Date: JUNE 28, 2002

Event: ESCAPE FROM GRANOGUE

Name: TIM KERSHNER

City: STRASBURG

State/Province: PA

Country: USA

Age: 35

Place: 1st

Category: Beginner

CLASS +/or Age group: VETERAN I

Team: CYCLE WORKS

XC Race Bike: GARY FISHER SUGAR 2

Tires: PYTHONS BABY

Conditions: PERFECT

Email: TAKMAAN@YAHOO.COM

How was your fitness level going into this race?

RACED MICHAUX THE SUNDAY PRIOR WHICH PROVED TO BE GREAT TRAINING GROUNDS FOR THE RACE.

Were you happy with your position going into the singletrack?

THIRD GOING INTO THE SINGLE TRACK, THEN QUICKLY MOVED INTO SECOND. FAST COURSE!!

Were you strong from start to finish?

I FELT STRONG UNTIL THE LAST GRASSY HILL FROM HELL. I DIDN'T THINK THAT IT WAS EVER GOING TO END. MY BIKE PUSHES WELL THOUGH!

When did you put the hammer down?

I DROP THE HAMMER RIGHT FROM THE GET GO. TAKES A WHILE FOR THE LUNGS TO CATCH UP, BUT THEY GET THERE EVENTUALLY!

Did you have any unusual problems?

CAME THROUGH THE TUNNEL AND ASKED THE GUY AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, "WHICH WAY" AND AFTER I PLUNGED INTO THE ABYSS, HE SAID TO STAY RIGHT IF I WANTED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER. THANKS FOR THE ADVICE!!

Were you happy with the way the race was run?

THE BEST RUN RACE THUS FAR. DON'T KNOW IF THE RACE WAS THE MOST "TECHNICAL" OF ALL THE RACES (FELL MOUNTAIN PEOPLE WOULD HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT, I AM SURE) HAD A GREAT TIME, BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER!

Did you have any interesting experiences during your race (exchanges with competitors/spectators)?

A GUY IN MY CLASS CAME UP BEHIND ME ON A TECHNICAL, CURVING DESCENT AND ASKED IF I WAS A VET I RIDER AND WHEN I ASKED WHO HE WAS, HE PROMPTLY CAME UP ALONG SIDE OF ME AND SAID, "ITS ME" AND PROMPTLY WIPED OUT! THANKS FOR THE HELP!

Anything you would like to add?

FUN EVENT OVERALL. MUSIC WAS JAMMIN, FOOD WAS GOOD AND THE PEOPLE WERE GREAT, AS USUAL!!