RAAM 2008 ended a year and two days ago. I watched as Arvid crossed the finish line in Annapolis with a sigh of relief. He'd been through sleep deprivation, pain, and mental battles across the US and over 3,000 miles. I'd seen him progress to that point, and so it seemed natural that he would finish the world's toughest bike race. This year, as RAAM is now halfway complete, I've been following the stats online. When I go to bed the riders are racing, and when I wake up they are still racing. Watching it from this end reminds me just how ridiculous and tough the ride is. His achievement has become even more amazing and concrete in my mind.
This year is no different. 23 days of 457km/day. To some it's just a number. To me it's an understanding of 3/4 of the day spent on a bike, with minimal hours of sleep. It's 23 days of pushing the body, of riding hard over and over and over. Yes, 457 is just a number, but it's a big number. Keep that in mind as you pray and support Arvid on the Tour for Life!
Paul
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