Wednesday Update

Team Strong Heart Reaches the Mississippi River (bridge in lights - 6/24)

Madonna is on the scene! (6/24)

Another morning still on the road in Kansas (6/24)

RAAM Learderboard

Team Strong Heart Progress Map

Update 10:37PM CDT: Team Strong Heart just reached TS#34 and passed over the Mississippi River! They will be racing through Illinois overnight. By morning we should find them in Indiana. Stand by for more racing action, the miles are ticking down now!

Update 10:30PM CDT: Sorry for the long gap in updates. I ended up being away from the computer for many hours and I locked out fill-in guy Neil by accident. Back to race action...

Team Strong Heart is now now approaching the Mississippi River and TS#34! Current conditions in St. Louis, MO: 85F with a 73F dew point and no wind, YUK! I think all the racers are sick of the sticky heat...

TSH is currently leading the field after several hours of neck-and-neck racing with Team Surfing USA. We have now learned that an unfortunate incident has taken Team Surfing USA out of the competition.

I am uncertain as to what actually happened and reports have been vague. I do know that nobody has suffered any life threatening injuries. It sounds like possibly a broken ankle was suffered by the Team Surfing USA rider involved.

I'm sure I share the same feeling as all of you RAAM fans and I'm very sorry to hear of this. The competition was good and it made for great action!

Update 11:34AM CDT: Wow! at the last time station (Camdenton, MO) that TSH passed through minites ago the gap between them and Team Surfing USA was 3 minutes. It is amazing that after 1853 miles and 91 hours of racing these two teams are so close. Stay tuned as the cat & mouse game continues. There is still a lot of racing left and anything could happen! Good luck to both teams!

Update 10AM CDT: Andy just checked in via cell phone. Spirits are high and things are going well. He reported that as they pulled into the last time station they encountered Team Surfing USA's complete vehicle support fueling up. IF all their vehicles are there, that means their riders are very close too. And wait... checking the leaderboard it appears Team Surfing USA pulled into the last time station only 4 minutes ahead of Team Strong Heart. That means TSH narrowed the gap by about 20 minutes over the last time station leg alone!!

Update 9:45AM CDT: TSH has reach Missouri and TS#30 at Weaubleau, MO. Madonna has now joined up with the TSH. She will be the sole female on the crew living out of an RV for the balance of the race with a bunch of stinky guys. Good luck to Madonna!

Current weather consditions: 85F, light winds from the SE, and a steamy dew point of 72F. There is also a chance of thunderstorms in the forecast.

Last year it was in Missouri were the 08 Team Strong Heart encounterd this scene.

Update 9AM CDT: The RAAM Solo Competition is worth a mention. The race for the lead is virtually a tie right now. Jure Robic who has been dominant the past few years is being seriously challenged by the German Dani Wyss. Robic has not had this kind of pressure over the last few years.

Minnesotan Ben Popp has also been very impressive as he continues to hold his spot on the leaderboard.

Check out the soloist leaderboard here.

Update 8AM CDT: Team Strong Heart is now approaching the Missouri state line. I'm sure like every other team they will be happy to put Kansas behind them. The gap between TSH and Team Surfing USA continues to shrink. At last check there were only 25 minutes between them as they pasted through TS#29 in Fort Scott, KS.

Andy check in via cell phone about 11:45PM last night. They were in El Dorado, KS and had just finished a shift. He was calling from a Walmart while shopping for re-supplies. He reported the teams are feeling the heat!

The states will start to zip by now as they move east. By days end today they should reach the Mississippi River. Today is the day that they also gain a fresh crew member. Madonna Lindgren joins the team at one of the first time stations in Missouri. She has a hotel room waiting with a real shower for when the team arrives. A few lucky team members will get to clean up!

Tuesday Update

Photo by Brendon Purdy RAAM - Brett Descends

More Kansas (6/23)

Mid-Kansas (6/23)

Crew readies bike (6/23)

Kansas Sunrise (6/23)

Check the RAAM Leaderboard here

Today marked the half way point as Tem Strong Heart passed through TS#25 in Pratt, Kansas (mile 1500!) at 5:50PM CDT this evening.

Update 10:30PM CDT: Checking in on Team Strong Heart finds them 27 minutes behind Team Surfing USA on the road but with their (TSUSA) 30 minute time penalty that gap is erased and it is more or less a dead heat! The race is on!

TSH is now between Maise, KS and El Dorado, KS and are heading for TS#27. Hot conditions were encountered this afternoon as TSH reports temperatures topping 100F! Current conditions in Maise, KS: 82F, clear, with a steamy 72F dew point! Temperatures will hover in the 70's overnight not offering a lot of relief from the heat. Tomorrow will be another hot day with highs well into the 90's with very humid conditions as the make they way into Missouri.

Update 2:30PM CDT: Just took a call from Andy as he and Brett just ended a shift. The weather is hot, Andy reports 98F!, and the racing is good. Andy and Brett have experienced one flat tire each otherwise it sounds like all equipment is functioning well. TSH has now been racing for over 1400 miles and 68 consecutive hours!

Update 1:30PM CDT: Team Strong Heart has taken the lead! Team Surfing USA has incurred a 30min time penalty which puts Team Strong Heart into the lead. TSH is currently between TS#23 in Plains, KS and TS#24 in Bucklin, KS. Current conditions in Bucklin, KS: 93F, clear, with wind S at 13mph. TSH is feeling a little humidity too with the dew point at 63F.

Update 7AM CDT: Checking in this morning there is a text message stamped 6:51AM from Andy saying they just passed the first (last place) soloist. TSH is now between TS#21 in Clayton, New Mexico and TS#22 at Elkhart, Kansas. To get to Elkhart they will leave New Mexico and ride across the pan handle of Oklahoma. Elkhart sits on the KS/OK border. Current conditions: 66F with calm winds. The temps will climb into the 90's on the route today.

Check the leaderboard sees that Team Strong Heart has trimmed the gap to the leaders (Team Surfing USA) to 37 minutes at the last time station!

Update 12AM CDT: The team has now passed through TS#19 in Cimarron, NM. I think it is Andy and Brett who are on the road now. They took the shift following Steve and Tim's arrival in Taos, NM. Kansas is on tap for tomorrow. TSH should see temps into the 90's with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Winds will continue to be from the south.

Ben Popp RAAM Soloist Update

Minnesotan Ben Popp continues his RAAM journey as a soloist. Team Strong Heart has come to appreciate how hard this effort is after team member Tim Case's successful solo effort last year.

Ben continues to hold his position on the leaderboard as the DNF numbers climb. Out of 21 starters 9 have dropped out thus far. This only makes Tim's perseverance in finishing as a soloist for Team Strong Heart last year more apparent.

Talk about your tough row to hoe! Go Ben!

Monday Update

Steve on the road (6/22)

Veiws from RAAM High Point Manga Pass. Elevation 10,255 feet

Veiw from Pagosa Springs Colorado (6/22 @ 12:30PM CDT)

Driver & Navigator (6/22)

Andy 6/22 @ 8:40AM (CDT)

Gearing up for another shift. Sent by Andy (6/22 @ 6:49AM CDT)

Team Strong Heart has been at it for over 30 hours now, they are more than 680 miles into the race. Monday has the team seeing some beautiful country as they chase towards the east.

Click on each photo above for an expanded view!

Check the RAAM leader board stats here and a progress map here for the latest.

Update 11PM CDT: Team Strong Heart has now passed the 1000 mile mark and are still going strong! That's what a strong four person team can do in about 50 hours! TSH continues to rank high on the leader board, 2nd out of ten 4-male teams to be exact. The gap between the leaders (Team Surfing USA) and Team Strong Heart is currently less than an hour. That is a very small gap by RAAM standards.

TSH is now between TS#18 Taos, NM and TS#19 Cimarron, NM. Overnight they will see temps in the low 50's and it looks like the winds are calm. Tomorrow the team will experience a change in scenery as the leave the beauty of the west and enter in Kansas (bla!). The road will straighten out and flatten out as they cross the plains and continue east.

Update 8:30PM (CDT): Team Strong Heart has now gone over the highest elevation point of the RAAM Route. They passed through TS#17 at Antonio, CO at 5:35PM CDT and are now on their way to Taos, New Mexico and TS#18. The should arrive shortly. When they reach Taos, NM they will have been on the course for over 1000 miles!

Update 4PM (CDT): TSH reached TS#16 at Chuma, New Mexico at 3:08PM (CDT). They are now heading back into Colorado for a short time before the continue back into New Mexico. Current condition on the CO/NM border: 82F and clear with wind out of the SW are 16mph. Andy called just after he and Brett finished their last shift in Pagosa Springs, CO. He said things were going good and everyone was feeling pretty good. During Andy and Brett's next shift they will tackle La Manga Pass topping out at an elevation of 10,255. That is the high point of the RAAM route. Good luck guys!

Update 12:23PM (CDT): TSH has now reached TS#15 in Pagsa Springs, CO. With 885 miles of racing behind them they are about to leave Colorado and head into New Mexico. The weather continues to be very nice with temps in the 70's and 80's expected for the balance of the daylight hours. The sky is clear and the reported wind speeds are light and variable. TS#16 in Chama, New Mexico is the next destination.

Update 8:45AM (CDT): TSH passed through TS#14 in Durango Colorado at 8:45AM. Conditions in Durango at the time: 55F with calm winds. The next TS is in Pagosa Springs, CO were the team with do another shift change. Steve and Tim will be up next!

Update 7AM (CDT): Team Strong Heart passed through Utah over night and has now raced for over 770 miles! They are now between Cortez and Durango Colorado (TS# 13&14). Conditions in Durango this morning: 39F, clear with wind at 5mph from the NE. In a brief text message Andy reports he and Bret will be taking the shift from TS#13 in Cortez, CO to TS#15 in Pagosa Springs, CO. They should arrive at TS#15 sometime between 11AM and Noon (CDT). They should see temps near 70F as they reach Pagosa Springs.

Update 12:22AM (CDT): TS#11 at Mexican Hat Utah has been reached. The gap is only about 45 minutes off the lead! TSH will race their way through Utah in the dark. Conditions as they passed through Mexican Hat, UT: 74F with a SW wind at 12mph. That is about as nice as you can ask for!

Other RAAM News: Soloist Ben Popp

Fellow Minnesotan Ben Popp continues to do well in the RAAM Solo category. He has maintained his respectable spot on the leader board as the DNF list continues to climb.

You can follow Ben's progress here. Best of luck to Ben.

After hearing 09TSH member Tim Case's first hand stories of doing RAAM as a soloist (2008), I have an all new respect for the individuals who make this attempt. It is simply beyond comprehension!

Just four hounds for right now.

Photo by RAAM, Tim sometime on Sunday (6/21)

Andy waiting at TS6 in Prescott, AZ

We have been going back and forth with an 8 man team (Team Donate Life) all night. Lots of climbing now and no end in sight. Everyone is doing great. Spirits are high. We are in good position and know it is a long race. Would rather be the hound than the rabbit.

Posted for Brett by Lisa

Sunday Update

Blurry, sleppy RV life. Sent by Andy after riding into Flagstaff (6/21@6:46PM CDT)

Brett ready to ride near Jerome, AZ (6/21 @ 1:22PM CDT)

Andy heading for Sedona, AZ (6/21 @ 11:57AM CDT)

Team Strong Heart continues to move along. At last check 11AM (Central) the team had pasted through Time Station #5 in Congress Arizona. They are on their way to TS#6 in Prescott AZ. THS is maintaining their second place position among the 10 4-male teams.

The weather conditions are very moderate. The temperature in Congress AZ, known for being a HOT spot, is currently a very nice 82F with winds from the SE at about 10mph. Conditions in Prescott currently and as the team gains elevation on their way towards Flagstaff they will find temperature falling into the 50's.

Check RAAM leader board stats here and a progress map here

Update 10:29PM (CDT): TS#10 has been reached at Kayenta, AZ. The next TS is in Mexican Hat Utah. TSH will probably be doing a shift change soon. Tim and Steve will most likely be on duty through the night. Go Team Strong Heart!

Update 7:29PM (CDT): TSH has now raced for over 560 miles in a little over 24 hours. They have reached TS#9 in Tuba City, AZ and are currently holding their place high on the RAAM leader board. They continue to have a nice tailwind and and mild temps as they race their way toward the Utah border. The racers will see temps dip to around 50F overnight. The RAAM route will take Team Strong Heart through some of the most beautiful parts of the course over the next 24hrs.

Update 4:49PM (CDT): TSH has pasted through TS#8 in Flagstaff, AZ. Weather conditions in Flagstaff were very pleasant as they passed through. It was 73F with wind out of the SW at 20mph. That is a nice push from Mother Nature! In Flagstaff there was most likely a shift change and Steve and Tim should now be on the road. They are headed for Tuba City, AZ as they head into the evening.

Update 1:35PM (CDT): TSH has now passed through TS#7 in Cottonwood, AZ. TS#8 is located in Flagstaff, AZ. This next section is a very tough one as they tackle many climbs on their way to Flagstaff. Current conditions in Cottonwood: 84F with SSE winds at 16mph.

Update 11:29AM (CDT): TSH reaches TS#6 in Prescott, AZ. Now heading for TS#7 in Cottonwood, AZ. Estimated arrival time is about 1:30PM (CDT).

Look here for more updates later today!

Happy Fathers Day and go Team Strong Heart!

Brief Insiders View of Where We're At, So Far

Hey all,

Sitting in Flagstaff, AZ waiting for our Steve and my shift to start up in a bit and just wanted to drop a quick note out here about what we've been up to and how the experience has unfolded.

Thanks to Jay for keeping y'all updated on a more regular basis...

The ride to Flagstaff has been arduous. Mercifully, knock on wood, the temps have been decent and everyone is riding so strong and the crew has been near flawless in helping us do the pedaling across our great nation. There have been many ups and downs, physically and emotionally for all of us. It's a truism of RAAM that every time you saddle your bike for another pull, you just really don't know how you're going to feel. On pull you're strong, the next you want your mommy. Very tough to figure that out.

As you can see, we're doing very well in the standings and have been chipping away at the leaders. Standings aside, everyone on the Team has been awesome and we're completely engaged now in this effort, very well dialed in.

On a personal level, the route across the country on bicycle, 24 hours a day, is a very individual, emotional and physical experience. Each of us, crew and racers, is seeing a slightly different part of the race and hopefully we'll be bringing back experiences and insight that will last a lifetime. My climb earlier today up Yarnell Grade actually brought tears before, during and after hauling butt up its steeps. Last year Congress, AZ was a roadblock of sorts that really defined the rest of my solo effort, and so it was welled-up emotions that I attacked that climb, knowing that I had all of you behind me, giving me that extra push and extra breath when I needed it.

All of us are so very thankful to have supporters, crew and other racers marching us across America.

Andy and Brett are out there right now pedaling out to Flagstaff and Steve and I will take it from there. Can't really think of any place we'd rather be at the moment.

Keeping the rubber side down...

Tim

Team Strong Heart is Roll'n!!

At the Starting Line

11PM Saturday (central): Just got a call from Andy with an update!

RAAM kicked off officaily at 2PM (4PM central) and Team Strong Heart has started strong! Andy reported in after he and Brett took the first shift. Tim and Steve are now on the road.

Andy reports a strong tailwind for the first leg and looking at average speeds they are sailing! Currently Team Strong Heart is in second place betweeen Time Station #2 Brawley, CA and #3 Blythe, CA.

See a progress map here!

Weather conditions in Blythe, CA at 9PM (PST): 91F and clear with a 14mph wind from the SW.

And they're off!

Tim and Steve just hanging out waiting for the race to start.

andy with laird hamilton...mr.extreme surfing god. he is rather famous..and so am i....from andy claflin

Waiting at the bridge to start the long journey, looking very relaxed and in good spirits. Let's see how wide the smile is in a couple of days.

Andy, Brett and the crew in one of the vans awaiting their turn to go for a spin.

Posted for Andy and Brett by Lisa

Why We Ride: Team Strong Heart 2009

My life inexorably changed three years when I was invited to join Bernie, Neil and Greg for the 2007 Race Across America, in support of Camp Odayin.

Here we sit, stand and lay down the night before what's been called the "world's toughest sporting event" by Outside Magazine, and I can't really overstate the immensity of what we're all about to experience.

RAAM is quite simply the most exhausting, brutally honest and punishing event that most of us will ever encounter in our lives. The miles are sometimes miserable, often times boring and occasionally inhumane. The brutality that Team Strong Heart members (crew and racers) willingly endure during the Race Across America is, though, a pittance when compared to the pain and endurance required to live with and mitigate a congenital heart defect or disease.

We race so that the children, staff and families who come to Camp Odayin year-after can continue to do so. We race because some of us are running/riding to something while some of us are always running/riding away... Look at our mission statement. We are a dedicated group of athletes and supporters who are racing for the Camp. We race so that others might live stronger.

Having been down the RAAM road twice already, once as a relay racer and once as a solo racer, I pretty much know what's about to happen to my brothers-in-arms starting at 1400 tomorrow afternoon. It's so many things to so many people and I hope that you'll come with Team Strong Heart for a journey to the center of it all.

When you go to bed tomorrow night, think about which one of us might be out on the open road, taking a pull for everyone whose influence, support and love has brought to this very moment...to the moment where we can pay back all of you, known and unknown. We are doing this race for you and you and that kid over there who came into this world with a defect or disease of the heart.

We promise 6 days of integrity, class, performance and quite simply, results.

Keep the rubber side down.

Tim and all of Team Strong Heart, 2009

TSH Passes Pre-Race Inspections

Hi all,

Just a quick note to let you know that Team Strong Heart has cleared the "final" pre-RAAM hurdle and has passed all of our official inspections for vehicles, bikes, etc. More detail on the blog later tonight...

On a completely unrelated note, see the pictures above for a "stunning" moustache/bike racer comparison between myself and Garmin Slipstream rider, Dave Zabriskie (thanks to Madonna and Andy for the effort)...

Tim

Pre-RAAM, Day Two, Race Across America 2009

The adventure continues, rather the pre-adventure continues. Today is/was day two of the pre-RAAM melee that will continue into Saturday and the eventual beginning of the Race.

This morning we met up with more of our crew, with Brett and his brood coming in from the Blythe time station. Last night those guys camped out at Time Station Three and watched the solo male leaders (see also: Jure Robic) come through. They apparently looked tough as nails, and they will need to be, only 230 miles into the 3100 mile race.

We spent a hideous amount of money on groceries at Costco today for our human flotilla (4 racers, 8.5 crew) and the crew has been hard at work laying the groundwork for 6 days of eating. I think we're all eaters with a severe bike riding problem... Along those lines we went out for an easy spin, got accosted by some teenagers (dang kids) and rode along the beach (love the salt and the sights).

Tonight we'll be eating the fruits of the crews hard cooking, chill out with a few brews and hopefully hit the sack for our big day tomorrow. In the morning we'll be out early for vehicle and bike inspections, team photos and every other detail that tends to rear its head pre-RAAM.

Thanks to everyone for your love and support. Stay tuned for an amazing show, put on by yours truly and EVERYONE on Team Strong Heart. This year will be something special, which is almost becoming the "standard" for the racers, crew and supporters of TSH.

Keep the rubber side down...

Tim

Postcards from Oceanside

Thursday Photos - TSH getting ready

Ben Popp - RAAM Soloist from MN

Ben Popp is a 2009 RAAM soloist from Minnesota. The soloists start a few days ahead of the team competitors and they are currently on the course.

Checking the RAAM leader board at noon today (Thursday) finds Ben doing very well currently positioned in 8th in a field of 21 solo starters. Good luck to Ben Popp!

Arrival: Oceanside, California

Well...we arrived in Oceanside this evening after much, too much driving. All-in-all, though, it was a pretty uneventful trip out from MN to CO and then out here from the mighty Rocky Mountains. We pushed hard to get through the 15 hours of driving, gorged ourselves on some Denny's (try the Pancake Puppies), and are now resting peacefully, anticipating the next couple of days.

Tomorrow we'll be hard at it, prepping the vehicles, getting a short ride in, meeting up with the rest of our team and generally engaging the craziness of RAAM head on.

We're ready. Are you?

Keep the rubber side down.

Tim

Team Strong Heart Arrives in Cali!

10:10PM (Central time): Andy Claflin, Team Captain for the 09 Team Strong Heart just reported in after arriving in Oceanside California. He is checked in to the hotel TSH is staying in and reports that the next set of TSH arrivals are only ten minutes away.

The remainder of the squad will pull in in tomorrow to begin final preparations. The race for the team competition starts Saturday. The team has very little time to relax while they get everything ready. Tomorrow (Thurs) they will have to prepare their vehicles and bikes for the upcoming pre-race inspections. That's only part of their preparations. They also have to shop for food, change oil,organize the RV, assign chores and duties, and the list goes on.

Stand by for more as the '09 Team Strong Heart prepares for the 2009 Race Across America!

Huntington Beach - random updates

June 17th.... Huntington Beach

Well, I can post from my phone to my personal blog but not this site. I happen to be at work waiting for my bike to show up from Fedex...and its two days late. I guess I cant complain and such as we have a wonderful ATS family here to keep me fed, warm at night, entertained and the such - thank you Trever and Raquel (and kids!).

The crew from MN/CO (Steve, Tim, Ed, Tom, Chris and Ryan) headed from CO this morning about 5am loaded to the gills and expect to be in Oceanside tonight...what a trip they had! They are in good spirits and moving quick and we are all ready to rock n roll.

The sushi from last night is sitting well - it wasnt that bad at all...I was expecting MUCH worse but it slid down smooth while everyone was watching for something to happen...dont worry guys, it was good and THANK YOU!

Once the bike is here I will assemble and head to Oceanside and get my mind in the game. Not that crazy of updates yet but tonight will be more. I hope to have some pics going up of the RAAM start area once I am there. Enjoy the day - I should be online for a while until old blue shows up.

Andrew

T-minus.....

RAAM 09 - Team Strong Heart (partial crew/racers in MN less my dad)

Picked up the rental van today...yeah...in the pic...steve, andy, madonna throwin signs and ryan. packing now - arranging etc... leaving tomorrow morning before the sun comes up!!!!!!

Get ready to follow us!


Andrew