While visiting with his wife’s family in Petal, Dean Blakeslee, from San Antonio, Texas, discovered the Longleaf Trace. He immediately was attracted to do a ride on November 22, but wanted a challenge to meet. He inquired of the Trail Manager as to whether a record had been kept of the time to bike from Hattiesburg to Prentiss and return. He was told that there is not such record maintained, but such a timing for a solo ride would create a challenge to others.

Dean left the Gateway in Hattiesburg at 8:15 am on November 22, 2006 and arrived in Prentiss at 10:30 am to a welcome from Mrs. Carolyn McRaney, the Prentiss appointee on the Longleaf Trace Board of Directors and Mayor Charles Dumas. After a 15 minute visit with the Mayor and Ms. Carolyn, Dean began is trek back to Hattiesburg at 10:45 am and arrived at 1:30 pm on that date.

It has been concluded by Trail Manager Herlon Pierce, that such a time for a challenge should be made available to others and a record of such time should be maintained. Therefore, Trail Manager Herlon Pierce stated that Dean Blakeslee’s time should be used as the initial challenge for a solo bike ride from Hattiesburg to Prentiss and return. It shall be known as the Dean Blakeslee Solo Round Trip Challenge time and such time will be maintained at the Gateway. As others accept the challenge and create a better time, their names will be added to the Dean Blakeslee Solo Round Trip Challenge time log.