People get trapped into thinking about just one way of doing things.
Erik Weihenmayer, First Blind Rock Climber to reach the summit of Mt. Everest.

The other morning I set my alarm early enough to get up in time to watch that “other bike race”, Le Tour de France. A chess game played out on bicycles, it was entertaining, intriguing even, but the highly publicized race’s presentation had one flaw, (two, if you count the absence of Andrea Rene), it had way too many commercials and I immediately grew fidgety watching the highly repetitious pimple cream ads.

Without delay my fingers began working the buttons of my remote control seeking a supplement to the excruciatingly brutal commercials. I scanned a few channels and came upon, “Farther than the Eye Can See”. This fascinating documentary depicted the world’s first blind adventurer, Erik Weihenmayer, and 17 other sighted climbers reaching the top of Mt. Everest. It had to be good, I had risen from my bed early enough to go fishing to watch the TDF and yet I now found myself flicking back over to the race when the documentary broadcast it’s commercials.

In numerous scenes, Mr. Weihenmayer was required to transverse crevasses between ice ridges. These were the sort of crevasses that death was most likely to occur if you had the misfortune of tumbling down one. This feat he accomplished with ropes and what looked like a general purpose aluminum extension ladder laid out between the two ridges. His snow boots with numerous spikes protruding from their soles were not forgiving as he felt for the rungs of the ladder; step by precarious step! Wind gusts blew through the camera’s microphone and shouts of ” STEP LEFT ERIK” rung out. The ladder bent under his weight and holy smokes I nearly had to reach for some sort of nerve pills!

In another scene, Mr. Weihenmayer was answering the question, “why climb blind”? I paraphrase his answer, but it was something along the lines of; “Because, I can feel the cold wind pass through my hair. I feel the infinitely small snowflakes on my face. I can hear birds chirping in the wind and I can feel the mountain. It’s space is carved out in the air, it’s being is alive. Wow, double wow!

Whatever he exactly said made me think of RAAM and the personal relationship it forms with every rider, crew member and official that is fortunate enough to go out on the course and experience the journey. For most, the summit of RAAM, is not reached by crossing a finish line, it is a culmination of efforts and experience, the physical, the logistical, the camaraderie, the introspect and the hardships. The realization of what has been accomplished does not truly impact a person until after the adrenalin subsides, the aches and pains have healed and they are sitting somewhere, calmly feeling the breeze on their face and in their hair. RAAM might make you hurt, might make you proud, but what it does to every single person on the course or following the event through their computers is it makes them think. RAAM makes you think about issues much greater than riding a bicycle, or balancing your budget; RAAM steers you head on into a collision that drives you to examine your life and the world we live in.
While there are common threads and rewards, no two RAAM experiences are ever alike. It might be a sunrise in the desert, a rainbow in the mountains, the giddiness of a crew member or the fortitude that the challenges muster, but something always stands out. More often than not it is a culmination on a thousand moments that comprise the value and reward of participating in RAAM. So while we celebrate the champions, there are infinitely more winners than those that come first or even those that cross the line at all. In RAAM, true victory is first tasted when one understands the calling and commits. The summation of its value does not arrive in one fell swoop, more so it sneaks in, bit by bit, experience by experience, through pain, accomplishments, setbacks and occasionally a blast of confidence that smacks you so hard you know right in that moment, you REALLY can do anything.

If you had a RAAM experience this year, whether you were a rider or crew, that you would like to share, please send it to perry@raceacrossamerica.org

The Race Across America 2008 edition has been completed, along with the Race Across the West many records were set or broken.

In the Race Across America these records were established.

• Jure Robic won his 4th solo RAAM race, becoming the first male ever to win more than 3 races.
• John Schlitter become the first person to finish the men’s solo RAAM on a recumbent bicycle.
• David Jones set the 60+ time/speed record and became RAAM’s oldest solo finisher.
• The 8-person Byggkjøp/BMC Cycling Team, finished the RAAM race in 5 days, 9 hours, 56 minutes establishing an overall speed record of 23.24 mph for all divisions.
• Team Xtreme4 finished the race in 6 days 04:18 breaking the mixed 4 person team record established in 1994 by Ideo/Fat City.
• Team PAC RATS set a new speed record in the 4 person, 60-69 age division with a blazing speed of 18.21mph.

In the Race Across the West three records were established.

• Male soloist Paul Carpenter finished RAW in 3 days,11:27.
• 2 person mixed division competitors Team Semper Fi completed RAW in 2 days,16:00.
• 4 person male competitors KeepandShare.Com finished in 2 days 16:17.

Overall, there were a record number of entries in Mixed 4-Person teams, 8, and a record number of 4-Person women’s teams, 3 and a record number of total women. All 4-Person and 8-Person teams finished. In overall divisions, all winners were European.

Congratulations to all record breakers, competitors and crew. 2008, was a very good year!

As we look ahead to 2009, RAAM will be growing with the times and impact we are beginning to have on the world. The race promises to be the biggest and most highly contested ever.
Coming soon: The naming of our volunteer reporter who will win the Titanflex frameset.

RAAM would like to thank its many sponsors, including ViaSat, Inc., KVH Industries, Inc., The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE,) Hincapie Sportswear, Hammer Nutrition, TitanFlex Bikes, PMC, Kenda Rubber Industrial Company, and MyAthlete.

The RAAM organization also thanks its partners including the cities of Oceanside, California, Taos, New Mexico, and Annapolis, Maryland for their hospitality and cooperation during the race. Along the race route public officials, local businesses, and residents alike embraced RAAM and its competitors, and we thank them for their continued support.
Dates and registration information for RAAM 2009 will be announced soon. For complete race details and more information, please visit www.raceacrossamerica.org.

Please visit our RAAM store online at https://www.raceacrossamerica.org/subwebraam/store.php?N_webcat_id=9
There are many specials and new items available.

To learn more about Erik Weihenmayer visit these links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnR2dpLnS14
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg57G9Lsxu8

RAAM raised $1220 for his challenged athletes charity No Barriers USA through the sale special merchandise.