Blue Mound Enduro - August 20, 2011

RACE DELAYED

2011-08-20T08:15:00.002-05:00

We are cancelling the 70-mile event, as there will not be nearly enough time to complete the distance. If you are pre-registered for the 70-mile, you are welcome to race the 35-mile event at 1pm.

Quite a bit of rain fell this morning on the park, and the trails are very wet. They were dusty dry yesterday, so we are hopeful this rain will soak in and the trails will become rideable later today.

As of now...
1pm -- 35 mile start
3pm -- 15 mile start

If anything changes we will update this site by 11am. Sorry everybody.

Blue Mound Enduro is 6 days away!

2011-08-15T08:42:00.001-05:00

We’re less than 1 week away from the Blue Mound Enduro! We really need volunteers to make this event run smoothly so please sign up if you’re available. To sweeten the deal, we’re giving all volunteers lunch, beverages, and a FREE T-SHIRT! Click the link to fill in the information and reserve a time slot!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjDHkKCN1WRzdHRRR0FldUdicWlIXzJPdVN5cFJGaXc&hl=en_US

Less than 2 weeks!

2011-08-08T08:40:00.002-05:00

Hi all. Yep, we're still here...Kevin and I have been working on finalizing details of the "Inaugural" 2011 Blue Mound Enduro. It's not really our first race, but it's the first year of the distace format instead of the time format. I know the distances seem low compared to other races in the WEMS series...I can hear the skepticism already.

"Only 70 miles for an endurance race?" You can trust us when we say that race times will be in line with the other races in the series.

All of the race distances (70 mile, 35 mile, 15 mile and High School) will use the same course. That includes the steep climbs and fast descents of the Over Lode Trail as well as the relenetless technical sections of the Chert Dip, Serpentine Climb, and Basalt and Pepper Trails.

We've got some great sponsors on board for this year's race so check out their websites by click in the banners to the right.

Uphill Grind will be here with mechanical support, limited replacement parts avialable for purchase, and coffee!

Planet Bike will be providing swag for our raffle.

There may be a few surprises too!

Start time is 10:00 AM Saturday the 20th for the long event!

We hope to see lots of you there!

New Format for 2011!

2011-02-24T17:39:00.005-06:00

Hey everybody, we are excited to announce that we are changing the Blue Mound race to a distance format, and starting our longest event at 10am. This later start time will give more racers the option of driving to the event the morning of the event. No more 3am wake-ups or camping required.

The new events are:
70-mile starting at 10:00am (8 laps)
35-mile starting at 1:00pm (4 laps)
15-mile starting at 3:00pm (2 laps)
All distances will use the long course from the past two years. Each lap is approximately 8.6396874 miles with 1.7576 furlongs of climbing (yes, Nate and I have had a few).

We think everyone will be excited about these changes, and you better show up in force this year or it might be your last chance! We are hard at work lining up our sponsors and planning for the event, so check back often for the latest updates.

Thank you!

2010-09-20T08:05:00.003-05:00

Thank you to all our volunteers, racers and sponsors for helping to make our race a success. With all the rain we got (again) on Friday night, we delayed the 12-hour race to a 10am start. Once the race got underway everyone seemed to be having a great time. Lap times were only slightly slower than last year and we had no major injuries, just a few scrapes.

Congratulations to Randy Wegener for winning the Gary Fisher Rig singlespeed, and to the dozens of winners in our Planet Bike, REI, Hammer Nutrition and Ale Asylum raffle.

Please help us spread the word about our event, and we'll see you next year! You should start seeing posts here about next year's race in a couple of months.

Thanks again,
Kevin and Nate

Win This Bike!

2010-09-13T10:29:00.005-05:00

Mail-in registration is closed. Please don't snail mail any more registrations or we might not get them by the weekend.

On-line registration is active until midnight Wednesday Sept. 15th.

12 hour classes start at 8:00 AM

Wisconsin State SS Championship starts at 10:00 AM

6 hour classes start at 1:00 PM

Free kids race starts at 1:30 PM

3 hour classes start at 3:00 PM

A Full Weekend!

2010-09-07T09:37:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone,

Just a reminder that registration (on-line and mail-in) are still open for the rescheduled 12 Hours of Blue Mound. Deadline for mail-in registration is this Saturday September 11th. On-line registration will be open until midnight of Wednesday September 15th. Click the blue "Sign me up!" button at the top of the page to go directly to the registraion page.

Also, if you're not too tired from racing on Saturday, Bring your road bike, skinsuit, and aero helmet for a hill climb time trial. CORP's sister club, the Viking Biking Club, is putting on L'Alpe Bl'Huez Time Trial on Sunday September 19th.

VBC is the group responsible for bringing you the Horribly Hilly Hundreds and The Insane Terrain Challenge, as well as numerous poker runs and other fun cycling events.

Whether you race the TT or not, you can cheer the roadies on as they struggle up Mounds Park Rd. to the finish line at the top of the mound. Bring your cowbell!

New Date! September 18th, 2010.

2010-08-18T15:11:00.003-05:00

Greetings everyone,

We have secured a new date for the race. The 12 Hours of Blue Mound will be Saturday, September 18th. We were unable to use the WEMS scheduled rain date as the park is public hunting grounds and there is a gun deer hunt on that date.

Online registraion is active again up until Midnight Wednesday September 15th and mail-in registrations should be postmarked by Saturday September 11th.

Click the blue button above to register online.

Hope everyone can make it!

Thanks,
Nate and Kevin

Race Postponed!

2010-08-13T14:14:00.002-05:00

Hey Racers,

Unfortunately, the 12 Hours of Blue Mound is postponed. We've been getting a steady heavy rain this morning and the forecast for tonight isn't any better. Combine that with already wet trails and we've got a slippery, dangerous race course. Stay tuned for a rescheduled date!

Thanks,
Nate and Kevin

Got Family?

2010-08-10T14:51:00.003-05:00

Hey Racers,

Wondering what to do with your family while you're out suffering on the toughest race course in the Midwest? Bring them along of course! Starting at 1:30 PM, there is a free kids race! Be sure to bring their bikes too!

Blue Mound State Park also has a swimming pool including a zero depth pool for the really small kids and our race course passes right by the pool so you'll see them once every lap!

WI State Trail Passes Required

2010-08-08T09:33:00.002-05:00

Just a reminder that you will need a Wisconsin State Trail Pass for the race. This is the same pass that is required to ride at Kettle Moraine (John Muir/Emma Carlin/Greenbush) or any of the state rail trails. The ranger at the park will be checking as you drive into the park, and our registration staff will also be checking for these. If you don't have one you can purchase a pass at the time of registration ($4 daily or $20 annual). Its a small price to pay for the awesome trails at Blue Mound.

Pre-registration Reminder!

2010-08-06T07:41:00.005-05:00

Hey folks,

This is just a reminder that our on-line pre-registration ends on Wednesday August 11th at Midnight. For mail-in regsitration, it must be postmarked by this Saturday, August 7th. You still have a few more days to get signed up and save $5!

Of course, you can also register onsite the day of the race starting at 6:00 AM.

See you in about 1 week!

Race Times and other random stuff

2010-08-04T17:11:00.003-05:00

The Wisconsin Singlespeed Championship will start at 10am. Race length will be approximately 16-24 miles, which should take about 2-3 hours.

WEMS classes will start at standard times...
12 Hour: 8am-8pm (~8 miles/lap)
6 Hour: 1pm-7pm (~8 miles/lap)
3 Hour: 3pm-6pm (~5 miles/lap)

We have custom awards again this year by local artist and carpenter Jason Williams. Come get one!

We still need lots of volunteers! If you are doing the 6-hour, 3-hour, or SS race you can also volunteer! We'll find an easy job for you that involves sitting in a chair. Let us know if you can lend a hand.

Reminder that Erik's Bike Shop will be on site with mechanical support and DEMO BIKES! Numbers are limited - first come, first serve on race day.

I'm gettin' excited... are you?

2010 Race Course

2010-08-04T12:35:00.006-05:00

Publish Post

We received such positive comments on last year's course that we decided to keep it the same for this year. Please note that the Flint Rock Hiking Trail is closed to bikes except for race day. If you want to pre-ride the course please walk Flint Rock or ride Holy Schist. Start/Finish will be at the top of the mound.

Volunteers Needed!

2010-07-23T16:46:00.002-05:00

Calling all volunteers! With three road crossings again in this year's race we have a large demand for volunteers. It's a very easy job that you can do sitting down. Click the link HERE to view the schedule. Pick a time and shoot me an email kdlast@gmail.com with your preferred time slot. Bring a cooler and some chairs and help us keep the racers safe. We are not stopping cars - just warning/reminding riders that they need to stop for traffic. Thanks!

Training update!

2010-04-27T14:31:00.003-05:00

The past weekend brought on the BALLS Ride. The BALLS Ride is the brainchild of CORPs El Presidente, Bear, and stands for Big A$$ Long Loop Shindig. We just completed the third edition of it and it's becoming bigger and bigger with every passing year. This year we had about 30 on day one with riders coming from as far away as Rochester, MN and Racine, WI.

Basically, it's a big loop spread out over 2 days; 100 miles for day 1 and about 65 miles for day 2...just about entirely on gravel. We use the Military Ridge State Trail, the Cheese Country Multi-use Trail, Sugar River State Trail, and the Badger State Trail. Throw in the unpredictable Wisconsin April weather and you've got yourself an epic ride! We stayed overnight just outside of Brodhead, WI at the Crazy Horse Campground in some really nice cabins and enjoyed an awesome dinner and beers around the campfire before the skys openend up and forced us to an early bed time.

On day 2, Kevin and I decided to get up early and head out with Doug and Rob from Racine to try to beat the crappy forecast. It worked out well...we got a little bit wet but I was home in the shower by about 12:30 PM!

Check these writeups for more info and we'll see you next year!
Balls Ride Blog
Drew from Rochester
CORP forum
Scotch's blog

By the way Scotch, that was a cookie!

Registration for 2010 is now active!

2010-04-05T09:44:00.002-05:00

Click the button to register now for the 12, 6, or 3 Hours of Blue Mound, or the 2010 Wisconsin Singlespeed Championships! Remember, entry fees for all categories increase $5 for late and day of registrations! On-line registration closes on Wednesday August 11th and mail-in registrations must be post-marked by August 7th to receive discount!

Thanks again to Zap Events for hosting the on-line registration!

New Sponsor! Gary Fisher Bicycles!

2010-03-22T11:43:00.002-05:00

Greetings everyone! I'm happy to announce a new sponsor for the 2010 12 Hours of Blue Mound and the Wisconsin State SS Championships...Gary Fisher Bikes! In the spirit of the SS Championship race, Gary Fisher is gratiously providing a 2010 Fisher Rig as a raffle prize. Thanks a ton Fisher Bikes!

Returning Sponsor - Hampton Inn & Suites!

2010-02-08T09:00:00.003-06:00

Not sure if any of you out there took advantage of our hotel sponsor's deal last year, but they are back to support us again this year. 12 Hours of Blue Mound racers and spectators can take advantage of 2-queen rooms for just $89/night at the Hampton Inn on the West side of Madison. Just click the Hampton Inn logo on the right side of this web page to be directed to our personalized booking web page. Or, give 'em a call at 608-271-0200 and use the group code "COP" (Capital Off-Road Pathfinders).

Custom Awards

2009-12-16T15:08:00.005-06:00

As you may know, we commissioned some custom awards for the 2009 running of the 12 Hours of Blue Mound. The winners of the solo 12 hour classes got to take home a trophy/end table fabricated from wood, worn-out bike parts, and authentic Blue Mound rock that you're all so familiar with. The trophies are made by a local Blue Mounds artist, woodworker, and mountain biker, Jason Williams.

Good news for 2010, we're expanding the custom awards beyond just the 12 hour solo division winners.

Here's a photo of last year's awards to give you an idea of what they look like.

Wisconsin State Single Speed Championships!

2009-12-15T09:04:00.006-06:00

That's right! For 2010, the Wisconsin Singlespeed Championship race is returning to Blue Mound State Park! The inaugural WSC was held at this venue in 2006 and it's back for 2010.

The WSC race will be held in conjunction with the 12, 6, and 3 hour races of the 12 Hours of Blue Mound on August 14, 2010.

More information and a FAQ here...

WEMS Singlespeed Championship

2010 Race Date Announced!

2009-11-30T13:01:00.002-06:00

Hey all,

It's official, the 2010 edition of the 12 Hours of Blue Mound will take place on August 14, 2010.

Go here to see the complete 2010 WEMS schedule!
Wisconsin Endurance Mountainbike Series

A Big Thanks!

2009-08-24T08:36:00.004-05:00

We'd like to thank all of our sponsors, racers, medical support crews, and volunteers for coming out to the 2009 12 Hours of Blue Mound! It was a beautiful day!

Thanks!

Thanks to Zap Event!

2009-08-20T13:54:00.002-05:00

A big thanks to Zap Event and thier staff, especially owner Jeff Wedren, for helping us get online registration up and running for the 12 Hours of Blue Mound!

Online registration offers many advantages. It allows participants to pay for your entry with credit and debit cards, if that's your preferred method of payment, and it allows us to draw on those funds before the race actually happens, giving us a means to prepare for the big day.

Other event promoters can contact Zap Event to set up online preregistration for your event at 1.866.770.3355 or support@zapevent.com

Thanks again Jeff!

Reminder! Pre-ride tonight!

2009-08-19T09:58:00.002-05:00

Just a reminder about the group pre-ride tonight at 6:00-6:30.

Start is at the top of the mound by the observation towers...not the normal start area by the swimming pool.

Get a guided lap around the 6 and 12 hour course.

A few of us may get there early enough (about 5:30) to do a lap of the 3 hour course before hand.

Weather.

2009-08-18T12:58:00.003-05:00

This is in repsonse to another comment made to the post below this one. I'm having trouble with the Blogger website and it won't let me add another comment there, so I'll do it here.

In the event of a cancellation, we will post here as soon as we know.

Keep your fingers crossed for good weather this week!

Pre-Ride Group Ride!

2009-08-14T09:15:00.003-05:00

For those of you interested in pre-riding the race course in it's entirety (including the normally off-limits to bikes Flint Rock Nature Trail), come out to the park on Wednesday evening 8-19 at 6:00PM.

The ride will be guided and swept. There is also the possibility of some grilling and adult beverage consumption afterwards. There is at least one CORP member who's weekend is starting 0n Wed and is camping at the park.

Come on out and see what's in store for you on Saturday. For those racers who have never been to BMSP, it'll give you an opportunity to decide on proper equipment for the big day!

See you Wednesday!

A note about registration

2009-08-14T09:09:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to post an answer to a comment posted below...blogger is giving me some trouble with posting comments so I'll answer your question here instead Kristi.

Registration the day of the event is completely OK, in fact, that's how most participants will register. We're hoping that the online registration with Zap Events will take off for the future of the 12 Hours of Blue Mound as well as the rest of the races in the WEMS series. Even if that doesn happen, onsite registration will still be available.

The 12 Hours of Blue Mound won't fill up early either. We're still very much a grass-roots race and race series, so there is absolutely no chance of being left out.

The date is fast approaching! Hope to see a lot of racers next Saturday!

Volunteers Needed

2009-08-11T08:03:00.003-05:00

We're getting a lot of positive feedback about the revised race course, and it sounds like we should have a great turnout this year. We want as many people as possible to come out and enjoy our event, and entering the race is the most obvious way to do that. However, if you don't want to race but do want to come out and watch the action, help out your fellow riders, and have a great time, please volunteer to help us run the event. Most volunteer positions involve sitting at a low traffic road crossing with a buddy (or many buddies) for a 4-hour shift. All you have to do is help alert racers as they approach the road if there are any cars coming. That's it, pretty easy. So shoot us an email if you can help out. Thanks!

New Race Course!!!

2009-07-27T08:30:00.002-05:00

About half of this year's race course has never been used in the race before. If you've raced or ridden here before, you are probably very familiar with the rocky terrain. However, what many people don't know is that Blue Mound State Park also has a great section of smooth, flowing trail in another area of the park. We want to show you that great trail, so it will be included this year.

It won't necessarily be easier, but it will be different. Each lap is about 8 miles long, with almost 1500ft of climbing. We expect lap times to range from 60-80 minutes.

GT Bike Raffle!

2009-07-18T06:49:00.007-05:00

Want a new mountain bike? Even better, want to win a $900 bike for as little as $5? Come on out to the 12 Hours of Blue Mound for a chance to win a GT Avalanche 1.0 in our bike raffle, courtesy of GT Bicycles right here in Madison, WI. Full bike specs can be viewed here: http://www.gtbicycles.com/usa/eng/Products/Mountain/Adventure/#5717

Online Registration Active!

2009-07-06T11:22:00.004-05:00

We're about 6 weeks away from the 12 Hours of Blue Mound! Online registration for the event is now active at Zapevents. Please click the button on the right to take you directly to the registration website.

You will also need a daily or annual Wisconsin State Trail Pass. We will be checking for these at Registration/Check-In the day of the race. If you don't have one, we can sell you one at registration. Daily is $4 and Annual is $20. (This is the same pass you need to ride at either of the Kettle Moraine trail systems.)

Erik's Bike Shop - Demo Bikes!

2009-06-16T17:03:00.005-05:00

Thank you to Erik's Bike Shop for once again coming through as a sponsor for the 12 Hours of Blue Mound. Erik's will be providing professional mechanical support to our racers free of charge. There will also be a limited number of Specialized demo bikes available. Take a break from your old steed and swing a leg over one of the best cross country race bikes around.

Product Sponsor - Planet Bike

2009-05-22T09:29:00.004-05:00

A big "Thanks!" goes out to Planet Bike, who will again be sponsoring the 12 Hours of Blue Mound with some great products for our door prizes. That's right, just sign up for our 3, 6 or 12 hour race and you are automatically entered to win some of the coolest bicycle accessories around, and all from a great local company that gives back to the cycling community. Please check out their website by clicking the logo on the right side of this page. See you in exactly 3 months!

Hotel Sponsor - Hampton Inn

2009-05-08T09:08:00.004-05:00

Hey everyone. I know most of you who plan to spend a night or two in the Madison area for the race will probably camp at Blue Mound State Park. For many, though, it is just not worth the hassle (you have small kids, you don't have camping gear, etc). For that reason we have been given a group rate at the Hampton Inn, newly built on the west side of Madison 30 minutes from the trails. King rooms start at just $79, while two-Queen rooms are $89. Please check them out if you are in need of accommodations. Just click the Hampton logo on the right side of the blog page. We get our own registration website and booking a room is very easy.
NOTE: You must book by 7/22/09.

Hammer Nutrition

2009-03-12T14:35:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone!

Spring is coming here in South Central Wisconsin! Even though it's only about 15F outside right now, it's coming I swear! Start putting in those miles outside!

We've added Hammer Nutrition as a sponsor. They sponsor the entire Wisconsin Endurance Mountain Bike Series, so let's thank them for making this masochism possible! They provide Heed for your electrolyte replacement needs and Endurolyte capsules to help you avoid cramping.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the first WEMS race coming up in only 8 weeks!

New Header!

2009-01-13T09:57:00.004-06:00

Greetings everyone,

We've added a new header to the blog (Thanks Brendan!) and are constantly trying to update the site with more information as we have it. In the meantime, take a moment to check out the links to other blogs on the right side of the page.

Pitchblack Singletrack is the race website for the other WEMS race that CORP is promoting in conjunction with the Viking Biking Club, the fine people that bring you such other events as The Horribly Hilly Hundreds, The Insane Terrain Challenge, and the Tour De Taverns. The 12 Hours of Pitchblack Singletrack is a new format for WEMS...8PM to 8AM! Charge up your lights and meet us at Cam-Rock County Park on Labor Day weekend!

Jeff Kerkove is an experienced endurance racer formerly from Iowa (now CO) with a few Blue Mound 12 hours under his belt. He does a great job of outlining the training he does for his endurance adventures.

The Prairie Peddler is a fledgling shop in Prairie du Chien, WI rapidly approaching their first anniversary. Along with bikes, the shop also showcases the local artists, music, and family-oriented events. Plus, Marty is just an all-around nice guy.

Check back often for updates and we're looking forward to seeing everyone at Blue Mound State Park on August 22!

Nater

New Website!

2009-01-03T22:38:00.001-06:00

Hey all, this will be the new official "website" for the 12 Hours of Blue Mound race. Pretty new to the blog scene so this may be slow-going at first, but we'll try to keep all pertinent race information up to date here.