Friday, November 17, 2006

Dr. Dan, Team Physiologist & Nutritionist

Dr. Dan
RAAM Team Physiologist and Nutritionist = Dr Dan

PhD = Physiology and Kinesiology at UMN specialty in bioenergetics and sports performance

MS = Nutrition and Physiology at UMN specialty in bioenergetics, disease prevention and health

Retired professional tennis and basketball athlete Minnesota Student-Athlete Year 1969 Little All-American at St. Olaf College / Basketball and Tennis

Presently competing in USTA Senior Nationals Tennis in Tucson

Adjunct Assistant Professor in UMN Medical School / Physiology Clinic and Medical Director for Children's Hospitals and Clinics of MN
Kohl's PowerCubed Exercise Medicine Clinic

Consultant for elite amateur and professional athletes and teams
including the following -
UMN men's and women's teams
Vikings, Twins, Wild, Timberwolves, and Phoenix Coyotes
Olympic Training Teams for speed skating, nordic skiing, hockey Other

Unique athletes include:
Mount Everest climbers
other RAAM teams
Iron Man Triathletes
Ultra athletes
Tour de France teams

Dr Dan can be reached at -
1. UMN office 612/625-2136 or halvo018@tc.umn.edu
2. CHC office 651/220-6360

Bill Nicholson, Crew Chief


Bill Nicholson, Crew Chief
Address: Dinkytown, US

Age: 47

What got you started in athletic endurance events, and what attractsyou to RAAM?
Upon first hearing of ultra-marathon and randonneuring events, I was drawn to them. First as a amateur participant, and then as a supporter. The character of individuals drawn to these events is so absurdly maniacal, that I want to join them.

Family status: Married, at least until I join the RAAM team…

Education: Scandinavian Studies
Occupation:
Computer and Media Technician at Change Masters Incorporated (hvad andet kunne man lave hos sådan en uddanelse?). Also a USA Cycling Race Official.
Why are you interested in raising funds and awareness for Camp Odayin?
I spent many years as a teenager at summer camps; first as a camper, later as a staff member. Helping to give these kids a better experience will be a small bit of payback for my experiences.

Other sports of interest, if any:
Team Handball and Curling. I think cycling makes my interests a trifecta for strange.

Best Performance ( not necessarily the fastest, just your favorite):
My first solo century while touring across Wisconsin. It was only supposed to be 50 miles… Maps: who needs them? (this from the guy who is supposed to keep us on track!)

Outline of your typical weekly training:
Sunday: Race Official
Monday: Race Official
Tuesday: Race Official
Wednesday: Time Trial
Thursday: Track Race Official
Friday: no racing, try to take a ride or sleep
Saturday: Race Official

Dream Goal:
Ride Paris-Brest-Paris, a non-stop 1200km ride that runs every four years. 2007 is out for me, but in 2011 – here I come.
Biggest obstacle to reaching your Dream Goal:
My French. Everything else is just me.
Favorite fuel source for events - what you eat on long events
Something with oats and caffeine, I think.

Most valued person in your life:
My wife Peggy: she’s smarter than I am, got me on the bike again as an adult, and is supportive of my hair-brained adventures.

Your #1 hero (may be the same as above):

Favorite quote or words to live by:
“If you’re not ridin’, you’re hidin’”

What you'd like to say to a group of like-minded endurance cycling athletes and/or a news reporter:
If there is anything that appears hard AND a little loonie, it is definitely worth consideration. And bring along several friends!

Timothy Case, Racer

Timothy Case
Born/Raised: Buffalo Grove, IL
Home: Boulder, Colorado

Address: Boulder, Colorado

Age: 30 years old

What go you started in endurance events and what attracts you to RAAM?
I’ve participated in a number of endurance cycling events, most frequently 24 hour mountain bike racing, as part of a team and solo. The RAAM seems like a logical next step for my endurance training and will be a complete test of mind and body.

Family Status: Single

Education: B.A., Winona State University, Winona, MN
National certifications in Firefighting, Hazardous Materials, Fire Investigations, Rescue and Emergency Medicine

Occupation: Professional Firefighter, Boulder Fire Rescue

Why are you interested in raising funds and awareness for Camp Odayin?
Camp Odayin deserves recognition, funding and attention for the important service it provides children with cardiac conditions and their families.

Other sports of interest: Competitive running, hiking, international grand prix motorcar racing

Best Performance: 4th place, McCleod County Road Race, 2x 3rd place finishes in 24 Hours of Afton MTB race

Outline of Typical Training: 4-5 days of long slow distance and climbing with 2-3 days Anaerobic threshold training

Dream Goal: Complete RAAM with an intact, healthy team

Biggest Obstacle to Goal: Unpredicted variables during race, fatigue and stress

Favorite Fuel Source for Long Events: “Comfort food,” canned potatoes, soup, Cliff Bars, Hammer Gel

Most Valued Person in Life: I care for and love my close friends and family dearly

#1 Hero: Both of my parents share the #1 title in my life

Favorite Quote: “There is a time to think and a time to move. So which is it gonna be?”-Captain Andy Vigil, Poudre Valley Fire Department, Fort Collins, CO

Greg Kostik, Racer

Greg Kostik
Born, raised and currently lives in Minneapolis

Address: 2600 Robbins St., Minneapolis, MN 55410

Age: 32

What got you started in athletic endurance events, and what attracts you to RAAM? The more bike racing I did over the years, I realized that the longer the race was the better I did. The events I did the best in were long individual time trials. Each time I’ll be on the bike during RAAM will be a long individual time trial.

Family status: Engaged. I will be getting married to the lovely Angie March 31, 2007.

Education: Will complete my BS in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota in May 2007.

Occupation: Senior Mechanical Designer for The Toro Company.

Why are you interested in raising funds and awareness for Camp Odayin? To help the kids have the best life they can. On a personal note, my godson was born December 2005 with a cardiovascular defect. I saw firsthand the struggles it puts upon a family.

Other sports of interest, if any: Triathlons and downhill skiing.

Best Performance (not necessarily the fastest, just your favorite): Ironman Madison 2004, finished 260th out of 2188 competitors (was 26th out of 2188 on the 112 mile bike leg).

Outline of your typical weekly training: If I’m not racing during the week I get in 3-5 days of short, intense rides (30-50 miles). If I’m not racing on the weekends I get in at least one good long, hard ride.

Dream Goal: Live my life to its fullest potential.

Biggest obstacle to reaching your Dream Goal:

Favorite fuel source for events - what you eat on long events: Cold pizza and Cliff Blocks

Most valued person in your life: Family and close friends.

Favorite quote or words to live by: You can accomplish anything you put your mind to.

What you'd like to say to a group of like-minded endurance cycling athletes and/or a news reporter: Never give up on chasing your goals.

Neil Eerdmans, Racer

Neil Eerdmans

Born: Cambridge, MN
Grew up in: Cambridge, MN
Home: Champlin, MN
Address: 5601 111th Ave. N., Champlin, MN 55316

Age: 38

What got you started in athletic endurance events, and what attracts you to RAAM?
I have always had extra energy and so burning that off has always been necessary. I have developed a love of riding bike and RAAM is simply fascinating to anyone that likes riding distance. I have always wondered what it would be like to be a part of RAAM and now I actually have a chance to experience it.

Family status: Married for 15 years. Two kids, both love life like their parents, Rose is 7 and Owen is 5.

Education: BA and Masters of Education at the University of Minnesota.

Occupation: Second Grade Teacher

Why are you interested in raising funds and awareness for Camp Odayin?
Honestly, I just learned of the camp but it seems like a great place with great things happening there. I believe in helping and being ready to help. The camp is exciting and anything that I could do to help raise awareness of the camp would be great. Spiritually speaking this seems like a great camp to put energy behind.

Other sports of interest:
I have also fallen in love with cross-country skiing. If you live in Minnesota you better find a love or hobby that involves the winter.

Best Performance: I like the Headwaters 100. It is a great season ending event to test your fitness and push yourself. We rode it one year in 3:58. My goal used to be 5 hours at that event, breaking 4 was a great feeling.

Outline your typical weekly training: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I like to go as long as I can and I love riding with our group. We move along but not without laughs and conversation.

Dream Goal: Get my son and daughter to ride bike with me.

Biggest Obstacle: The freedom of choice.

Favorite fuel source for events: Fun Size Snickers

Most valued person in your life: My family, they are my best friends and there is no one that I would rather be with.

Your #1 hero: Jesus, it is not what you think. It is very different than American Jesus, I am into the guy that said love everyone, feed everyone and forgive everyone. Very different. Very radical. Christ wasn’t about comfort and neither is RAAM. Oh yea, and Dick Hoyt. Go to google video and search him and his kid up... Unbelievable!

Favorite Quote or words to live by: Hurry is not of the devil, it is the devil. - Jung
Don’t buy up grades, ride up grades.

What would you like to say to a group of like-minded endurance cycling athletes and / or a news reporter: Life is more than you think. Some cyclists and endurance athletes that have pushed themselves get this. People pride themselves in being “out of the box.” There is a whole other level, it is like “out of the circle.” We catch glimpses of this. I don’t even know for sure what it is and it is beautiful and scary at the same time. Even the people that have pushed themselves have to be open to this idea. I know what your thinking and I agree, it is weird. RAAM seems like the perfect vehicle to get out of the circle, to experience the next level for maybe more than a glimpse. We will see.

Bernie Kaeferlein, Team Director


Bernie Kaeferlein, Team Director

Born: Tulsa, OK
Grew up in: Canon City, CO
Home: Champlin, MN
Address: 10910 Woodland Drive North, Champlin, MN 55316

Age: 36

What got you started in athletic endurance events, and what attracts you to RAAM? I got hooked on endurance events through 24 hour mountain bike racing. What attracts me to RAAM is combining my passions and talents to accomplish an epic adventure of the body and of the heart. Competing and completing RAAM is an adventure of a lifetime and a chance to discover what I am truly capable of. RAAM is also a wonderful way to raise awareness and funding for Camp Odayin, a camp for kids with heart disease.

Family status: Married for 13 years and going strong. Three children, age 12 (boy), age 9 (boy) and age 5 (girl)

Education: I did my undergrad at the University of Northern Colorado and received a BA in Kinesiology. I did my grad school at the University of Minnesota in Exercise Physiology focusing on clinical applications of Cardiopulmonary Physiology and Statistics

Occupation: Senior Marketing Manager for Medtronic Cardiac Surgery

Why are you interested in raising funds and awareness for Camp Odayin? Each year 32,000 babies are born in the US with cardiovascular defects. Children with heart disease are not often afforded the opportunity to attend camps due to health risks and medical issues.

Camp Odayin is a non profit organization dedicated to providing the camp experience to these special young people through week long residence camps, day camps and family camps providing campers and families the opportunity to meet others with similar health, emotional and social concerns. Camp Odayin is made available regardless of number of scars, scope of disease or physical abilities and is staffed by volunteer pediatric cardiologists, nurses and non-medical staff. To top it off, the experience is provided at no cost to the campers (aside from a $25 document processing fee).

Other sports of interest, if any: There are other sports? Backyard dodge ball with the neighborhood kids and skiing in Colorado.

Best Performance (not necessarily the fastest, just your favorite): 24 hours of Afton. Gorgeous venue, great mix of climbs, descents and technical single track…and outstanding people! It’s a race I look forward to and dread all at the same time, but the tremendous sense of accomplishment keeps me coming back. In 2006, our team finished 1st in Vets and 2nd overall.

Outline of your typical weekly training: Long rides on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with fast pace lines and hill climbing on Tuesday. Commuting to work 2 to 4 days a week.

Dream Goal: To look back on my life and know that I was the best father, husband and human being that I could possibly be.

Biggest obstacle to reaching your Dream Goal: Absolutely nothing!

Favorite fuel source for events - what you eat on long events: Leftover (cold) Chipotle burritos with extra sour cream and guacamole, rice pudding and tons of Clif Bars

Most valued person in your life: It might sound cliché, but it’s my wife and children. They are the wind beneath my wings and the beat of my heart. They inspire me.

Your #1 hero (may be the same as above): Anybody who gets out into the world to love and help other people.

Favorite quote or words to live by: “Live well, laugh often, love much.”

What you'd like to say to a group of like-minded endurance cycling athletes and/or a news reporter: Sing the praises of Camp Odayin and primary sponsors, thank an incredible team for pulling us all through this epic journey and…they joy in life is about the journey, not the destination.

The Team Strong Heart Mission


Team Strong Heart is a dedicated collection of bicycle racers, crew and volunteers who are using the epic physical challenge of the 2007 Race Across America to raise $100,000 for Camp Odayin.
The Race Across AMerica (RAAM) is a west coast to east coast, 1 stage, team time trial, widely regarded as the toughest bicycle race in the world. Our team of 4 racers will race against the clock, and other teams, 24 hours a day to complete the roughly 3,100 mile course. The course crosses some of the nation’s toughest deserts, mountains and countryside.


Camp Odayin provides residential, day and family camp experiences for children with heart disease from all around the world. The camp offers the opportunity to strengthen self-confidence, gain independence, develop life skills, and meet other young people with similar health, emotional and social concerns.
A non-profit organization, Camp Odayin is fully funded through corporate gifts, fundraisers, and private donations.