Every year I wonder why I signed up for this race. It's, in my opinion, the most over-hyped MTB race in the state of Michigan. It's changed significantly over the 5 years I've raced it. It was not usac sanctioned at first and the age groups had more ages in them. The age group factor is probably what's enabled me to finish in the top 3 over the last few years. Since the age group change for men occurred, Jimmie won his age group X2. This is why he's moved on to trying the Pro class. Parking use to be much less of a hassle and you could bring your own beer in the past as well...obviously there are ways around this but it still changes the kind of laid back do what you want MTB atmosphere, in my opinion.
One of my favorite race pictures from previous iceman races was the picture of Sue Stephens battling it out with Heather Irminger for 2nd just before the finish line...Sue won. It's nice to have local racers to look up to and see them excel and podium in races with Pros. Of Jimmie like to remind me that the Pros are in their off season when iceman arrives. Regardless congrats to Mackenzie Woodring for her 3rd place at iceman. I can only hope to be as fast a Mackenzie one day.
http://suestephensmtb.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-iceman-cometh-challenge-races-over.html
Anyhow...the weather looked grim for this years iceman, but we still headed north to beautiful Traverse City, MI for the 30 mile suffer fest. I was in wave 6 so we got there pretty early so I could suit up and slightly warm up before the start. Every year, it never fails, I am shivering so much that someone offers me their coat. A nice woman offered me her coat while I waited for my wave to line up. I thanked her and told her that I need to be cold before the start or I'll overheat during the race. It's the truth about iceman - I wore too much clothing last year and I felt terrible for most of the race. Since I overdressed at the Lowell race I knew what to wear for Iceman. Our cold weather jerseys are perfect for 40 degree temps and that's all I needed along with some knickers.
I placed myself in the middle/front of wave 6. We took off and went through the streets in too slow of a pace - 18mphs or so. Oh well...we hit the dirt and I worked my way around people to try to position myself well for the 1st turn that's always sandy. Once we rounded that turn I started moving my way through the group up until we hit some single track. Every year the single track slows everyone down so I just hung back and went with the flow of traffic. It seemed to me like many of the people in my wave were not really racing they were just riding. It can be frustrating to say the least to be around these types of people. You have to make your way around them the entire race. In fact that's pretty much my race for the most part - me and my bike weaving in and out of race traffic trying to find someone around my speed. No one worked together, per usual. I did have a little crash in some single track, sad to say, I slipped down the side of a cut piece of land and a few guys kind of crashed around me. I apologized to them and got back to moving. After the race Jimmie noticed my rear wheel was really out of true - I figured one of those guys accidentally stepped on my rear wheel. The puddles were huge this year and most of the good lines were to the right except for the last puddle. I noted what I could to help Jimmie out when he goes out to race. I sometimes wish I could race around the crowd the whole race because when I get near the crowd I get a second wind and really push myself. I knew we'd be teased by seeing the finish through the fly over and then back into some climbing. It wasn't as bad as people made it sound. I was just a bit tired more than anything. I got some air over the fly over and pushed it though the finish line. Jimmie and some team mates were there waiting. Not much time to hang out though because we needed to get Jimmie to the start of the Pro race.
After showering and eating at the hotel, we headed to the start again. Jimmie mottled over what to wear and then got started on his warm up. I walked around and talked with Jamie Galambos-Mishka and Erin Vicary before the start. I told them a little bit about the course. Erin said this was her last race and that her back/neck issues are just too much for her. I was sad to hear this, but as Jeff Carek our team captain likes to say "It is what it is."
Jimmie lined up next to Daniel Sterling, Racing Greyhounds, and per usual Jimmie was in serious racer mode. After some wait time they all took off and I drove back to the house where Jeff and Christine stay and rode my bike back to the finish line. I waited around and talked with Jim Senska and others while we awaited the Pros arrival. Jimmie finished and I went over and talked to him, He was talking to a friend from way back in the day, Brian Matter, about the race. Matter's wife Andrea was there as well as the Black Ace. Now I officially know who this guy is. Rob Selle stopped by the finish line to heckle Jimmie about Rob driving next to Jimmie in a car yelling at him to go faster. What a character.
Jimmie had a great race, kept it upright, and hung in for 60th in the Pro race and 62nd overall.
