This is going to be real short.
For those that have been following our story the past week know that we have battling a team 607 from Toronto. We have traded the 4th place with them a couple of times. I was afraid they drove the nail into our coffin yesterday when they surged ahead. Instead, this morning they had slid and we were only down 56 minutes. We had the lead cut down to the high 40 minute range until we screwed up twice, lost the course, could not read a map and lost close to 30 minutes. It was demoralizing. Earlier in the day we had been scheming about a comeback plan. That talk dissipated in the talk of finding the course again. This afternoon we had great winds. Karla and Dave had pulls averaging over 21 mph. I managed to go 14 miles in the hills over 24 mph average. I finished the day with a 21 mile pull again at nearly 25 mph. To put it nicely, we kicked butt and averaged nearly 3 mph faster than team 607 between our last time stations. Our hearts are back in the race. Pete reminded us that the race starts at the Mississippi. Pretty crazy - a 3000 mile race and the beginning of the "race" should really begin at mile 2000. We should finish at or before 7:00 pm tomorrow night. We are going to throw everybody at it tomorrow. It should be interesting to see what people's legs can do with so much accumulated fatigue in them. We are thinking 607 is cracking and they were really demoralized the last time we passed them.
Game is on - I need to get to bed for a 4 hour nap. I am headed out at midnight to help with the mountain climbs in West Virginia.
Karla is getting so strong and I am so proud of her. She is an animal on the bike - the girls in SD better watch out when she comes back and races the duathlons.
Off to bed. The 2 Tylenol PM are kicking in.
If I don't post tomorrow night by 8:30 EDT, check the RAAM website for the outcome.
NJB
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.
Monday, June 16, 2008
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7 comments:
Hang in there! Sounds like you are down to the wire! Love you much.
mom
Sounds like you have had quite a day. Hang in there and finish strong!
love,
mom
I am SO proud of you two and your team! Keep up the great work and good luck in the final legs. Can't wait to see you! Nothin but love, nean
Sounds like you have had a great race. I will look for your times into Annapolis. Keep safe - talk later.
dad
Drop the hammer and pass those punks....
GREAT JOB NICK, KARLA AND THE REST OF THE TEAM!!
I've been following along and it looks like you are in shouting distance of Annapolis at this point.
Can't wait to hear about the experience when you get back to San Diego.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
I can't wait to hear all about your race!
Safe travels!
See you soon!
WAY TO GO!!!
nean
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