Mike Across America

Wow – its been over a month since RAAM. I must be having fun because time has been flying by. Physically I’m getting back to normal. I still have numbness in my middle toe on my left foot, but other then that no lingering effects. My training is going well.  I feel like I have been getting stronger in the last week or so, instead of just going through the motions. I’ve had some really good rides the last 7-10 days with some big rides (200+ miles this Thursday) planned in the next two weeks. Then I’ll taper for the GutCheck double crossing of the state (824 miles) August 11-15. I don’t have anything planned as far as races after that, which is good I think. My mind doesn’t have to subconsciously plan for anything else.

Mentally, RAAM still weighs on me. I know I need to “let it go” and I slowly am. But like any “lost” opportunity, its been hard. After all the planning, training, promotional work and then to walk away with a bit of an empty feeling -  hurts. I know – quit your crying and get on with things! We had a lot of fun doing all the preparation and the fund raising we did for our two charities was fantastic. The crew was great and everyone enjoyed the adventure as long as it lasted and we made many new friends and learned so much. Such is life – no guarantees. but do your best and don’t look back. Easier said then done.

We got back home on Wednesday, June 23.  I was off the bike for 10 days after I stopped on June 12.  I rode on Wednesday night with Jason Cox – a nice 40 mile ride and then did 50 miles on Thursday.  My legs/quads are still a bit sore, so no hard efforts – just riding.  Today I got in 75 miles and it felt pretty good.  Now I will  ease back into training and plan on racing the Gutcheck “to hell and back” division – across the state of SD and then back again in less then 96 hours.  That race is slated for August 11-15.  I’ve received many notes of support and encouragement since dropping out of RAAM and I really appreciate them.  I’ve reviewed what happened many times and with the benefit of hindsight, would make some changes if I do something like RAAM again.  Here is an example of the encouragement I’ve received.

“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze that should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, that a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.” Jack London

“It must be borne that the tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disaster to be unable to capture your ideal, but it is a disaster to have no ideal to capture. It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but is is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. Not failure, but low aim is sin.”  Benjamin Mays

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the [person] who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

Theodore Roosevelt
“Citizenship in a Republic,”
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

We made it to Annapolis yesterday. 3000 miles in less then 12 days – unfortunately not all on the bike! We did enjoy following the race and cheering on the riders that were still riding. The DNF – did not finish list – continues to grow. Only 1 of the 6 riders in the 50-59 age group (my group) made it to the finish. In this years RAAM race, over half of the riders who started (30) will not finish. This race is brutal. It makes me more determined to address the issues (saddle, mouth, dehydration) and plan another attempt. My crew tells me they would do it again. Right now I’m planning to attempt the “To hell and back” division of the gutcheck race this summer. That race is 824 miles in 4 days or less back and again across the state of SD (gutcheck212.com). It would give me a chance to work on the issues that knocked me out of RAAM. Stay tuned.

We (Karen, Kallie, Nancy, Harvey, Anita, and me) are following the race course trying to encourage/support the riders who are still riding. We are approaching the 32nd time station in Camdenton, MO. Amy Xu is just ahead of us somewhere. She is a friend of ours from Minnesota. All the riders seemed cheered and encouraged by our support. They typically smile and give a friendly wave. I’m envious of them for being able to continue on. Now that my physical issues (sore mouth, bottom, legs) are feeling better I want to get back on my bike!!
I’m very encouraged by the many notes of support/encouragement I’ve received. I really have not second guessed my decision to stop – I did not have a choice! – but I do second guess many of the decisions I made in my race strategy. I will change these things in future ultra bike races. I’m looking forward to visiting with some of the riders as we go, to learn how they have been able to overcome the difficulties they have faced.
UPDATE: We just passed through Time Station 32 in Camdenton, Missouri. Time Station Manager Eric Johnston is a great guy. His sister lives in Yankton, SD, and Eric is also a South Dakota native. Nice visit at McDonalds!

Before RAAM, we read books, we watched videos, we read blogs of other RAAM riders.
Before RAAM, we studied elevation maps, we studied the terrain, we studied reports on hydration, nutrition, muscle fatigue, and sleep deprivation.
We thought we knew what RAAM was.
We thought we knew how hard RAAM was.
We thought we knew what we were getting into.
We knew nothing.

There is a reason this is considered “the toughest bike race in the world.” I have seen some really tough folks, but Mike is by far the toughest person I’ve ever known – heart and body. Mike gave this ride everything he had and then some.

You’ve heard people say, “You just had to be there.” I gotta tell you – This is one of those times – You just had to be there. Even the elevation maps that look impossible don’t tell the whole story.

A fellow RAAM rider commented on one of Mike’s blog posts that the way you train for RAAM is by trying it. Another said that his trek of 743 miles was his RAAM training ride. Will Mike attempt RAAM again? Maybe. We are all more enlightened…we all know a little more. Every day, every night, every minute at RAAM is an education for the rider and the crew.

Mike didn’t finish RAAM, and in the official stats he is listed as a DNF (did not finish). In my book, that stands for “Did Nothing Fatal.”

Some people might say Mike “failed” to finish RAAM. Technically, that is true. But he finished his own first RAAM…all 743 miles of it…and that was just part of his successful RAAM ride.

Mike was a success when he raised $30,000 for the Sanford Cardiovascular Research Center and the Dick Beardsley Foundation.
Mike was a success when 13 people who believed in him and his cause were honored to join his crew.
Mike was a success when he was waiting on that podium in Oceanside at the start – before he pedaled his first stroke.
Mike was a success when he rode 743 miles.

How you do anything is how you do everything. Mike rode RAAM like he lives his life.

Jack London wrote, “I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”

Mike gave 100% on every inch of those 743 miles.

It was an honor to serve Mike on this piece of his journey. Should he decide someday to go back to RAAM for another attempt, I will be the first one to sign on as his crew.

Thanks, Mike – we are all better people for having been on this leg of your journey with you.

Jenny

My race ended today – Muscle fatigue in my quads from getting dehydrated on day 2 and then climbing mountains on day 3.  On day 4 my quads locked up to the point that I could not get up the climbs in the last 100 miles today. I rode a total of 743 miles in the last 4 days. I’m disappointed to have to stop but I needed to be in Durango, CO by 12:34am EST tonight and since I could not get up the climbs after Mexican Hat, AZ we had to call it.

Do I have any regrets about this whole endeavor? No way! This was a great challenge for me and I’m very satisfied with my effort. I gave it 100%.  We raised some money for two great causes and that’s always a good thing.

My crew did a great job and kept me going as long as I did.  And thanks again to the sponsors who helped make all this possible.

I hope you have enjoyed following this “journey”.  I know I did.

Mike has left Tuba City, but we got a few shots of him on his way up to Flagstaff (the toughest part of the course West of the Mississippi). Looking good powering up that mountain!!!

Waiting for Mike to come around the hairpin curve, Karen and Dick are so grateful to be here with Mike on his journey.

Each hill is harder than the one before. Climbing is relentless, but he is as tough as it gets.

What better way is there to tour America than in support of a friend aspiring to fulfill a dream? Here Rich and I sit in some of the most splendiferous wilderness this country has to offer awaiting Mike’s arrival as he ascends the STEEP mountain switchbacks into Flagstaff, AZ. His effort is valiant ~ his performance awe-inspiring. Thank you, Mike for inviting us to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure: your first RAAM. You da man!!