Calamity and the Push to the Finish

We are done and there is no gas left in the tank! Our unofficial time was 2 days, 20 hours and 56 minutes to travel the 1,044 miles from Oceanside, CA to Taos, NM. We finished in second place overall in the Race Across the West and first in the category of 4 person team.

The drama of the last 24 hours of racing would turn out to be more than any team member had imagined. Arriving at 12:37 pm (EDT – race time) Jim and Jay with Rick as their support driver (subteam J2) had just completed one of the most beautiful segments of the tour through Monument Valley from Mexican Hat, UT to Montezuma Creek, UT. (This is well chronicled on the RAAM website as the photographers were here and got several pictures of Jim and Jay – www.RAAMRace.org). Scott Forman, Scott Sherman, Sharon and Hans (subteam Scott2) took over and brought the team through the next 90 miles and 4,500 feet of climbing (final altitude of 8,500 ft.) to Durango, CO arriving at 7:00 pm and handing the baton back to team J2.

It was at this point that the proverbial poop hit the fan! Team Scott2 had just polished off several Sonic burgers when the phone rang informing us that Jay was not going to be able to continue due to his illness. With 230 miles to go we were now down to three riders. There had been no opportunity for Scott and Scott to get any rest and Jim had now been on the road for much of the first portion of the segment Pagosa Springs, CO. We quickly buttoned up Team Mothership (Mark and the Dolphin RV) and headed up the road to catch up with Team J2 and execute plan B. The next 14 hours would prove to be an unparalleled challenge of the mental, physical, emotional and even spiritual abilities of the remaining riders (Scott, Scott and Jim) and our steadfast crew (Mark, Rick, Sharon and Hansy) as there really was no plan B.

There are two types of exchanges allowed in the race rules. The first is a rolling exchange in which the next rider is ferried ahead by the chase car and waits to exchange with the on road rider in a rolling fashion ensuring there is no break in riding. This leaves the on-rider exposed and can only be executed when it is safe. It also leaves the team vulnerable to losing time in the case of a puncture or other mechanical issue. The second is a stationary exchange in which both racers stop so that the chase car can remain behind both riders at all times. The stationary exchange is required between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. – the nighttime hours.

The situation had unfolded in a way that we were left with three riders and four crew members all with no gas left in the tank and 230 miles to finish. The next 14 hours would take us through the most grueling part of the race with several significant climbs, reaching altitudes as high as 10,200 feet. Because it was after 8:00 p.m., we would have to execute a stationary exchange and could not have a rider on the road while we rearranged the chase car and Mothership appropriately support us for the next 14 hours of racing. We were sure to lose a bunch of time in this process and end up placing very tired riders and crew on the road. Finally, we had just learned in Durango that our primary competition was only 42 minutes behind us on the road. As I reflect on the last 14 hours I am in awe of the sheer will, guts and determination of my remaining teammates, Scott and Jim as well as our faithful crew of Hansy, Sharon, Rick and Mark. Guys, I love you all and I honestly don't think there is ANYTHING that we could not accomplish together if we are determined. To try to describe this experience here will lack any of the sheer intensity, but here we go.

Now officially down to three riders we could no longer alternate two different teams on the road and were required to put all three riders alternating on the road and sharing equally in the remaining exchanges. To prepare, we hauled everything out of the chase car (Suburban) and set up two beds in the back so that the “off” riders could rest. Scott, Scott and Jim set up a three rider rotation that would put each rider on the road for 45 minutes or about 15 miles followed by about 1.5 hours off the bike that we knew would now continue for the next 14 hours. At this point, we had each had less than 2 hours of consecutive sleep in the past 24 hours, most of us much less. Equally as difficult, Rick got behind the wheel of the chase car prepared to set all his mental energies to provide a safe zone for the riders for as long as it took. In addition to driving the chase car, Rick served as cheer leader, drill sergeant, medical assistant, equipment handler, communication specialist, gopher and anything that needed to be done. While Sharon and Hans got a few precious moments of rest, Mark diligently leap-frogged the Mothership so that it was always near at hand should the riders need anything that was not in the chase car. Mark would get no sleep during this time as he navigated Mothership Dolphin over treacherous mountain passes fraught with narrow, curvy roads through wind, rain and cold temperatures.

The first stretch of this journey took us from Durango, CO to Pagosa Springs, CO. The Mothership caught up with Team J2 about 25 miles into the 70 mile stretch. Jay had given what he had left, and Jim was already tiring due to extended pulls. The entire team conducted the rider and gear exchange with military precision; however, we had lost significant time. We would find out during the next exchange that with the time lost in this transition and a time penalty resulting for a race official catching one of riders not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, we would be only 8 minutes ahead of competition in elapsed race time. While relatively uneventful, the 70 miles to Pagosa Springs, CO took us through headwinds, moderate temperatures and a final climb of 1,600 feet to an elevation of 7,600 feet.

Arriving in Pagosa Springs, CO at approximately midnight the fun would now begin. The road to Chama, NM would take us through five descents of 500 feet or more in the San Juan National Forest all followed by climbs that would take us higher than the previous elevation. In total we would climb for more than 2,500 feet and end at an elevation of near 8,000 feet throughout the night encountering headwinds, ever cooling temperatures, multiple false summits and hair raising descents with only the light of our bicycle headlights and the car headlights to show us what was ahead.

Arriving in Chama, NM at approximately 4:00 a.m. the fun would really now begin. This stretch of road would take us through 2,500 feet of climbing passing over La Manga Pass the highest point in the entire Race Across America at 10, 255 feet. The climb up La Manga spared no rider as it took an entire team rotation. Scott Forman started us up the climb handing the baton to Jim. With very little rest, Jim then took us through a 25 pull putting behind many of the steeper climbs of La Manga and leaving approximately 14 miles to complete the “bitch”. During Jim’s stretch, Rick spotted something “lumbering” through the woods in the night. Was it a bear, or Sasquatch? Luckily Jim is fast and it did not end up posing a threat. Scott Sherman then took over and got the team within 2 miles of the summit. As we crest the summit, the temperature is hovering at a balmy 42 degrees, there is rain/sleet falling and someone has turned the oxygen canister to off. We are fortunate that daylight at this point is sufficient that although Scott Forman will encounter slippery roads, complete numbness in both hands and feet, foxes crossing the road, jackets catching in the rear sprocket, hairpin turns, potholes and more during this 2,500 foot, hair raising descent – at least it won’t be night!

Arriving in Antonito, NM at approximately 8:00 a.m. the team has 60 miles remaining to accomplish the goal of completing the Race Across the West and if we can do it in less than 7 hours we will also accomplish our goal of qualifying for the Race Across America. This should be an easy feat, except for the fact that fatigue, sleep deprivation, emptying energy stores and constantly requiring high levels of output take their tolls differently on each person. Scott Forman and Jim are now at a depleted energy state where they cannot eat or drink. The stomach’s ability to take in and metabolize food has shut down and anything that goes in will only come back up. Unable to replenish, they must rely for this last portion on what remains which is mostly guts, will and determination. Scott Sherman also drained of any remaining energy stores cannot get enough food in quick enough to replenish. Unable to even look at another protein bar, GU energy gel, Accelerade energy drink, HEED energy drink, Scott is craving eggs. Although he can eat, he is not able to get food into his system quick enough to really help much in the remaining 25 miles and will also run in on guts, will and determination. Rick, having now completed more than 8 hours of chase car and support crew duties with little to no sleep prior hands off these responsibilities to Sharon allowing her to be behind the wheel for the last 50 race miles and the race finish. As she leans out the chase car window to wish her husband a “good morning” he retorts with, “eggs, I need eggs”. This was because a rider exchange was about to occur at the site of the Mothership. Scott Sherman had planned to get into the Mothership for a quick breakfast of ham, eggs and toast prior to continuing on. However, he had not communicated this intention and the Mothership took off to proceed down the road just prior to Scott’s arrival. Our ever faithful crew, Sharon communicated this short order request to Mark and he had the eggs ready as Scott was ferried ahead to the Mothership by the chase car in between his segments on the road.

As the team finally crosses the finish line, devoid of any remaining energy, we find that we have finished the Race Across the West in second place overall. We have defeated our competition to win the four person team category and we have met our goal of qualifying for the Race Across America. Watch for us in the very near future, Race Across America, Team Wildcats Four Brett – Go Brett!