Blues Cruise registration continues to go well. The guaranteed swag deadline is September 1, 2026. Online registration will close on September 28, 2026, at midnight. Race-day registration will be available, but race swag is not available for anyone registering after September 1.
Our next group run will be August 15, Skinner’s Loop (6ish miles), with the option to add Ski Loop (13ish miles total). See our Facebook page for the event details. September’s training run will be Saturday, 9/12, running from the Lower Stilling Basin to Old Church Road. More details to follow on our Facebook page.
We’ll follow up the Justa Fatass training run with a run that will be entirely on the Blues Cruise course. We’ll meet at the Old Church Road parking lot (porta potties available) and run a lollipop route to the Skinner’s loop. This run is a 10k. For those looking for a longer run, it is easy to add the ski loop directly on, making a half-marathon run. All of these miles are on the actual BC course, and we’ll get a nice mix of terrain, especially those doing both loops. We will have at least 2 pace groups, more if numbers allow. Please bring a hydration belt or vest and needed nutrition. Insect repellent is a good idea too!
NOTE: This run is a group run open to ANYONE who is up for it. You don’t have to be registered for the Blues Cruise race (or a club member) to run with us—just show up!
Mark your calendars for a Blues Cruise training run July 11, 6AM-noon (must start final loop by 11AM) at the Justa Road Parking lot off Brownsville Road https://maps.app.goo.gl/X2BtCtGWR8zHN1j5A .
We are looking at a 5 mile, figure 8-ish loop with about 700 feet of climbing. This event will be a fatass-style run, meaning it is an informal gathering in which participants bring snacks to share and there is no registration or awards.
We’ll have cold water and Gatorade and mark the loop. You arrive anytime during the event (as long as you start your final loop by 11AM) and run it as many times as you like!
The beauty of this system is runners of all paces can enjoy a long run together at their own speed, while intersecting each other multiple times during the event.
Bragging rights available to those who complete the most loops or distinguish themselves in any other way that catches our fancy! The picture is the TENTATIVE course we are considering. Don’t miss out on the chance to see the mysterious Fugawi Aid Station location before race day!
***THERE ARE NO REST ROOM FACILITIES AT JUSTA ROAD. Nearest bathroom is at State Hill Boat Ramp; plan on stopping there on your way in. Bring a snack to share, hydration vest or belt, reusable cup, lawn chair, and some dry clothes if you don’t want to leave sweaty.
If you’re training for this year’s Blues Cruise 50k, or if you just want to get in some weekend trail runs out at Blue Marsh Lake, be sure to put these dates on your calendar. Details coming soon!
July 11–Justa Fatass, Justa road lot, 5 mile loops
August 15–Skinner’s Loop, option to add ski loop, Old Church Road lot, 6 or 13 miles
September 12–Lower Stilling Basin to Old Church Road lot, ~14 miles
And if you haven’t done so already, be sure to join the Blues Cruise Facebook group for race-related news and updates!
The 20th anniversary of the Blues Cruise Ultra is October 5, 2025!
This event features both the classic 50k solo race and the newer 50k relay option!
Lots has been going on at race headquarters! By the time you read this, we will have over 200 runners registered for the 50K, plus at least 12 relay teams!
As always, we are in need of lots of help. Volunteers are needed for trail maintenance the week before the race, and for course marking on October 4th. There are lots of opportunities to help out from 6am-6 pm on race day, including post-race cleanup and pre-race course check. While some volunteers devote their whole day to helping out, shifts are available for those who can only spare a couple hours! Please log onto UltraSignUp and click the VOLUNTEER Tab and pick the assignments that interest you: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=123699
If volunteering for an aid station, please put your preference in the comments (or Elaine can place you where there is a need). Any questions, please contact Elaine Cook directly: bluescruiserd@gmail.com.
Instead of offering our normal “Weekend 10-Miler,” the Pacers encourage you to check out the Blues Cruise Training Run at Blue Marsh Lake on Saturday, September 6.
We will meet at the Lower Stilling Basin lot at 7:30 a.m. and carpool to the Old Church Road lot so that we can run point-to-point on the Blues Cruise course starting about 8 a.m. The run is almost 16 miles, with 1,600 feet of elevation gain. Runners can easily shorten it to just under 14 miles by skipping the Skinner’s Loop portion, and of course adding miles is easy too. Please comment on the Facebook Event if you need suggestions. Bring water and nutrition! Great day to dial in your race-day gear!
Instead of offering our normal “Weekend 10-Miler,” the Pacers encourage you to check out the Blues Cruise Training Run at Blue Marsh Lake on Sunday, August 10.
This group run is open to everyone–not just registered participants of the Blues Cruise race.
The event will start at 8 a.m. We’ll meet at the Old Church Road parking lot (porta potties available) and run a lollipop route featuring Skinner’s loop. This run is a10k.
For those looking for a longer run, it is easy to add the ski loop directly on, for a half-marathon distance. All of these miles are on the actual Blues Cruise course, and we’ll get a nice mix of terrain, especially for those doing both loops. We will have at least 2 pace groups, more if numbers allow. Please bring a hydration belt or vest and needed nutrition. Insect repellent is a good idea too!
Instead of offering our normal “Weekend 10-Miler,” the Pacers are organizing two different Fat-Ass style group runs in July!
The first will be organized by the Blues Cruise race directors as a training run for the October ultramarathon.
Please note: this run is open to EVERYBODY–not just registered Blues Cruise participants.
The event will take place from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. (must start final loop before 11 a.m.) on Saturday, July 12 at the Justa Road trailhead at Blue Marsh.
We are looking at a 5-mile figure 8-ish loop with about 700 feet of climbing. This event will be an informal, “fat-ass” style run, in which participants bring snacks to share and there is no registration or awards. We’ll have cold water and Gatorade and mark the loop. You arrive anytime during the event (as long as you start your final loop by 11 a.m.) and run it as many times as you like! We added time to this year’s event by popular demand.
The beauty of this system is runners of all paces can enjoy a long run together at their own speed, while intersecting with each other at multiple times during the event. Bragging rights available to those who complete the most loops or distinguish themselves in any other way that catches our fancy!
***THERE ARE NO RESTROOM FACILITIES AT JUSTA ROAD. Nearest bathroom is at State Hill Boat Ramp; plan on stopping there on your way in. Bring a snack to share, hydration vest or belt, reusable cup, lawn chair, and some dry clothes if you don’t want to leave sweaty.
This year the Triple Trail Challenge Starter Pack has been added for runners who complete The Dirty Pony 5k, Run for the Ages 10k, and a relay leg at Blues Cruise.
Finally, we’re planning special swag for our 20th anniversary, so stay alert and keep training!
The club is going to hold the Triple Trail Challenge 50.3 again for 2025.
Last year exceeded our expectations for how many people would attempt to run The Charlie Horse Trail Half Marathon, the Run For the Ages 10K Trail Chase, and the Blues Cruise 50K Trail Ultramarathon.
We listened to some of the feedback from runners, and one of the changes we made for this year is to allow runners to register for all three races at once on UltraSignUp.com.
With one discounted registration, you will be registered for all three races in the Challenge.
Not ready to commit to all three races? Runners will still have the option of registering for each race individually, and (assuming they finish all three), they will still be able to complete the Challenge.
The Triple Trail Starter Pack is designed for runners new to trail running. The Starter Pack is also a three-race series that will introduce runners to a wide variety of trail races without having to commit to some of the long-distance challenges of the Triple Trail Challenge 50.3. The series starts with the Dirty Pony 5K, moves on to the Run For the Ages 10K Trail Chase, and finishes with the one of the Blues Cruise Relay legs. (Please note that the relay leg must be completed as a member of a registered relay team.)
Discounted registration for the whole series is also on the Triple Trail Ultrasignup page. And like the Challenge, runners do not have to commit to the series; the option of registering for each race individually is still available.
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