Massanutten HOO-Ha! (Kenda Cup East)

McGaheysville, VA
Massanutten HOO-HA! (Kenda Cup East) Sunday June 07, 2009
by: John Glodek

The body and mind were set to go for Sunday’s US Cup Race…the HOO-Ha…part of the Kenda Cup East series.  I was stoked to see the large amount of people…trailers…tents…arches.  The weather was perfect…clear…sunny…warm-to-getting-hot.  Picked up my reg packet and swag bag.  Got back to the car and suited up with Full Metal on my back…warmed the legs…fueled the stomach.

I have had this race on my map since last year…it was my first race representing T6…ended up with a mechanical 10 minutes into the race and DNF’ed.  So this was my year for redemption.

Start was mass with the PRO/CAT-1’s going off first…then 2 minutes behind was me and the CAT-2’s.  Start was fast…long fireroad climb which turned into a grass/doubletrack climb.  Course and pace were fast.  Hung with lead group and the legs felt strong.  Lots of reserves in the tank for the techincal switchback mile long climbs.

Course was long…12.5 miles…lots of climbing…techincal decents…tons of rock gardens.

Lost touch with the lead group with about 3/4 of the lap remaining…hung in “no man’s” land until crossing the line.

Overall…5th…stoked to finish…loved the course…redemption was mine!

Photo Credit: Ian McAlexander@ ITMExposures.com
Thanks for reading!

-John Glodek