near.  Whew, I thought, that could of have been embarrassing.   Then I wished someone was nearby.  I couldn’t extricate myself from the sapling!  I swear it must have taken me ten minutes to get out of that tangled mess.  I got back on the bike and limped my way back to the transition area. It took some time.  I hurt.  I made it to the transition area with 20 minutes to spare before the clock stopped on the race.  Stacie would have to do on last lap. Stacie was there waiting for me.  “What happened,” she asked?

“I had a run in with a sapling and got stuck,” I said.

“Ooh,” giggled Stacie.  I had to admit, it was funny.

Stacie got on her bike and took off for the final lap.  I headed back to the tent, grabbed a Coke and changed my clothes.

Stacie and I actually managed to get first place in the Female over 30 Duo category.  We were the only Female Duo in the whole race but I’ll take the win.  Our trophy actually says “First Place Female Team Under 29” but I’ll take that as well.  It was a great event for a first race and I had a great partner who smiled the entire time.  I’ll be back next year.