Yesterday we started off our last weekend training ride by meeting at the Bonsall Church for pictures. Then we rode our usual warm up - West Lilac to the 395. We did a timed ride down the hill and then a timed 1.5 mile effort back up the 395 to see how we have improved. Nick finished at 7:10 min. under his 8 minute goal. I finished at 9:51 under my 10 minute goal. Nick improved 1:05 min. and I improved 1:37 min. Next we road back down West Lilac to see how we improved on our flat 8.4 mile TT effort. Nick improved 1:43 min. finishing at 25.2 mph and I improved 2:15 min. finishing at 20.4 mph. Pretty good results for our 16 week training program.
Today was the start for men solo RAAM riders, 24 hour challenge, and solo Race Across the West (i.e. 1st 1,000 of the RAAM course). Nick and I rode up to Oceanside to see the start and ride in the parade. We met several of our teammates. Pete and his wife Joanne, Jim and his wife Diane, and Frank and his wife Leslie rode their tandems. It was a great experience and we now know what to expect on Wednesday. Nick and I joined everyone as we rode the first 13 miles of the course to the start line. We watched the start until Jure Robic started who is going for his 4th RAAM win. Then we proceeded home to fuel up.
Nick is busy preparing for the week by marking our belongings with blue tape, so they don’t get lost. I should close and help. Tonight we are going to go to bed early to gradually work into our changed sleep schedule for the race. It will be an early morning tomorrow. We are going to go to work early and leave early to get a ride in and continue packing.
What this is all about -
You may ask why are we signed up and trained for such a race. For our team, RAAM is not just a Race Across AMerica, it is a race to better our community. Our charity is North Coast Community Service (NCCS), which teams with 11 nonprofit organizations in San Diego County to make a difference in people’s lives. In the past 12 months, 5,500 NCCS volunteers have completed over 450 unique service projects. There is a broad spectrum of support which include the following: feeding and providing shelter for the homeless, assistance to a drug and alcohol recovery program, a home for people disabled by HIV/AIDS, support of military families by providing: financial support, home improvements, baby supplies, childcare, and counseling, outreach to nursing home residences, help to pregnant teenagers and adult women, help for homeless kids, and non-profit resale for foster children. This is just a short summary of the help provided by the organization we are raising money to support. If you feel compelled to join us on our journey and support making a difference in this world, you can make a tax-deductible contribution to our team. Please follow this link Support NCCS RAAM 2008.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Show the guys how it's done.
Post a Comment