It was a relay...the day before the race a 68 year old buddy asked me if I wanted to do it. Originally I'd hoped to find a 4 person/6 hour team to join, but thought, what the heck, it will be fun for the experience!

So I took the first lap, JD took the 2nd, then I did the 3rd, JD the 4th...and he came limping back to the start maybe 40 minutes later with a busted chain. I did lap 5 and then another lap a while later for sh!ts-n-giggles. I was never in it for a real race and JD didn't even want to do another one after his 1st, but other people talked him into it.

It was the most miles I've ever done on a mountain bike for actual mountain biking--about 16. I fell on the first 4 mile loop, but not at all after. I did have to get off my bike to let faster riders through a lot and there were a few spots where I didn't have enough momentum to get up short, steep, loose spots. Someday...

At the start -- I started dead last, so that no one would pass me. Forgetting that all the solo folks would start after the teams.
Starting my 2nd leg, maybe...my bike is really too small for me.
Unflattering photo!
Kinda kickass photo
Coming down the other side of that steep hill we start on...oh, I was gasping like mad!

Next year I hope to do it again, with 1 or 3 other people (there are categories for 1, 2, and 4 riders. 6 hours or 12. The 12 hour folks ride until midnight. I'm not sure I'll ever feel comfortable riding in the woods after dark, like that. I get vertigo really easily after a few ear infections in the past, so I'm thinking that could seriously mess with me.