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Last Updated: Jun 10th, 2008 - 22:13:29 |
On December 15th 2007, Sports Psychologist and personal trainer Alan Heary asked the question……What would happen if he took a group of leisure cyclists and fitness enthusiasts and gave them access to the best coaches trainers, and facilities normally only available to Irelands elite and challenged them to complete the toughest cycle race in the World – The Race Across America (RAAM).
This year the race begins on June 11th in Oceanside California and will eventually end in the state capital of Minneapolis, Annapolis a distance of 3018 miles.
After auditions and fitness tests were conducted with over forty applicants only thirteen were chosen to take part in the project. The following five months consisted of gruelling training in sometimes freezing and stormy conditions over punishing terrain cycling at night as well as day. This pushed them to physical, mental and emotional fatigue.
Only four were finally selected for Ireland’s Navan Avonmore team, which will be the Irish contingent in this year’s race. They are Stephen McManmon, Alan Duffy, Colm Laverty and Adrian McNally.
The team is being managed by PJ Nolan (former president of Cycling Ireland) coached by Padraig Marrey and with Alan Heary as director and motivator.
What makes this challenge unique is that these guys have never raced before taking up the test.
They all have full time jobs but their determination and dedication to the project has been so great that improvements have been phenomenal and instead of just aiming to finish this race they are now looking at breaking the Irish record set in 2005 by a team lead by Kenny Dunlop called Team care 4 kids, they completed the RAAM in 7days 12hours 40mins.
In the process the team will be raising much needed funds for Irish Children’s Charity, The Bubblegum Club.
The California mountains, Arizonian Desert, Colorado Rockies, Plains of Kansas, Missouri, Indianapolis, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland & Appalachian Mountains or only a few of the challenges on this savage event.
A documentary is also being filmed which follows the team from auditions to finish line. To view a 4 minute promo about the project visit www.siriusbroadcast.com/raam
Details of Race
The Race Across America: The World’s Toughest Bicycle Race
“Your deepest dreams – you’re worst and best character, everything shows up in this week.” – Reinhard Hormann, Team Harreither Heizsysteme/ Vav Versicherung (Germany) – 1st Place, RAAM 2003
Created in 1982, the Race Across America (RAAM) is now the longest running ultra-distance bicycle endurance competition in the world. In RAAM the gun fires somewhere on the West Coast (Oceanside, CA in 2007) and the finishing line is on the other side of the continent. It covers over 3000 miles through 15 states and riders climb over 100,000 feet in their quest to win the race. Unlike the Tour de France where riders spend 3 weeks covering a similar distance, good teams expect to complete this race in less than six days travelling at an average speed of 23mph. Riders must ride through the night and get some sleep while their team mates push on.
The Race Across America is about generating maximum wattage paced over day and night riding, delicately balanced with managing pain, sleep and nutrition. Overcoming fatigue and correct nutritional intake are the defining features of the competition in RAAM, and these are what make the event so unusually difficult. Athletes push body and sinew to points far beyond anything they thought themselves capable of – and emerge from the race with a newfound sense of their own capability. Riders consume 6,000-8,000 calories a day of food and take in 3 – 4 gallons of fluid.
The race format is essentially a time trial: also called “against the clock” racing, and “the race of truth”, this means no ‘drafting,’ or taking shelter from the wind behind any vehicles. Team riders may draft off their team mates, but not other teams.
The rider on the road must have a support vehicle following immediately behind from dusk until dawn. This is optional during daylight hours, but most riders prefer the security and motivation it provides. For the support crews, RAAM is almost as difficult as it is for the riders. Crew members’ hours are similar to those of the riders themselves, and crews must juggle driving duties, navigation, and restocking supplies. They also provide medical assistance, morale support and motivation to riders, as well as tend to their bodies and equipment during rest stops.
There are no discreet stages in the race. There are 55 Time Stations, spaced approximately 50 miles apart. On arriving at a Time Station, the rider’s crew is obliged by the rules to call HQ to state the team’s arrival. This way the HQ is able to track the progress and status of the teams.
In 24 years the race has been aired on ABC Wide World of Sports, ESPN, OLN, NBC, BBC and many other stations around the world. The Race Across America endures due to its amazing effect on the human consciousness and for its incredible feats of willpower, skill, and heart.
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If you would like to email the team and wish them luck in the event please do. Email at usacycle2008@gmail.com.
If you would like to support the team in their fund raising efforts please text "bubbles" to 57848 - Texts cost €2 - Click Here to find out about the BubbleGum Club
Please support our team attempt to break the Irish record and raise funds for the Children's charity
Blog by Niall Shanley
3-6-08
4 Days until the Team arrives in America
With only 4 days until we arrive in America for the pre race set up, the team has kicked into the top gear.
The cyclists are and have been steadfast in their training, diet and focus of the mind. From the daily training of pushing themselves to the peek of fitness, to the ensuring that their diet feeds the demands.
The support crew and management of the team have ensured the steady build up of momentum for this athletic endevor. Planning every focused step in training, and setting out the way all of us will function to the utmost of our ability throughout the race.
Tonight the entire team with all support crew, will meet and discuss all preparation. We will be going through all relevant aspects and including a run through of the route.
6-6-08
Day before America
The bags are packed, the laptops are charged and all team members are meeting up at 5am for a bus journey to Dublin airport.
Simon and Alan left for the USA yesterday and we will meet up with them in Oceanside. This is our team:
Team Management
Alan Heary
PJ Nolan
Padraig Marry
Cyclists
Adrian McNally
Alan Duffy
Colm Laverty
Steve Mc Menamin
Support Crew
Simon O'Dea
Brendan Heery
Declan Seery
Matt Smith
Ian McGovern
Niall Shanley
The updates will have more details when we are in America, so til then ....
7-6-08
DAY 1
First off, we all arrived safe and well to America and our accomodation in Oceanside.
Big salute to Lorraine who played a stormer at the airport, ensuring all of us got checked in on time. It really allowed us to pass smoothly through to boarding as everything was really well organised. Most of us got a short rest on the plane over as the plane didn't have it's full complement of passengers. So some seats became beds.
As such we have been on the go since 5:00 am until 23:00 last night, so tiredness was kicking in.
The RV was picked up by Alan and Simon today. The guys met us in LAX Airport and we went on to collect the support vehicles which will tail the cyclists in support mode. Two large people carriers with satelite navigation to help us. Alan got a gift off the RV rental company (a hat) as they realised it was his birthday. After getting both vehicles, PJ took the reigns in one for the journey, with Brendan in navigation, the end product of this was a land speed record attempt to Oceanside…
The other support vehicle was a little further back travelling in convoy with the RV. They arrived soon after us.
The accomodation is really nice, and the benefit of a fridge and microwave in our room will allow us to have freezing cold water on tap for all.
The time over here is 8:45am (in Ireland 16:45) and last night we went for a meal and shopped at Wal-Mart for our supplies. Alan Heary's birthday was celebrated with a little cream cake with a cherry on top as we had no candles. A large group of mad Irishmen singing happy birthday to him was entertainment to us. But surprisingly no one else in the full restaurant joined in for some strange reasons…
We are had a great sleep and some are still wedged in there beds. But no doubt the smell of waffles will cause some to wake from their slumber.
Cya tomorrow.
Niall
Morning of 8th
We all got up early today, with an all you can eat breakfast included in our board. A great choice of the American Danishes and other pastry gut fillers lined the glass cabinet with other cereals. Simon was daring enough to use the waffle maker but unfortunately for us knew of the fact that you must use a oil spray (as we watched with some hope of a smoke filled breakfast room).
Some of the crew (Matt, Ian, Brendan and Padraig) went on a 5 kilometres run down to the pier and back. We (Alan, PJ, Simon and I) met them on our way down to purchase some safety equipment. We ended up searching a number of outlets for an Orange amber light and some other parts, as we were let down on some equipment coming through for us. But the guys in RAAM were understanding and with a quick chat on our predicament they offered to help us locate our much needed equipment.
This was once the Solo riders had set off. If you open up www.raceacrossamerica.org, there is footage of this start and to the right of the starting guys you will see some distinctly Irish guys watching.
Next on the agenda was some lunch as time had progressed to around that time. We jumped into the vehicles and made our way to the centre of Oceanside to a nice Italian restaurant. The shock of seeing 13 hungry Irish men meant the waiter told everyone else who came in for a while that the place was closed (he told us the chef was arriving now). 1 hour later we had our food as in front of us, any later and the Chinese restaurant across the way was going to receive some hungry customers. About an hour later, Padraig took the guys out for a spin across the area to stretch their legs out.
They seemed very happy to be getting back out on the bikes as it was the first time they had been on the vehicles since Ireland. Some good pictures were taken of the Racers when they returned and I will upload these when we can get the lead for our cameras.
Dinner time
Just before dinner the Racers arrived back, looking like they had really enjoyed the feeling of being back on their bikes. The X bikes which the guys are using are incredible. More future tech space age than present day propulsion.
On the group travels we had spotted an all you can eat Chinese restaurant about 5 minutes walk from the accommodation. Needless to say everyone was feeling the hunger and the proverbial gauntlet was slung down, for us all to imitate the humming bird and to eat our weight in food in one sitting. With a close unofficial race, I think the Mayo man piped it with the sixth plate.
The place was not full when we arrived, but the waitress was still running in and out of the restaurant refilling the buffet trays..it must have seemed an uphill battle for the girl. But she managed well and we all tipped well at the end. Once 3 or four (or six) stacked plates had been devoured and the pride of lions known as the Irish team all lay back in the chairs Alan, PJ and Padraig took this time to have a meeting on our schedule of the next couple of days formalities for RAAM.
Tiredness crept in and the return to the accommodation was proposed, seconded and carried. Only a short stop for vitamins and other essentials in the pharmacy being needed.
Simon and I on returning to the accommodation attempted to get the Satellite navigation working but unfortunately this was not as productive as was thought. It would reset every time we updated the downloaded GPRS file. So PJ is going to ask for some help from RAAM today (9-8-08). Bed was a welcome sight and was duly used.
9-6-08
It is 5:30 am over here and Simon, Declan, Alan and I are travelling down the freeway to LA to organise the putting of drivers onto the insurance for the RV. If the banter and slagging are anything to go by from now, this trip will not be something a person who is easily offended should ever think of. Seriously the entire team seems to be knitting, with our respective different expertise and experience complimenting this epic undertaking.
I will upload photos when we get back to Oceanside.
9-6-8
After getting back from LA where we were all added as drivers for the RV, it was time to put the vehicles in shape and make sure that all safety equipment was ready for inspection. This was an all hands on deck moment, and we were all trying to get the magnetic amber triangles and safety lights on as quick as possible. On arrival by our two RAAM inspectors, we were just taping the flag with tie wraps and gaffer tape. Alan then had to bolt back to the accommodation to get his shoes as racers equipment was being checked also. He arrived back to the car park by the pier where the RAAM official's were just signing off all the equipment. Once that was done the team presented the guys with key rings from Ireland and little leprechauns. As we pointed out to any shouts of bribery, by leprechaun dolls, we had passed our inspection before we gave them the gifts. But I am still not sure when Leprechaun Dolls or key rings with shamrocks became bribe-worthy currency.
After we all got fed yesterday following a run out by the Racers and Padraig we sat down and went through our final checklist of things to be addressed and done. Alan, PJ and Padraig led the meeting going through all things necessary to do by the racers (eating and drinking) and how best to support these guys so as to make all things automatic and streamlined. Routine, keeping the food which they like and making sure a balance of mind and body is achieved was what I got from it. The Racers should not have to tell anyone what they need, they should just have what they need and like put in place and ready for them to just take.
The trax phones for each vehicle and the active racer had to be registered and was done. So communication between all vehicles and rider is available for all now. Important for day riding or set up for changeover of individual racers on different sections.
Unfortunately Matt has not been feeling well and has been spending a lot of time in bed. Dehydration and flu like symptoms have led us to believe that he is suffering from heat stroke. Fresh fruit diet and plenty of diorlyte water has been provided. If he is not feeling well by 7:00am this morning a doctor will need to check him and assess how he is. It is not a bad condition or serious but enough to make the management team want to make sure something doesn't become worse for him. So do not worry at home, he is ok.
SAT Navigation upload has still not been working, so major studying of the Route book has become mandatory. We will be in touch with Hertz today (10-6-08) and they will be able to tell us whether we are going to be able to get the thing working. Frustrating for crew, but the Route book was going to be the bible for the journey anyway so we just have to be extra careful and verify every move.
For all you people who wish to see the start or monitor the race, please go to www.raceacrossamerica.org and you can see the start live at 22:00 Irish time on Wednesday.
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