NSV: Involvement in an Amazing Project

Many of us post NSVs (Non-Scale Victories for the new to the forum) here from time-to-time, and I thought I'd share something that I'm becoming a part of as result of my VSG and subsequent weight-loss and exercise.

I had surgery in June 2012, had great luck and proceeded quickly to my goal weight without much drama.  I arrived at goal late November 2012. I started cycling a few months earlier, and kept going in-doors with the help of some motivational videos.  By January I was looking for more, and I found a great deal on a new road bike.  The salesman mentioned that they did spin classes, using your own bike, at the store, and I should check it out.  So I did... I met Coach Bob, who led the classes.  I signed on to be one of his coachees right away.  He's about my age (mid/late 50s) and really led a tough but fun class that was very oriented to getting in shape for the summer cycling season (as opposed to traditional "spin" classes that are an end-in-themselves).  We laid out a plan to get me ready for some 100 mile rides which I completed successfully last year.

Over the past year I got to know Bob a bit better, and he started talking about doing a crazy thing.  The Race Across America. 

It's included on just about every list of "toughest events on the planet" and is ranked #1 on many.  One of their slogans is: “more people have reached the summit of Mt Everest than have successfully completed RAAM as a solo racer.” So Bob has got his hands full.  Bob qualified by riding in several long-distance races including the Minnesota RAAM Challenge (400 miles in about 27 hours) and the Furnace Creek 508 (500+ miles in about 36 hours) as a solo racer.  His chances of successfully completing RAAM, based on historical stats is about 50-50.      http://www.raceacrossamerica.org   Bob has asked me to be the crew chief during his RAAM Attempt and so I will taking two weeks off of work in June, to be along for the full thing.  If you’re curious, here’s a 45 minute Brittish TV documentary about a "regular guy" from the UK who attempted the race:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eajqrrTtCvg   While the race is interesting, Bob’s overarching goal is to raise awareness and funds for a very worthy cause, the Minnesota Military Family Foundation:  http://www.minnesotamilitaryfamilyfoundation.org/   A little about the race…

The Race Across America, or RAAM, is an ultramarathon bicycle race across the United States that started in 1982.

RAAM is among the best-known and longest annual endurance events in the world. All entrants must prove their abilities by competing in any of several qualifying events, completing a course within a specified time period. RAAM is sanctioned by the UltraMarathon Cycling Association (UMCA).

RAAM has been compared to the Tour de France, but the races differ to a great extent. The courses of both races have varied over the years. However, in the Race Across America, the direction has always been from the west coast to the east coast of the United States, approximately 3,000 miles (4,800 km), making it a transcontinental event. More importantly, the race has no stages, i.e., it is in principle a non stop event from start to finish, with the fastest competitors needing slightly over a week to complete the course. By contrast, the Tour de France features a different route each year (alternating between clockwise and counterclockwise circuits around France) and is about 2,300 miles long; the distance is divided into individual daily stages spread over the course of about 3 weeks and contested at much higher speeds.

Last year’s solo winner finished the 3,000 mile journey in about 7 days, 20 hours, setting a new record.  The solo riders have an absolute time limit of 12 days... 

———   Obviously the demands on the crew are high.  It’s a 24x7 operation for 8+ people in three vehicles as we follow the racer across the US for 3000 miles providing support for roughly 10-12 days.  The rider typically is on the bike 20 or more hours per day.  Of course some falter and drop out much earlier.     I can certainly say that without the VSG I would not be going on this journey!  It will be quite an adventure, I'm sure.   When people ask me if I'd do the VSG again, I can point to opportunities and adventures like this and say "Hell yeah!"   As we get closer, I'll post a list of towns that we'll go through in June... maybe you can come out and cheer us on as we go by!   Tom

 

Awesome!  It should be very rewarding to be involved in something like this!

Please do let us know your itinerary! And, if you are anywhere near Atlanta, I will try to be there!

Laurie

Basic route is Oceanside CA, to Flagstaff, AZ to Durango, CO, then across Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and into Annapolis, MD for the finish... full map here:

https://www.raceacrossamerica.org/userfiles/file/RAAM2014%20 Picture(preliminary).pdf

 

That is the long way across! Very cool though...

Very cool! If you are anywhere close to Chattanooga, I'll be there with a sign! I actually wouldn't be surprised if it did come close to Chatt. We are HUGE in the biking scene. Lots of high-profile time trials are held here. 

If the race comes through any place that we can get to in reasonable time, we'd love to come cheer on your friend.

Starting point is on June 10, in Oceanside, CA...  then from there to Lake Henshaw, Brawley, Blythe, and then into AZ...

Your the perfect guy for this.....

I have seen how you figure things out and take a very calculated and logical approach to things....with full commitment ....

frisco

WOW!   What a great opportunity!    This surgery is truly life changing! 

Before surgery, could you ever have dreamed this? 

ENJOY THE RIDE!!