Sam being an avid cyclist meant hours and hours of him off on his bike training as well as travel for his big races. When he first got into cycling I enthusiastically traveled with him, even taking the kids to a few of his events. For the Tour of Colorado, I naively thought we would have some quality family time, only to realize each night was in a different hotel and between the post ride recovery, the pre ride dinner, and the early morning ride preparations there wasn’t much time that he had to spare. So I thought that I would make it all about the kids and me cheering him on and planned for us to see the start, catch them in the middle somewhere he suggested, and then see the finish…think again. No matter how hard I tried to calculate the perfect spot to catch him whizzing by, we either stood there for 45 minutes waiting on a random corner or just missed them and had to try to catch them on the next spot. It always seemed like a wild goose chase, especially when you add 3-4 kids and potty training to the mix. While I am thrilled that I made the effort and that my kids got to see what daddy was training for, it was never relaxing or easy.
Being a spectator for the Pro-Am Classic is the opposite! We have designed this event with the rider and the non-rider in mind. Several of the key race elements are based around Blackberry Farm so a non-rider can enjoy their morning of exercise, farm activities, cooking, or relaxing at the Wellhouse and still catch the excitement of the finish for the day. In addition, we have a fleet of Lexus Sag vehicles for those who want to get out and see the other off property race elements. Each day the riders come back for a bountiful group lunch which is a great way to hear all about their morning adventure before you have the afternoon to enjoy together. While I am not ready to ride in the ProAm yet, myself, I certainly plan to enjoy getting out on a bike, doing some yoga, cheering on the riders, and of course connecting with everyone at the table with great wine and food. For Sam and me, the Pro-Am Classic was the ultimate in balance of hardcore exercise, relaxation, and fabulous meals with new and old friends who enjoy the same. So if you are thinking that this is just another cycling excursion, it’s not.The Blackberry Farm ProAm is really a celebration of the beauty of the Smoky Mountains – on a bike, in the cheering squad, and at the table.
