Joann and Lee Tear It Up at Ingawanis Mountain Bike Races

There seems to be a trend going on with this Pink Team!  Seems like two of our gals are putting the rubber on the dirt and riding hard.  The latest IMBCS race took place in Waverly, Iowa.  Beside these two ladies, Heather came out for her first mountain bike race.  Always good to see one of our best trying a new version of cycling.  She gets the tough-girl points for this weekend.

Back to Joann.............racing in Cat 2. She had two grueling laps of this challenging course.  Soon after she got on the single-track, there was a twisty, steep, rooted climb.  When she turned the corner at the top, they threw in some rocks for good measure.  Having made nice work of that hill, she cruised on through the tacky corners and long climbs.  A good, steady rhythm helped her to open a gap on Katherine whom did not give in but kept challenging Joann throughout the race.    At the end of the first lap there was about 75 yards of mud.  Now, given all of the rain that fell right up to race time, this was a relatively small amount of mud.  When you are on a bike, your legs are weary, this is a royal pain.  Joann skated through and started the second lap.  A bit more comfortable with the course, she moved quickly through it.  With just the same mud remaining, she sealed the deal and took the win!

Lee, racing Cat 3, shot out at the start hoping to surprise the rest of the field.  She did a good job and was leading almost all of the way to single track until Jr racer Zoe zipped past her.   Not deterred, Lee fought on and overtook Zoe on the first climb.   She then had to work hard to fend off the gals breathing down her neck.  She used the philosophy that every guy she passed became like a blocker that the gals chasing her had to also navigate around.  This seemed to work to both motivate Lee and  put some distance between her and the others.   She kept up the pace working hard on the climbs and doing some nifty navigating of the rock garden.  One brief upside-down crash only motivated her to get the dang race over with as quickly (but safely) as possible.   The mud that nearly took her down on the warm up lap. seemed to be no match for her dedication to getting across the line first.  To say she looked triumphant is an understatement.  Congrats to Lee on her inaugural first place finish!

Heather looked at this race as a change and to see what mountain bike racing was like compared to her successful road experiences.  The dirt was challenging but she she persevered.  She finished 4th overall in the women's Cat 3.  Hopefully she will come back for another go!

Your Roving Race Reporter,

Luann

Yes they had the blocks wrong!