Not A Race Report: Farmer’s Daughter – 2026
Farmer's Daughter feels a bit like homecoming. The 2023 edition of the gravel grinder was the second event I signed up in my first ever bike racing season. In my first iteration, I was so fortunate as to spend some miles with Yosef and another TBD member. In my second season, I met James the day before Highlands Gran Fondo, and then spent the century riding with him and my future first time. I’ve felt like I’ve danced around TBD for years now. In some ways, joining the team last fall felt a bit like a homecoming, and so a 4th iteration with the team feels fitting.
Diane, Leah, Lotte, Sarah, and James (behind the camera) lined up for Farmer’s Daughter.
This was my first year opting to make the drive up in the early morning. The previous year, timing was cut from the event. The not a race, was truly, not a race. But I still chased wheels early on last year. This year, I planned to chill with the team, and not stress a "race". My coach and I still planned for the a taper week. I was carb loading ahead of the day, I made my planned bathroom trips, did my off bike warm up, and then some cadence work before we made for the start line. The team had a group of five and I saw many more friendly faces from the greater area community. I made some rounds, accepted the leak in my hydration pack bite valve, and hit my gel on the line as the announcements rattled off.
The others had lined up about 3 rows back from the front, and I pulled in along side. They said they wanted to beat some traffic and it was tossed about of linking up back at aid 2, skipping aid 1. It's been my move most years, and I was plenty stocked with fuel and water. When it seemed like the group wasn't intent on staying together, I let it rip with the front for as long as I could. I made it at least a half hour sitting around the back, but eventually let go with the pending heat. I felt pretty good to aid 1 and past, but the first solid I tried to take, I just couldn't eat it with the heat. I went for gels, my carb bottle, and just kept going.
I was surprised at how good I felt on some of the descent. I wasn't the fastest, but I was holding some wheels, including my buddy Matt who traveled with me for last years edition. He's a strong descender from what I've seen and runs about 5mm more rubber than I. But something was clicking. I actually found myself at the single track section ahead of aid 2 ahead of him.
We were blessed with decent road conditions all day long. Even with the rain, the dirt roads only had a few damp spots, but no extra watt sappage or wet beach feel. The single track was largely dry with only a few mud spots. Between my off bike work and a bit better pressure decision, I felt more confident through the super rooty mostly downhill section. I've walked much more through this section in years past. Bountiful bread was it's usual glorious spread, but with the heat and social engagement, I was a bit more focused on gab and fluids than taking in food. My food choices never became an issue, but I probably would have had a little more for the last section of course had I had more effort to load up. The heat was big issue though. By aid 3, one of my teammates opt'd to DNF and catch a ride to the start. It was practically winter 2 weeks before, and then in the 90's by the time the heat of the day hit.
When we left aid 2, the plan was to regroup after the climbs, but the descents were almost immediate, and I couldn't help but roll with Matt down the hill. I was following Matt pretty well still, and was able to hold with him despite his dinner plate gearing for most of the climbs to aid 3. At some point, the grades caught up to me, and he pulled away on a steeper climbs.
At aid 3, I knew not filling my pack up at the previous aid was a mistake. I could see it in the bathroom. I downed some extra bottles and loaded in some salt sticks. We chatted as the other slowly trickled in. I got in some more snacks. I opted for items I knew Id get down more easily than my oddly dry chocolate z-bars. The shade of the poolside covered shelter was so welcome this year. As we recovered, one of the other NYC area riders said the day had felt harder than The Mid South a few months ago.
I really only had one goal in mind going into the day. As I had eased back a bit to stay safe and not let the heat get me, I had already considered letting it go. There is a final single track with two extremely steep sections, sustained above 20% in places. I had come into this section again with Matt, and I let him lead. I know he can get up, so I figured I didnt want to chance blocking him, and I could maybe follow his lines and see how far Id get. On the first steep section, I actually felt like maybe I could get through it, but then Matt slipped it and I lost my line and clipped out. I felt like I made it further than in years past still. Then in the second hard section, I got through the majority of it before a small slip and a foot down again. I only tied my best pr of the segment, but something about this attempt held so much more confidence than I recall having in the past editions.
We got through more descents, but at some point, Matt pulled away again, and I kept my own pace to make sure that dehydration didnt get to me. I kept drinking. I ate some more, and just kept going. I spun well up the last big climb and planned to push through town back to the venue and line, but there was car traffic in town to hold me up again. I dug in again as soon as the car was clear and drove it to my finish line burrito plate and beer. I said it wasn't a race pace day, but my numbers on the day would tell me the truth. Some of those climbs are just either on or off anyways, no option if you're going to stay on the bike.
