Phew, what an event! Another Slate Valley Epic Race has successfully wrapped and we can’t thank everyone enough for bringing their stoke, grit, and sense of fun to a long race that can be quite grueling without the good energy poured into it by racers and volunteers alike. The Epic Race is bigger than just a celebration of gritty endurance though–it’s also our biggest fundraiser of the year with all proceeds going to trail work, youth programming, and community events that expand access to the outdoors. This year, we hosted our biggest event yet and raised more money than ever before so THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to this lively event that fuels our community.
This year was a particularly tricky year to pull off with lingering storms and wildfire smoke blanketing the northeast, but we were miraculously gifted with a safe window of clean air and the storms held off until the end of the day. Even when the downpour came, we loved seeing riders grinning big while they crossed the finish line and dancing in the rain while our favorite Epic musical act, JD Tolstoi, played songs like Cheeseburger in Paradise to keep the mood fun. The hot pink t-shirts, glitter station, and vendor village filled with post-race beers, creative makers, and tasty food options added to the lightheartedness at the finish line.
And of course the big event–the race itself! HUGE congratulations to our podium finishers of the 6th Annual Slate Valley Epic Race who finished with impressive, competitive times. Our top finishers completed the race in under 4 hours, at an astonishing average pace of 10+ miles per hour. This is no small feat. 40+ miles and well over 5000′ of elevation gain is a massive challenge and we can’t emphasize enough how many times we’ve heard racers remark: “This is the most challenging bike race I’ve ever done!” This year’s cohort was a particularly impressive group too. We had multiple Olympians on the podium! (Shoutout to Lea Davison and Jimena Florit!) It certainly made for a fun race with a nice edge of competition.
We’d also like to give a special shoutout to all the moms in this race. Lea Davison made her triumphant return to racing after becoming a mom and placed first for women! We’re so grateful to have had her back at the Epic, though we had no doubt that she would blow expectations out of the water. Watching her scoop her kiddo up at the finish line was a moment to behold and the emotions were palpable. Another new mom stopped to pump mid-race which is an inspiring demonstration of what women are capable of 💪
While the Epic Race is in many ways a fun race, it’s also grueling in both a physical and mental sense. The stories that come off the course demonstrate just how incredible human beings are when they push themselves. We had one finisher, Randy Bartlett, who completed the last 10 miles, including an arduous climb up Cliffhanger with only one pedal-flat pedals no less! There were flat tires, broken bones (coming in pre-race 😉), the torrential downpour for those on the course later in the day, and all kinds of other challenges faced by racers.
This race lives up to its epic name and we’re oh-so-grateful to share in all the passion, laughter, endurance, and celebration this community brings. Thank you all for another amazing Epic Race!
