My "official training" began on August 13, 2018 when I signed on with RAAM legend Marko Baloh as my coach. Marko has finished RAAM 7 times and has a lengthy and VERY successful resume in the world of ultra cycling!

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​​

I fell a little short in my first attempt to qualify for RAAM at the Sebring 24 hr race back in early February, 2019. Some pretty serious foot pain knocked me out early but I was able to complete 326.8 miles in 20 hours and 50 minutes. Needless to say, I am pretty happy with my first ultra cycling race!

​

​

My next attempt to qualify for RAAM 2021 was the 24 hour Texas Ultra Spirit race in Fayetteville, TX on May 10th & 11th, 2019. I needed to ride at least 350 miles in 24 hours. Had a great ride. Weather was supposed to be rainy for the entire race but it was cloudy and cool for the first 20 hrs (YAY!) and then it rained cats & dogs for the last 3 hours. Two flats on two different bikes on the 3rd to last and 2nd to last laps knocked me out. Still, I ended with 336 miles in a little less than 23 hrs. and finished 3rd overall!

​

 

Next up...Tejas 500 and the Texas Time Trials in Glen Rose Texas on September 19-20, 2019.

503 miles.

48 hours.

Very close to 25,000' ft. of climbing.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

We have a winner! 3rd time was the charm.

I finished the 503 miles in 45h 12m which means...

...I AM QUALIFIED TO RIDE RAAM IN 2021!

 

My crew chief Caryn Capriccioso and best cycling buddy
Dan "The Man: Pfister worked a great race plan through HOT, HOT temps,
HIGH, HIGH humidity and as a team we got it DONE!
I slept for a total of 3 1/2 hrs and had no physical issues at all.

​

I finished 2nd among Solo Men and 3rd overall. Five of the nine racers who started the Tejas 500 did not finish.

​

Needless to say, I am very very PLEASED with the results of my

3rd ultra cycling race since February 2019!

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

So, RAW and RAAM were cancelled for 2020. No big surprise.

So, what's an ultra-cyclist to do????

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How about a VIRTUAL RAW or vRAW?

Say what? How does that work?

 

Here's how:

​

949 miles.

81,340' of elevation gain.

83 stages in 12 states on the Fulgaz platform.

On a trainer.

In the basement.

Say WHAT???

​

That's how it happened.

There were 83 registrants for vRAW and we all started on Tuesday, June 16th.

I started at 7:00 am MDT and finished on Saturday, June 20th at 10:11 pm MDT.

Total race time: 111 hr. 11 min and 34 sec.

Good for 15th overall and...I finished 1st in the 60-69 age category!!

And...I qualified for RAAM once again!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow my training progress below