Cruise the Blues 2006

August 26, 2006

This third annual Cruise the Blues had a record turnout. As I pulled up to the farm I was amazed at the cars and tents!

The weather was absolutely great. We all thought CTB might be cancelled when we were watching the radar the night before. There was flooding and tornadoes all around, but the good lord blessed us once again with a great trail, ride and day.

This was the third year for CTB and my third year to ride it. As you may know, I started out mountain biking three years ago this weekend when I decided to enter my first off road ride/race and signed up for CTB which was held on my 37th birthday that year. I had never ridden off road and I jumped in with both feet by taking on the glory race. That first year, I did one lap and had to seek medical attention because I thought I'd really done something to myself. As it turns out, I was fine and I was hooked on mountain biking. If you would like to read my personal recount, click here.

The second year, my goal was to do more than the year before. I took it easy and rode with friends for the first lap. That first 13 mile lap took 1 1/2 hours. Then it rained for five minutes. The next mile also took 1 1/2 hours. When I completed that second lap, my body could have gone on, but my spirit was terrified of what might be lurking in that next mile of mud.. so I stopped at 2 laps.

This year my goal was four laps. My first lap was ok. I failed to warm up before we started so by the end of the second mile I was feeling toasted. About mile 6 I got my legs and felt awesome. I completed my first lap and started my second without making a pit stop. My second lap rocked. I did start to feel some hunger twinges about 3/4 of the way through. When I completed my second lap, I decided I better stop because I didn't know how long the feeling good would last if I didn't eat.

Sometime during my third lap, my rear end expired. I found myself standing up on the pedals more and more just to allow the blood to flow back into my buns. At the end of my third lap, I sat down and rested my tush for a bit while I drank my new favorite drink Sobe Lean Green Tea. After about 10 minutes, I dove back in. I felt great for about 5 miles and then my rear started to hurt so bad I had to get off and walk for a while. All during my fourth lap I would take a few minutes to get the feeling back into my behind every few miles. The legs and rest of my body felt really good, but the pain in my behind was too much.

I finished my fourth lap at 5:41. At least four other women had started a fifth lap. I considered doing a fifth but decided that since I had met my personal goal I would turn in my baton and spare my tush.

I took that opportunity to get out towards the end of the course and take a few photos... so those are all on this page.

Gerard Arantowicz