LINDA SHARES
HER THOUGHTS ON RAAM TRAINING AND PRE-RACE
PLANNING:
I first looked
into the
CORE and ZEN while I
was getting ready to focus my training for
the Race Across America. Training for the
RAAM can be overwhelming. I have suffered a
shattered pelvis and some nerve damage in my
right leg in the past. I can truly say the
amount of energy that I have spent focusing
on strengthening my hip flexors, hamstrings
and gluteus using both CORE and ZEN has
given me the balance I have been looking for
some time now. Using CycloCORE and
CycloZEN programs with my limited
training time schedule made being able to
train effectively for RAAM a reality. I was
able to continually make measurable gains
that were very motivating and satisfying.
These programs have allowed me to gain
overall power, strength, and quickness
making riding and racing my bike more
enjoyable and rewarding than ever and I LOVE
TO RIDE. No cyclist should be without these
programs!
On to the race! The race prep went very
well. The team banquet was the down by the
beach in Oceanside. The energy levels are
high. The teams were really anxious to start
riding. I'd heard quite a few riders talking
about how the TAPER phase of our training
sucks. We are not accustomed to not riding
every day for hours! We are missing our
endorphin fix. Last minute preparations were
taking place in the morning of June 13 --
running last minute inspections on our
vehicles, bikes, travel bags, and the list
goes on. I have to say the adrenaline was
rushing thru the body at a very high rate!
The race start was slightly different than
past years mainly because of the traffic
patterns in Oceanside and the logistics of
trying to move that many cyclists and their
support crews out of town. We planned to
start the race with our strongest climbers
to get us out of what I refer to as the
"Hole", from sea level to the highest point
until descending back to the desert.
Our first team
of Tristen Grant and Kim Fields would ride
the first 34 miles and gain about 4000
vertical feet of climbing. Deb DeCrausaz and
I would ride to the Salton Sea and hand off
again at 114 miles. We are psyched to get on
the road and work towards our goal of a 6
day 18 hr crossing. We thought if we could
get a really good start for the first 200 -
500 miles we would have a pretty good idea
within a few days if that goal will be
obtainable.
The last week was a whirlwind filled with
activity from race preparations, opening
banquet, managing race jitters, the actual
crossing of 3048 miles and the final
banquet. There is no doubt that the Race
Across America challenges the entire being.
This is much more than a bike race. Getting
to the start is 80% physical strength but
the race itself is about 80% mental
strength.
RAAM RACE JOURNAL FROM LINDA -- TEAM VAIL
BEAVER CREEK B2B DIVAS
June 13 Race Day
Rolling off the Oceanside Pier was a very
exciting. The four of us were embarking on a
journey faced with many unknowns that would
reveal themselves as the race unfolded.
Tristen gave us a great start from Oceanside
setting the pace and attitude for the race,
FAST. The first night is always fast and
ferocious based on the high levels of
adrenaline and nerves. We made our team
exchanges and headed into the desert. The
winds began blowing then and never really
stopped throughout the race. The competition
was on with the other teams as well as
within us. It is a long race and keeping it
real is very important. We felt like we were
able to do just that.
Highlight and lowlight: The event for our
first day was losing my bike off the back of
the car while going 60 mph! The bike bounced
off the rack dragging on the asphalt. When
the car finally stopped I was lucky to find
out that only my rear wheel had been
trashed. It could have been much worse.
Fortunately we had a spare bike and back up
wheels.
Day 1
We got out of Arizona with good speed and
really good momentum for Utah and Colorado.
Arizona had lots of long, twisting climbs
with incredible scenery. Deb and I rode out
of Arizona at sunset. We had the pleasure of
riding to Tuba City on the Navajo Trail. The
colors of the cliffs – brown, yellow, white,
gray and red – dominated the views of this
high desert. After fighting a strong
crosswind we made a right turn and were
rewarded with a great tailwind. This section
of road has become a new “special place” for
both of us.
Day 2
Deb and I crossed the Colorado border in the
early hours; we were greeted with lots of
climbing and slightly cooler temperatures.
Tristen and Kim took us pass Durango where
we started another good climb. After
summiting Wolf Creek Pass, Deb took us on an
exciting descent. Watching her was one of
the many highlights of the trip. (Side note:
Deb has shattered both of her elbows in the
last 2 ½ years in cycling accidents). With
each roll of the wheel her confidence grew.
It was like watching a bird leaving the nest
for the first time realizing that life is
great and “hey, bring it on!”
At the end of day two we had a scheduled
shower stop in Alamosa. The team and crew
were able to refresh for the next section,
Kansas. (Music up: Remember Toto?)
Highlight: Cucharas Pass going 53 mph
at night! Having the proper light system (DiNotte
Lighting) and the right driver behind the
wheel actually made this enjoyable.
Day 3
KANSAS!!
Cross winds, head winds, tornado warnings,
converging winds of 80 mph blowing cyclists
off the road. (Oh my!) I have this visual
embedded in my mind of Tristen being pushed
by a massive tailwind followed by a huge
brown cloud. The wind shifted slightly and
then pushed her off her bike. In efforts to
get off the road she got pinned by her bike
to the car she was trying to get into. Her
bike weighs 16 lbs! The wind was
UNBELIEVABLE. While one of our crewmembers
was opening the car door it ripped it from
their hand and swung it 180 degrees into the
side panel. We waited for the winds to calm
down some, about an hour.
Deb and I hit the road again facing amazing
gutsy crosswinds, which were accompanied by
rain. The lightning show all around us was
well worth the price of admission -- a
totally surreal experience. To end the day,
we witnessed one of the most amazing sunsets
under the black water filled clouds.
But, Kansas was not done with us. Kim and
Tristen rode through more character building
weather. We were determined to keep the
pedal stokes coming and show that we would
truly weather the storm.
Just outside Pratt, KS, Deb and I collided
on an exchange. I have also been an advocate
for wearing a helmet but even more so now.
In the fall I landed on the back of my head
splitting my helmet open. NOTE: Please wear
your helmets! Our crew did a great job
taking care of us on the road. Deb and I did
go to the hospital in Pratt for some
precautionary tests. We were assisted at
record speed by the hospital team when it
was understood that they were in the Race
Across America.
Day 4
We were finally out of Kansas and into
Missouri where the terrain is variable.
There were lots of short 10-12% inclines,
with rolling and winding roads across
beautiful farmland. The mist rising from the
road added an element of drama to the night
riding through this state. The combination
of the mist and the light beams behind the
rider was similar to watching a rock star
walk on the stage when they use a smoke
machine. Very dramatic!
Day 5
MORE rolling terrain faced us in Illinois,
Indiana and Ohio. As the race went on I felt
stronger and stronger. All of the training
paid off. The B2B Divas worked with Cyclo-CORE
for their preparation. One of the main
focuses of the program is strengthening the
core region of the body that will provide
more strength and endurance to every pedal
stroke. This race requires a great deal of
endurance strength in the lower back and in
the hip flexor area. After having followed
the Cyclo-CORE 12 week BASE and
14 week BUILD/PEAK/RACE programs we were
all very well prepared for this race.
Day 6
Oh yes, and now West Virginia and Maryland.
In this race there is about the same amount
of climbing in the east as there is in the
west. The climbing in the west is longer
sustained climbs and the climbs in the east
are just simply “in your face” steep.
Another difference is the climbs in the west
are on open roads and the climbs in the east
are on very narrow roads. There are lush
trees and bushes, and jungle like canopy on
these roads – easily a stage set for
peaceful suffering. I really enjoy the
eastern climbs. After getting to the top of
one of the climbs the sense of
accomplishment runs through the entire body.
What goes up must come down and that we do,
there are some of the most incredible
winding descents here. I really enjoy diving
into the corners like a falcon, it is
exhilarating!
Highlight: Riding through Gettysburg
at dusk!
Day 7
During the last day of the race the
adrenaline was rising to a new level. Kim
and Tristen took us into rolling hills of
PA. Deb and I rode the last section of PA in
the early morning. There was an interesting
contrast between riding alongside the Amish
horse drawn buggies illuminated by their
lanterns and our carbon composite bikes
illuminated by our high powered DiNotte
lights, cyclo computers and heart rate
monitors. For a moment our lives were
similar because we shared the road, another
highlight of this incredible journey.
The four of us joined together to do a
four-person rotation for the last 50 miles.
All of us have had our own experiences on
the road for the last 7 days so being
reunited with all of my teammates was a
special moment.
As the sun was rising on the outskirts of
Atlantic City we enjoyed the last miles
reflecting on the adventure which was very
rewarding to all aspects of our being. We
started the race as friends and finished the
race as friends through all of the trials.
We are all stronger beings after an event
like this. RAAM does test you to the core!
One of our focuses throughout this trip was
the kids that are affected by HIV/AIDS,
which made our trials and tribulations
minute compared to what these kids live with
on a daily basis. We are cyclists responding
to pediatric HIV/AIDS. Our goals are to
increase awareness, diminish the stigma, and
raise funds for research. We are about
making a difference in the lives of kids
affected by HIV/AIDS. Please visit our
website at
Border to Border USA.
WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS AMAZING STORY!
What’s more amazing are some of the
personal stories
of the women on the team and what they have
overcome to compete at this level. Visit
three of their bio pages at
Team CycloCore or all four of them at
the official RAAM site:
Race Across America - Team Divas
B2B Divas Conquer RAAM!
