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Deruiter Performs Miracle
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Event name:
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King of the Hill
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Date:
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November 11, 2001
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Location:
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Round Valley Park, Lebanon, NJ
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Distance:
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Biathlon (2m trail run | 12m Mountain Bike | 2m Trail Run)
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 A brave new era dawned for the Wissahickon Wanderers on November 11. That is when the Wanderers entered the trail biathlon age. Jan DeRuiter entered the King of the Hill Biathlon in Lebanon, N.J., which consisted of a two-mile trail run, followed by a 12-mile mountain bike ride, and ending with another two-mile trail run.
With tendon damage in one of his feet due to a freak sailboat accident a month ago, it was amazing that Jan even showed up at the starting line. But the real miracle was Jan’s performance out on the rugged, hilly course.
Here are the incredible statistics:
110 competitors started the race. Only 88 finished. Jan was one of them. And there’s more. With a time of one hour and 46 minutes, he actually finished 24th in the race, a rarified atmosphere rarely experienced by the Wanderers.
Considering his injury and lack of training due to the tendon damage, the result had Wanderer fans shaking their heads in disbelief.
 “I couldn’t bend my foot it was so heavily taped,” Jan said. “I had to point my foot sideways while I dragged my ass up the hill. It was brutal.”
Jan’s final advice on the King of the Hill race. “You gotta try it. I had a blast.”
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