18 Hours of Fruita

Here we are again: Back to Fruita for the epic 18-hour race. This year was a hot one! The daytime temperatures hovering near 80 and the nighttime lows in the high-40's, maybe. For the cheering section, there was a nice strong wind to keep us cool. Unfortunately for the racers that wind only added to the already tough laps around Highline Lake.

Billy, Ken, Rob and Ben made up the Natural Grocer team this year. Ben formed the four-man Natural Grocer team with a couple of the old 18 Hour racers and another of his N.G. teammates. And a highlight for me in my second year at the race, Gina and Tracey (Billy and Ken's significant others) came along for the weekend!

Ben's Race Series:

Here's Higgins. He was Ben's biggest fan out there. It seems he could pick Ben out in the distance and his eyes would not leave his path until B. passed us. Then it was a tug of war with the leash to try and catch Dad. Oh, he was so excited!

 Back at camp:

The team and race support hiding in the shade.

Tracey and Squiggy (AKA Dog That Doesn't Leave Tracey's Lap)

Ken starting the grill with a blow torch.  Blow torch courtesy of the neighboring camp.

Ben, grilling.

Relaxing after the race!

A little before six pm, the Natural Grocer team finished the race and immediately joined the crowd at the finish line cheering in the last of the finishers. The team was pretty pleased with their race; Natural Grocers placed 11th out of 31 four-man teams and all raced pretty solid laps. To Ben's surprise and delight, he was the fastest man!

Congrats to the team and to you, Ben! Another great year of racing begins.