The only problem is that if you didn't dress right you are going to have to do one or two more laps over a trail that is just a gooey mess and, to top that off, it has started to snow. West Virginia in April, you cannot predict anything about the weather except that it is unpredictable. For the hard core, you don't want to stop, you may have never dropped out of a race, even with a broken bike you have carried it to the finish. Your toughness may garner you additional points in the series - especially if some of the guys ahead of you are quitting. Your body gives in to the cold with the beginnings of hypothermia.
Spectators wonder as the leaders approach.
They were in the lead group. Jeremiah Bishop is up front, covered with mud as he pushes his bike up the hill, pursued by TJ Platt . Next come Benji Klimas and Justin Povrikova , racing neck and neck as they have from the start. Cassie Smith comes by. Shelly and Lori Ware push their bikes across the finish line together, running the last 100 yards to the cheers of the faithful.