Friday, October 2, 2009

Training for Race Across the West in June 2010

More Difficult than the Tour de France

There are two versions of the `World’s Toughest Bicycle Race.’ Both versions are considered more difficult and taxing than the Tour de France.

Lance Armstrong said of RAAM: ”Maybe I'll do RAAM one of these years. Am I crazy? Anyone know how many miles a day they avg?” 6:04 AM Aug 2nd, 2009 via Twitter.

The Race Across America (RAAM) starts Oceanside, California, a few miles north of San Diego, Oceanside, California, and ends 3,005 miles and 100,000 feet of climbing later in Annapolis, Maryland. Solo racers finish in 9 to 12 days, averaging 250 to 350 miles per day.
  • http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/
The Race Across the West (RAW) is the most difficult part of RAAM, starting in Oceanside, California, and ending 860 miles of burning desert, freezing mountains, and 50,000 feet of climbing later in Durango, Colorado. Solo racers finish in 2.5 to 3 days, averaging 250 to 350 miles per day.
RAW is a Race of Truth

This is a Race. Unlike other well-known road races, like the Tour de France, RAW is not a stage race. RAW is a single stage. Once the clock starts in Oceanside, it doesn't stop until the racer reaches the finish line in Durango.
RAW is the second longest endurance cycling race in the United States. The race is essentially a time trial - a race against the clock, sometimes referred to as the race of truth. Unlike the Tour de France, solo racers are not allowed to draft or take shelter from the wind.

Hot, dry, cold, windy, constant climbing, day and night

A series of moderate climbs takes the Racers from the ocean into the shadow of Palomar Mountain near the crest of the Laguna Mountains. Then, not unlike a blast furnace, the temperatures rapidly climb into triple digits during the steep, dizzying, twisty, 3500-foot descent of the “Glass Elevator” into the Anza Borrego Desert.

Desert conditions get even more difficult below sea level along the southern shore of the Salton Sea as rising humidity levels make a mockery of the “at least it’s a dry heat” West Coast mantra.

Brawley, California, is the first oasis with a Time Station and full services between two hot 90-mile sections. These sections take Racers over sand dunes and through Colorado River Valley agricultural communities to Blythe and Parker, then into Arizona.

Three hundred and ninety-two (392) miles into the race the dizzyingly steep Yarnell Grade challenges sleep-deprived and dehydrated Racers with over 2,000 feet of hairpin turn climbing in just under 7 miles. Dead air and 3-digit temperatures accompany the Racers up Yarnell Grade.

The race then follows the mountain route from Prescott through Jerome, Cottonwood, and Sedona to Flagstaff. From there Racers navigate the desert plateaus another 350 miles to the finish line Durango, Colorado, elevation 7,000 feet.

RAW and the Racer – Dan Fallon

Dan Fallon holds several speed and distance records:


Dan is 64 years old, a husband, father of two sons, grandfather of two granddaughters, and has a fulltime practice as a Clinical Psychologist in Chicago. http://www.licensed-psychologists.com/
 
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I've registered for the Race Across the West (San Diego, CA to Durango, CO - 860 miles) to take place starting June 9, 2010.

Given that I live in Chicago it is difficult to do open road training. In the colder months most of my training is done in my basement on the Racermate CompuTrainer. Outdoor training requires me to load the bike in my pick-up truck and drive 30 - 45 miles away. I am a self-employed clinical psychologist affiliated with a community based group private practice. This allows me some schedule flexibility, though I work about 50 hours each week.
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