Daniel Rudge
2009 Race Across AMerica (RAAM)


3,024 Miles Coast to Coast in less than 12 Days

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Day 7: 3pm June 23 - 3pm June 24 (EDT)

Dan is cycling well at the moment, the hip injury from yesterday is not slowing him down (and has been downgraded by Crew Chief Eric to road rash :) ), but the temperatures in the 100s are making it tough. Drink! Drink! Drink! Seems to be the order of the day (he's consuming around 9 bottles of water per hour!).

Most of the racers are resting in the heat of the midday sun and then cycling all through the night but Daniel found that last year fighting sleep in the dark of the night was harder than dealing with the intense heat of the day...a difficult choice.

The crew has a plan that is keeping him safe and working well so far today. Daniel started early got in some good miles and when the heat climbed Dan's pace was reduced and he started doing "reps" of 20 miles then resting in the cool RV for 15 mins with ice and cool towels (I hope he's not expecting this treatment to continue on his return home!). This has been the strategy over the last 5 hours and will continue until Dan stops for the night at Camdenton MO, around 11/11:30pm (EDT). He will then be off the bike for the usual period and start again around 3/4 am, to enable him to make up some more good miles in the cooler temperatures before starting on the 20 miles reps...this plan will continue until the temperatures drop. Even slowing down in this way, with everything continuing to go well, Daniel will make the finish cut off time safely and in good shape :)


7 comments:

Pión said...

well done men good luck

yvettewillson said...

Phenomenal Dan! Keep on pedaling.. as if you wouldn't!

Oh and to show support we too will "drink drink & drink more" .. our beverage choice might be a little different..
Yvette & Andy

Anonymous said...

You go Daniel! Awesome going. We are supporting and cheering you on. Keep drinking. Joan

Dick said...

Hello from Dick, Celia, Michael, Erica, Kristeen, Lucy and the dogs.

I hope it is starting to cool down a bit. The dogs are still panting and need more water. So do you!

Lucy says " Just keep going, for goodness sake!"

Well done - you are looking really steady. I am sure the crew takes all the credit for this.

Anonymous said...

Keep going Daniel, we're following your progress avidly.

Pam and Paul

Helen Goodchild said...

Fantastic to see you edging up the field. The tactics are obviously spot on. You got a good mention in the blogs - the Man to Watch!!!
Keep safe,
The Goodchildren

Dick said...

I love the 20 miles/15 minutes - hope it is working well. Looks like a nice morning ride along the river to Washington.

You're getting a bigger and bigger percentage of the ride under your belt. Well done to rider and crew - this is starting to look really, really impressive by all.