Conditions: 57F, mostly cloudy, calm (though it did pour rain for about six hours earlier)
Miles covered: 934
Miles remaining: 2,087
Food for thought: In May 2007 a local auto mechanic bought a PowerBall ticket at a Chama gas station and won $68 million, perhaps TP should make a stop...
Not bad, eh? It's mountain-ey. And according to Fairbanks, Ben really likes the mountains and has been riding like a rockstar anytime the road turns up or down. Yesterday alone, he climbed around 30,000 feet--that's the height of Mt. Everest. In fact, the Crue has had to rein his climbing enthusiasm in a bit, making sure he's saving enough energy for East of the Mississippi.
What makes this all the more interesting, is that Ben scratched his eye yesterday. So for the past 24 hours he's been riding looking like this:
Yep, with an eye patch...descending roads like this (at night to boot).
Gulp. Not my cup of tea.
Today, Ben will breifly re-enter Colordao and climb La Manga pass--the highest point in RAAM at nearly 11,000 feet--before jogging South to Taos, New Mexico. That's tonight's rest stop and the plan is for him to bed down for a three hour nap.
According to Fairbanks, both rider and Crue remain in good spirits. Ben's having fun and so are his loyal minions. However, sleep is rare and people are starting to get tired. This is what is trying for everyone involved in the race.
Healthwise Ben is faring very well. Aches and pains are popping up (achilles, patella), but they've got 2.5 doctors in the Crue plus a masssage therapist--so it's kind of like a roving HMO. Besides, after riding 1,000, a bit of soreness is to be expected.
That's all for now. I have some interesting tech tidbits from HED Cyling's Chris "Dino" Edin that I'll post in a bit.
Ciao,
-Matt
P.S. Certain readers have been clamoring for more Cougar updates. I promise that those will be coming.
6 comments:
Strong work, Matt.
A RAAM video interview of Benny is now up on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfmMWKbWVdg
A 2nd "well done" on the updates, Seamus...
GO TP!!!
I am wondering which mix tapes Ben brought along. Maybe it was the 1995 winter tape? It was one of many that featured Eddie Money, The Bodeans, Toad the Wet Sproket, Indigo Girls, and etc. If the Crue would oblige us, I think we would all like to know which tape is most popular?
I hear Ben has been listening to the Bangles and the Go Go's and Huey Lewis & the News.
If TP meets its goal of Taos tonight it will have completed the Race Across the West -- 1,000 mind-bending miles.
1044 miles behind you...Congrats, Ben. Caught the recent youtube video of you...great to hear you're feeling pretty darn good - gosh, you're breathing didn't even sound labored when you spoke. Chalk it up to excellent endurance training! Keep up the good work, nephew!
Aunt Ali
By the way, thanks to all of you working so hard to obtain and post updates, enabling all who are interested to stay on top of this exciting race.
Kudos, also, to the many who make up Team Popp; to those on the road with Ben, who provide sustenance, take care of his necessities,and nourish him with support and encouragement.
Megan, how are you holding up?
Ali Anderson
Post a Comment