Trail Blazer

>>Connie Kurash’s business is helping people recover from injuries, so it might seem strange that her idea of fun is mountain biking—a sport that leaves more than a few devotees bruised and battered.

"When I first started I had bruises all the time when I showed up for work," admits the occupational therapist and certified hand therapist. Kurash, who turns 47 this month, took up mountain biking in 1991 when she lived in Pittsburgh. She competes now in the expert women’s class and looks forward to the six-hour endurance races.

Kurash thought she’d have to give up mountain biking when she moved to Florida, but she discovered "a whole community of mountain bikers" and found that Florida’s flatland wilderness has its own challenges and opportunities.

Kurash is now president of the Florida Mudcutters Inc., a mountain-biking group that builds and rides trails locally at Lee County’s Caloosahatchee Regional Park. "We call it the little hidden treasure," she says. "We see a lot of deer and bobcats. I’ve seen a mom, dad and a couple kittens." The park has 10 miles of biking trails, with areas for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders.

When she joined the club about five years ago, she says, "The original people were burned out. Everyone wants to use the bike trail, but it was the same six who did all the work."

Since she became president, the Mudcutters adopted bylaws, incorporated and, working with the county, expanded the trails at the park. Kurash volunteered nearly 325 hours last year maintaining county bike trails.

She rides at least four times a week. "You get addicted to it and then you don’t want to get out of shape so you can’t keep up with your friends." Plus, she adds, "Because I ride so much I get tendinitis, so I have to cross-train—I have to jog."