Paris wrote a daily diary of events from beginning
to end of the 12 days 19 hours spent supporting
Jim Rees solo Race Accross America 2007.
The ups and the downs literally.
The Race started from Oceanside
CA at 9am local time, 12pm “RAAM time”.
We are now on a different clock – Eastern
seaboard time – to confuse our bodies
further! The initial 13 miles were parade through
the town and escort to the start of the race
proper, up through the Palomar Mountain State
park. With many riders and crew bunched together
it was chaotic but exciting.
Jim started well and enjoyed
the mountains. The following stretch was downhill
and into the desert, descending from 5000 feet
to 200 feet below sea level, into what they
call “badlands”. The unrelenting
sun and heat began to take it’s toll
on the riders, and by the end of the second
stage Jim had been well and truly introduced
to the world’s toughest cycle race.
After taking a rest stop, Jim
then went on across the desert as night fell.
The course took in the interstates – the
equivalent of British motorways – adding
more danger as lorries fly by the rider at
75mph.
Jim continued along the quieter
stage to Hope, Arizona, through the twilight
hours.
Race Day 2
More baking heat through the
deserts of Arizona. Then ascents of 8000 ft
up Mount Francis as night fell. On the other
side of the mountains we joined Route 66 and
the interstate. Sleep deprivation from 4 hours
rest in the last 36 hours was heaping on further
challenge as we negotiated the interstate.
We arrived safely, but exhausted, in Williams
Arizona as the sun began to rise.
Race Day 3
No time for extended breaks as
Jim had to summon the strength to get back
on the bike for the next stage through the
city of Flagstaff. Being an urban route it
was crucial to get through before rush hour
and avoid congestion of city traffic. Onwards
then to Tuba City and into the land of the
Navaho Nation. With temperatures rising and
the potential for Twisters to develop, Jim
arrived mid afternoon and ook a precious rest
period. Into the evening and back in the saddle,
ascending to 7000 ft to Kayenta where the vista
became dominated by the awesome Monument Valley,
and we crossed the state line into Utah.
Darkness now as we approached the famous monument peaks and
the Mexican Hat. In the pitch black we were unable to appreciate
the “8th Wonder of the World”. Our focus was
to up the pace in order to reach the city of Cortez, Colorado
before the first cutoff of the race – a time at which
the rider must have reached a designated position or be disqualified
from the race.
Having had two tough days
in the desert, and with little rest, Jim put
in a phenomenal effort to attack the mountains
of Utah and regain time to comfortably reach
Cortez, well within the cutoff time. He also
began to overtake other riders as he grew stronger
through the sections.
As day 3 becomes day 4, he now
faces the prospect of the highest ascent of
the race, 12,000 feet through Wolf Creek Pass
in the Rocky Mountains.
Jim’s achievement so far
has been incredible and he has bounced back
magnificently from the difficulties of the
first desert sections. He is getting stronger
and racing harder as RAAM 2007 develops.
Onwards into the mountains and
conditions turned against the riders with temperatures
dropping significantly. Many of the solo competitors
began their ascent as night fell, Jim included,
and faced the incredible challenge of severe
climbs in the cold and dark. By this stage
all riders were suffering from sleep deprivation
too. Some fell by the wayside, but Jim battled
onwards, albeit slowly, and edged his way along
the mountain pass. He arrived at the next time
station exhausted and emotional, dogged determination
had delivered him this far. back
to top
Race Day 5
After the stresses of Wolf
Creek the crew were unsure of how Jim could
respond to the next stages which built to
another severe climb from 6000 to 9000 feet.
The first stage attempted today was relatively
flat and allowed Jim to gather himself for
the ascents to come. Keeping a steady pace
through the second stage on the gradual ascent
of La Veta Pass was measured riding, culminating
in the final stage – Cuchara Pass and
another 3,000 feet climb. The breathtaking
scenery and clear mountain air boosted Jim
and the support crew who enjoyed one of the
prettiest stages with a great performance.
Ever one for the camera, Jim was photographed
and interviewed by the RAAM media team as
we coasted into Trinidad ahead of schedule. back
to top
Race Day 6
Now began the geographical transition
from mountain passes and high peaks to rolling
foothills and eventually high plains. Leaving
Colarado we passed into Kansas and America’s
bread basket. An endless flat vista of crop
and beef production, punctuated by enormous
concrete structures where grain is stored.
Contrasting with the mountain climbs, Kansas’ flats
should be welcome relief were it not for an
energy sapping headwind which frustrated Jim
and started to take it’s toll on his
neck. A common problem amongst ultra cyclists
is a condition where the neck muscles are so
fatigued that the rider is unable to keep his
head up and look forward from the prone aero
position – the most efficient cycling
style. This was now another issue to contend
with, but Jim pushed on and upped the effort
to drive forward through the wind and pain.
However a dramatic night in Kansas
was to unfold. Pushing though to the night
shift the efforts of the day’s riding
began to catch up with Jim and his pace slowed
as he valiantly cycled onwards. Darkness brought
overwhelming need for sleep and we allowed
Jim to take an hour’s rest in the support
car. Six days and 1,300 miles of distance had
caught up with him and his tiredness turned
to sickness. After an hour of slow progress
it was clear that Jim was completely empty
of energy and we decided to take him off the
course and find a motel room for a few hours
rest.
We headed north to Dodge City
in the car, the only significant conurbation,
to find shelter for Jim. It was 1 am and the
crew, having had to coax Jim along through
a difficult few hours, were feeling the strain
too. I was driving – and totally focussed
on finding a bolt hole we found a motel. Entering
the concourse my priority was to get as close
to the entrance as possible, not realising
the awning meant there was restricted headroom
and Jim’s spare bike was on the roof
rack. A sickening crunch followed and my heart
sank as I realised what had happened. The handlebars
of Jim’s spare bike were mangled and
the roof rack torn off.
Despite all that he had contended
with that evening, Jim’s instant response
was one of typical charm and philosophy; “I
never liked that bike much anyway – it
was giving my neck gip”. I thank him
for his genuine, loving nature – and
his understanding that this was merely an accident,
not a disaster.
Jim had a few hours sleep and
Steve and I used our best Blue Peter skills
with a roll of Duck tape to repair the roof
rack. We then drove back to the place where
we left the course and Jim completed the remaining
17 miles of the section to Montezuma. I was
certainly pleased the long night had come to
an end. back
to top
Race Day 7
One week into the race and further
progress was made along the flat lands of Kansas,
through the more populated outskirts of Witchita
and comfortably reaching the second cutoff
target of El Dorado time station. Jim then
enjoyed a well earned rest and a fresh chicken
salad!
Heading off that evening
it was clear that Jim’s neck was causing
more discomfort and pain. We attempted to
relieve it by fitting a neck strap which
gave some support but was not an effective
solution. Meeting former RAAM winner and
sore neck sufferer Alan Larson at the Fort
Scott timestation gave us some ideas around
constructing a brace to hold Jim’s
chin upward, however this would have to wait
till morning and Jim would have to bear with
the pain. back
to top
Race Day 8
Day 8 saw us leave Kansas and
after the trials encountered in the state I
was pleased to see the back of it. Entering
Missouri gave way to more rolling green hills
and dips which reminded me of the UK. Maybe
because of the Missouri felt more welcoming,
familiar and comfortable.
The problem with Jim’s
neck was becoming increasingly serious and
having taken Alan Larson’s advice Steve
and myself put Valerie Singleton to shame by
constructing a chin and neck brace from 1” PVC
piping, a belt, and an NFL football helmet
chin strap. This endeavour caused a media frenzy
in Camdenton where we were stationed and even
attracted the attention of the local paper – the
Sun Leader, as well as the RAAM media team; “mad
Brits in neck brace shocker!”. Although
I have yet to see the final copy.
Jim arrived from his stint on
the road for a fitting and after a few adjustments
the Team Inspiration neck brace became the
newest member of the crew. Despite not looking
too pretty it does the job rather well and
I am considering registering a patent.
All neck braced up, Jim
embarked on the next leg to Jefferson City.
An unremarkable place except for what appeared
to be a replica of the White House where
we found the lonely, un manned time station.
Onwards through the night to Marthasville
following the Missouri River. Long flat sections
punctuated by two sections of hills, this
was a long, tiring session through the night.
Jim slowed significantly in the hours before
dawn – he had slept less than an hour
in the last 24. But as the sun rose so did
his speed. Critically this has to be maintained
if we are to beat the next cut off in Indianapolis
at 11am tomorrow. back
to top
Race Day 9
Crossing from Missouri to Illinois
the terrain altered little being mostly flat
or gentle rolling hills through farmland and
smalltown America. Jim made swift progress
in these conditions and the cutoff in Indianapolis
was reached with almost two hours to spare.
With this rate of progress the opportunity
to break the British record was within reach.
In terms of the race, Jim was riding in a “pack” with
three other riders: Spurgeon – who was
attempting the race on a single speed bike
with no gears – he had to change wheels
for the uphill sections, Optis – a lanky
Canadian racer, and Autissier – a Frenchman.
Coming through time stations we would often
see them and their crews and positions between
the four would alter constantly.
Travelling through to Illinois
also brought the landmark of 2000 miles down,
1000 miles to go. We tentatively began to think
of the end ofthe race, the finish line, and
a comfortable bed to sleep in.
Now riding constantly through
day and night, the concept of distinct days
was no longer appropriate, with Jim either
on the bike, eating or sleeping. The crew worked
in shifts around Jim and so our patterns followed
his, snatching a nap or bite to eat whenever
the opportunity arose. The impact of this on
the rider was obvious and unpredictable – sudden
switches from alert and awake to head dropping,
speed slowing and the steady line and rhythm
of a strong rider became more like a child
just off stabilisers. For the following crew,
there role was to spot and stop this happening
or impacting on bike speed. Coaching and coaxing
Jim along, feeding snacks, promising treats
were all tactics involved to keep him upright
and moving forwards.
These conditions were taking
their toll on the crew too. I was struggling
to perform simple mental arithmetic in order
to work out bike peed averages and distance
targets. Driving along long straight roads
at 15 mph, especially at night, was even more
challenging and we all experienced the sinking
feeling of nerves and relief as we realised
that quite possibly the grip of sleep had taken
us and yes, I had been asleep at the wheel
for a brief moment.
Crossing to Ohio we continued
in farming country. Small towns dotted the
roadside: wooden houses painted white and pastel
blue, rocking chairs on the verandas, and many
expressions of patriotism decorating the front
gardens and porches. The ubiquitous Star Spangled
Banner a distinct reminder that this is a country
at war many miles from here.
Becoming greener and more rolling
we experienced our first rain of the race with
a torrential downpour near Circleville. For
Jim this was an annoyance rather than a drama.
The rain was warm and he had wet weather gear.
For me, having to get in and out of the car
for Jim’s toilet breaks, kit changes
and bike checks it was less pleasant as my
already too long worn clothes were now damp
and steamy.
Approaching West Virginia and
the hills become more frequent and higher.
As we crossed the border from Ohio the route
took us from comfortable country roads and
onto the US 50E which at this point is a six
lane highway. Clear blue skies and a strong
sunlight reflecting off the white concrete
sapped Jim’s energy. The roar of cars
and trucks at 70 mph made communication virtually
impossible and Jim was in effect isolated from
the support vehicle. This was the busiest highway
we had encountered since California.
Having ridden through the night
Jim was short of sleep and energy and the typical
metronomic rhythm of his cycling began to stutter.
The poor condition of the hard shoulder made
the surface challenging and Jim sought a better
line in the slow lane. Crossing the white line
he lost control of the bike and swerved across
the carriageway. Managing to correct his line
he avoided catastrophe but this was a reminder
of the dangers involved in this race. Traffic
bearing down on him at frightening speed, horns
blearing, stones and debris being thrown all
around, this is no place for the faint hearted.
Clearly shaken, we guided Jim
off the course at the nearest opportunity.
Up a small country lane we found a tree to
sleep under and allowed ourselves to restore
our energy and courage.
Continuing onwards the 50E became
more quiet and being a main route provided
a good surface for swifter progress. We were
now in the foothills of the Appelation Mountains,
the last major range before descending to the
east coast and Atlantic City. So far Jim had
cycled 2,500 miles and was on track to break
the British record for the race.
With so much energy having been
spent already and the gruelling regime affecting
his neck and swollen legs, we held our breath
as Jim began the climbs of the Appellations.
We had seen two sides of Jim’s encounters
with the mountains of Colorado: misery and
despair at Wolf Creek, euphoria and triumph
at Cuchara Pass. Which were we to experience
this time? back
to top
Race Day 12
Ascending the first peak in the
early hours, we knew Jim would have to cover
the Appellations – a significant mountain
range – in the space of a day to remain
on track. Jim had always responded magnificently
to these challenges and set about the climbs
with grit and determination. Completing the
first mountain stage strongly, Jim was then
struck with tiredness. Sleep deprivation was
taking hold and Jim could not escape it’s
grip. Jim was becoming irritable, making more
and more sudden stops to urinate or change
kit, all taking precious time. Eventually we
allowed him to sleep in the car. The unscheduled
stops had blown the schedule for the British
record. Of more concern was that at the present
rate failing to meet the cut off to be an official
RAAM finisher was becoming a possibility. We
had to be in Atlantic City by 5pm on Friday.
Failure to do so would mean Jim would not record
a time and would be classed DNF – Did
Not Finish.
It was time to unlock Jim’s
immense power in his mind to take him to the
finish. Physically he was in good shape and
had good speed on the bike. The challenge was
to draw on his inner strength to keep him in
the saddle and pedalling. Enrico woke Jim and
presented him with a map of the USA pointing
out where we had started in Oceanside to our
current position, Jim had covered 90% of the
route. Focussing Jim on the goal, Enrico got
Jim out of the car and back on the bike to
resume the climbs.
The next section to Hancock,
Maryland consisted of four major climbs which
Jim completed in an aggressive time. Now we
embarked on the last two stages in the Appellations
with three relatively simple climbs to go before
the course descends to the Atlantic coast.
Jim completed the first of these stages on
schedule. We started the second section with
a 1000ft climb and as we reached the summit
the sleep demon returned to haunt Jim. Our
schedule allowed no further breaks. In order
to reach Atlantic City and complete the race
before the cut off, Jim would have to cycle
almost continually. There were 217 miles to
go in 19 hours.
I pushed Jim onwards through
the second climb but we were losing time. Jim
wasn’t going fast enough and he was pleading
with me to stop. He tried all tactics: humour,
aggression, negotiation. In my mind I knew
his performance was deteriorating rapidly but
to stop would throw the possibility of a finish
away. However it was clear that continuing
at this rate was impossible. We stopped for
a 15 minute break and Jim snatched a nap. Resuming
on the road, after only a few miles his bike
control ceased and we were forced to stop again,
this time for 30 minutes. We were now on the
edge. After 12 days of hard cycling through
deserts, mountains, headwinds and searing heat,
Jim had reached the point where sleep deprivation
now ruled his physical and mental systems.
We pushed on but Jim could now no longer follow
the instructions I was giving him. He was hallucinating,
veering from one side of the road to the other.
It was time to bring this to
an end.
My thoughts turned to Jim, Tracy
and their children. Our commitment to them
from the start had been to complete the race
safely. At this point the decision to stop
was an easy one. I knew the consequences would
be difficult to accept – all the preparation,
effort and commitment from all involved meant
that not achieving the goal would be a massive
and potentially destructive disappointment.
However, my friend was in a very dangerous
situation and I was in the priveliged position
to remove him from it.
We pulled over to the side of
the road and prepared a bed in the back of
the MPV for Jim to sleep in. Crew doctor Enrico
recommended at least two hours sleep and Jim
was fast asleep instantaneously.
In terms of the race I had now
accepted that Jim would not finish inside the
cut off time. We now had 190 miles to the finish
line to cover in under 13 hours, an average
of 15 mph. Jim’s average speed to date
had been 10-12 mph. Only the winners of RAAM
sustain averages of over 15mph.
We woke Jim at 4.20am. His first
question was about the race:
Jim: “So where are we now?”
Paris: “Jim, in order to finish we have to cover 190
miles in 13 hours.
I’m sorry Jim, you aren’t going to finish within
the cut off”
The look on Jim’s face
was one of surprise and shock.
Paris: “We will support
you and finish the course with you. You will
have cycled across America”
Jim: “I know you did what
you had to do, but nothing is impossible. I’m
getting on the bike”
With that he rubbed his head
and slapped his face. I readied the bike and
he set off at a terrific rate, back onto a
steady line, consistent rhythm. I felt sorry
for him. I did not believe this was possible
and he was putting in a Herculean effort. I
was worried that he would blow again and he
would be unable to cycle at all, or we would
limp to the time station and Jim’s race
would fall apart in front of him.
Yet Jim did not slow down and
we covered the 12 miles to the time station
swiftly. We handed over to the other crew of
Tony, John and Donna for the next two stages.
We were all a little bemused by Jim who stripped
off his layers of clothing down to just his
racing suit. “let’s go, I’m
going to do this” and off he went.
The course now moved into the
beautiful fertile lands of Pennsylvania where
Amish communities sit side by side with modern
farms. The contrast is stunning yet they seem
to coexist happily together, neither really
seeming out of place. From our other vehicle
I was keeping watch on Jim’s progress
and times. He wasn’t slowing. He was
getting faster. Surely this couldn’t
be done, could it?
We arrived at the final time
station and waited for Jim and the crew to
arrive. Although Jim had made rapid progress
so far, I was still concerned that he would
not be able to sustain this searing pace. We
were also now in a city with cars, traffic
lights and roadworks to contend with. All of
which would slow Jim down.
Incredibly he kept going and as he approached us at the final
transition I allowed myself to believe that maybe he does
have a chance, albeit a very very slim one. Jim arrived at
the final transition needing to cover 60 miles in 3 ¾ hours.
We swapped crews and set off.
After just 50 yards Jim stopped. Puncture!
Our first of the race and right when we didn’t
need it. A quick wheel change and Jim was back
on course.
As we progressed the course began
to emerge in our favour: flat long roads, less
traffic and a precious tailwind. Jim was able
to keep the bike at over 20mph and race in
the “aero” position – crouching
down on the handlebars to minimise drag. As
the clocked ticked, the miles were consumed.
Enrico drove in a typical aggressive Italian
style to plough through the traffic, while
Donna bellowed instructions and encouragement.
I was navigating, my hands clenched vice like
to the route book. He could do it, but it’s
going to be very tight.
We cleared the final time station
and were cheered through by the rest of the
crew. Only nine miles to complete now. But
then a jolt and a strange noise from our follow
car. We had driven over a bolt which was embedded
in the tyre. If it deflated we would have to
stop and Jim would have to go on alone and
navigate to the finish. I hoped that the tyre
would hold out long enough.
Still focussed on finishing the
race I stopped myself from thinking about celebrations
or victories. 3,040 miles down, the emotions
and challenges: desert heat, Wolf Creek, Dodge
City and only 13 hours before Jim could barely
stand upright and was totally exhausted and
incoherent. Yet here we were, a few miles from
the finish and nothing was going to stop him.
We crossed the line and jumped
from the car to embrace Jim. I can only describe
what I witnessed that day as something incredible,
if not magical. Jim’s determination and
belief drove him through his exhaustion and
sleep deprivation to the point where he could
extract an extraordinary performance and cycle
quicker than he had at any point in the entire
race.
Jim finished the race six minutes
inside the cutoff time.
