In beautiful spring conditions (for the second year in a row!), this Thursday marked the opening of the Seward Park Series’ 27th season. The Seward Series is an integral part of Seattle’s cycling culture and to emphasize its importance is nicknamed the “Thursday Night World Championships.”
Not to be confused with the Tuesday Night World Championships, which are held at Pacific Raceways, Wednesday Night World Championships at SeaTac Park, or almost every night World Championships (but most especially Fridays) at the Jerry Baker Memorial Velodrome.
The race is held on the Park’s upper loop:
I think this weekly event is a perfect spring and summer workout: Ride to Seward Park, Race, (RUN an optional lap or two around Seward Park!), then ride home (with a beverage stop) with your cycling buddies. The course has a sharp hairpin in the northwest corner, and a slight hill that results in (at least for me) a difficult interval workout. From week to week the race is run in alternating directions–clockwise one week, counterclockwise the next. Regular participants will argue the merits of one direction over the other.
For riders interested in trying the course or racing for the first time, there is a clinic at 5:00 taught by an experienced racer who talks through some basic technique, then rides the course with the participants to provide some on-the-bike feedback.
For a historical perspective, check out this older post looking back on 25 years of the series.
This is the second year with a series leader jersey competition, sponsored by Voler clothing and coordinated by Russell Stevenson. The hi-vis fluorescent green jersey makes the race leader impossible to miss, but what really sets it apart is the target on the back taunting the rest of the field: “Come and get me.”
Last Thursday morning I put out the word: “Bring your A-game grimaces and smiles!” Here are some highlights, with links to Flickr photo albums for each race.
Each evening there are three races. The first race at 5:30 is for folks new to racing, as well as category 4 and 5 racers.
5:30 Drone Cam:
The 6:00 race is for category 3 and 4 racers:
The 6:00 is by far the most popular and usually has the largest field. One rider estimated that Thursday’s field was over 90 racers.
6:00 Drone Cam:
The 7:00 race is for professionals and category 1, 2, and 3 racers (yes, pros really do show up from time to time):
Thanks to Jim Wallingford for providing the drone video.
