Robbie

Heck Of The North 2026 🍂🍁

Got to play in pretty much perfect conditions for Jeremy’s special 18th edition of the race (I’ve been here 6 times now, so I guess I’ve done 1/3 of them?) Rolled out of town with some nice morning sun which quickly changed to heavy fog up in the woods for the first 2ish hours of the race before the sun broke through again for the day. I yelled out at one point “This is fuckin’ epic” and some people I was with agreed. Even the infamous snowmobile trail was mowed and dry (?!) and had a sweet new bridge installed. Never seen that before!

My race went alright I’d say. Had one of those days where I kinda just feel a little awkward on the bike and spent a lot of time bouncing between feeling okay and kinda meh. Not for nothing though, despite feeling like I wasn’t really moving at times I still PR’d a few parts by a good margin.

Wound up 27th again like last year, I dunno how I feel about it though because I wound up missing a turn and cut like a mile off the route, so I’m kinda whatever on counting it. I’d rather do things right, Y’know?

Lots of things to wonder about and consider for how I felt, but maybe I just need to remember how damn hard this race is first. Having the chance to see the front is still new territory for me and I’m trying to find my feet. Finish times were taken a little ways out of town, and thinking about it I remember thinking being able to ride 90+ miles that fast seemed impossible at one point, especially with rough terrain thrown in, so trying to keep some perspective there. Just gotta keep working at it.

I believe that’s the last endurance goal for the year. The leaves are starting to change a lot and I’m more than ready to wind it back a smidge. But there’s still plenty of fun to have. 😉

Always great to hang with so many friends as well. Thanks @bethanynoellemeister for the sweet photo at the finish!