2016 Hammer #1 Race News

Friday night team pre-race dinner

The BVW started the weekend with a Friday night carb loading dinner, new kit pickup, team pics, and shenanigans. The night included a meeting where many subjects were covered, including basic race safety, team kit etiquette, what to expect at the race (for the five first-timers), goals for the team, and different possible scenarios that could play out during the race. This was also a great opportunity to bond as a team, meet “other halfs” and kids, and see each other out of spandex (we clean up pretty nice). After business was over, the night ended early so everyone could get plenty of sleep before race day.

Hammer (not at the Slammer) #1

The Hammer Series is everything that the first spring road race of the season should be. Soul-sucking wind? Check. Rain? You got it. Fast and furious course? Yup. Race ends on the top of a helluva hill? You betcha!

The Team Digestive Health Clinic Boise VeloWomen (BVW) got the opportunity to test our winter training today on this super-fast, super-fun course. The Hammer course was set up on a five mile loop starting on W. Kuna Mora Road, looping back around on S. Swan Falls Road, near the Idaho Birds of Prey area. This was the first year that the Hammer was held in this location and boasts a hill that tests any cyclist’s quads and mental strength. Another new addition to the Hammer Series was the introduction of a Women’s Category 4 race followed by a Women’s Open Race. The Cat 4 Women raced 15 miles (3 laps) and the Women’s Open raced 20 miles (4 laps).  And yes, the hill was at the end of every lap, faithfully.
The Women’s Cat 4 field was dominated by BVW - a sea of purple, really. Of the 19 registered Cat 4 Women racers,13 of those were BVW beauties (that’s 68% of the field, but who’s counting?). The BVW focused on working together to battle the wind and elements to ensure we had a podium sweep. And we did! Trisha Wineman in 1st, Erin Shelton, 2nd and Kelsey Spiegel, 3rd. Today was some of our girls’ very first race, and all did wonderfully. Also, each BVW who registered started and finished. Oh - we had some fun too.
The Women’s Open consisted of women racers of all categories. Of course, the BVW did not disappoint with five BVW racing in a competitive field of 14 ladies. Of our five ladies, four had previously raced in the Women’s Cat 4, but chose to  work together to help Lisa Kolesar (Cat 3) race to 5th place! It was such an amazing sight to see teammates working together for a common goal and succeed. It was truly a great day for everyone!
Thanks to Mike Cooley, G Corsa Events and George’s Cycles for putting on our favorite spring starting race, testing our winter training and promoting cycling in the Treasure Valley. Also thank you to our sponsors for making it all possible. We look forward to doing it all again in two weeks at the Hammer #2. Maybe the hill will shrink a bit by then.

Photo credits: Lisa Kolesar & Brian Steger