Last Thursday marked the opening of the Seward Park Series’ 28th 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:
This weekly event is a perfect 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 a difficult interval workout for most competitors. From week-to-week the race is run in alternating directions–clockwise one week, counterclockwise the next. Regulars 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 third year with a series leader jersey competition, sponsored by Voler clothing and coordinated by Russell Stevenson. The hi-vis fluorescent pink 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.”
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.
The 6:00 race is for category 3 and 4 racers, is by far the most popular, and usually has the largest field.
Unfortunately lighting conditions were not favorable to snap pics of the 7:00 race this time around.
Check out the professional images taken by Yee Feng of Audi racing here.
