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Today started off just like any other. We loaded up the bikes and made our rider team exchanges. Bill Hardy and Bill Edmonds were the riders beginning at 7:30 a.m. We cruised through TS 43, TS 44, and TS 45 which took us all the way to Athens OH. Then began TS 46 with Bill Hardy on the bike. He road 24 miles at 21mph. Next was Bill Edmonds turn for his last 22 of the shift. About 5 miles into the 22 it started to rain…really, really rain. The thunder and lightening began a little to close for comfort and then the it just plain old poured down from the sky. Bill continued through his shift raising his fist to show the rain would not beat him but that he would beat the rain and the hills ahead. It didn’t let up for the remainder of his ride. He continued through puddles almost axle deep. He averaged somewhere in the 18 mph range for his ride. We dropped off the Bill’s and there was Steve Kendra ready for the next shift. Waiting in the rain and just as determined to continue. It is now 16 miles into his ride and the rain has slowed but does continue.
Your RAAM Crew Member,
Trish Hardy
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With just about 500 miles to go, you might be able to see the top of Donald Trump's hair-do in Atlantic City. I'm sure just like any good stable horse, the boys are starting to smell the barn. It's getting closer.
During the past 24 hrs., Shannon's Soldiers crossed into Ohio from Indiana and at the time of this writing are about to leave Ohio and enter West Virginia. They've pedaled over 2,500 miles since last Tuesday afternoon and have just over 500 miles to their Atlantic City destination. They still have the states of West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey in front of them but Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona and California are in the rear view mirror.
The hot and humid weather are still a problem but actually the average speed has increased today versus yesterday, probably again, because the end is getting closer. Shannon's Soldiers are projected to cross the finish line in Atlantic City between 3:00 am-3:30 am (Eastern Time) on Wednesday morning, June 20. I think they'll be a good contingent of family and friends cheering for them at the finish line but my guess is the guys will want to take a long shower and go to bed. Probably not much interest in hitting the casinos. My wife Cathy and I are catching the red-eye to Philadelphia tonight and plan to be in Atlantic City by noon tomorrow. I'll figure out some way to get my daily update out to all of you.
The enclosed photo shows my brother Pat finishing his leg and handing things over to fellow teammate, Dan Schmidt. These guys have almost completed this unbelievable challenge and they and their support crew are exhausted and running on fumes. When you wake up Wednesday morning, if for some reason you happen to think of Shannon's Soldiers being done with their journey across our country, I hope you grin from ear to ear thinking about what they've accomplished and the important role all of you played in making the purpose of this trip so meaningful to Pat and his daughter Shannon.
My next update will be from ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY!!
Jim Mahoney
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The Angels Cross the Mississippi!
I hitched a ride with this crew at approximately 3:00am Monday morning in Marthasville, MO. John and Steve road steady into the night and early morning hours on the narrow and windy back roads of Missouri. The twist, turns and hills were a challenge….but nothing these two men couldn’t conquer! They had pedaled us all the way to the Mississippi River by about 8:30am, exhausted but determined to cross the river as a team as the picture proves! The hand off was smooth and Bill & Bill caught another gear as we proceeded East on 40 through Greenville, Effingham, and Marshal IL. During this phase of the race the guys pushed through rain for over 50 miles…never letting up! As Bill Edmonds said so eloquently “now this is racing”…ok that’s not a quote but it’s close. We ended our Day at 8:01pm in Putnamville, IN. As John rode off with Ken, Trish and Steve Eastward on Hwy 40 toward Indy land. What a day! GO TEAM!
Connie O
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Happy Fathers Day. Three of the four Shannon's Soldiers riders are fathers and I'm sure they wish they were with their families today.
Today, the team has moved through Missouri into Illinois and soon will be in Indiana. They have just arrived at Time Station #37 in Effingham, Illinois which means they have completed 2,100 miles and have less than 1,000 miles to go to reach their Atlantic City, New Jersey destination. They're 2/3 done.
Oppressing heat and humidity has been the demon for the past two days with daytime highs in the mid 90s with high humidity. These conditions sap strength and accelerate mental and physical fatigue. The weather report doesn't sound much different for tomorrow as they make their way through Indiana and Ohio. Fortunately, the nights are much cooler with temperatures in the 60s.
Based on their progress, Shannon's Soldiers continue to have a predicted arrival in Atlantic City during the morning of Wednesday, June 20th. Please keep them in your thoughts as the reports are that things have gotten a bit fragile. Maybe the riding segments in the cooler temperatures tonight will lift their spirits.
More tomorrow.
Jim Mahoney
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Hi Friends,
I think it is Sunday afternoon. . .and I’m pretty sure we are in Camdenton, Missouri. John Hardy and I did an all night pull last night through the middle eastern section of Kansas through towns like Pratt, Mt. Vernon, Wichita, and my brother’s personal favorite town to navigate through El Dorado. We finished up in Yates at about 8:00 A.M. RAAM time (EST). At that time we were a whopping 14 hours ahead of the maximum time allowable by RAAM. We’ve been gaining speed and time all the way across the country.
It’s hot and humid here in Missouri. Trish Hardy (Bill’s wife) has just joined the support crew and has jumped in with both feet having been trained and now working the follow vehicle with Bob Skold for this evening following John Hardy and I as we finish the trip across the state.
As we rode through the prairies of Kansas last night I had my iPod on and listened to one of my favorite Garth Brooks songs about the ones the wolves pulled down. There were many sounds in the night in my music free ear and with all that time to myself, and I couldn’t help but get the chills as I thought of the words to his song. Yesterday the team went through the town of Greensburg Kansas. This town was completely wiped out by a tornado in May. I also thought about my friend Nora in California whose sweet little angel of a grandson Jake passed on a few weeks ago – losing his battle to NF and JMML Leukemia. We ride for those the wolves pull down. My prayer is for them and our mission is to help them however we can.
Tonight we’ll be riding for the 2 million running from or in the grips of the NF wolf.
Life for me is made up not so much of the moments that I breathe, but more of those moments where my breath is taken away. RAAM has been full of those moments – and for that affirmation of how good it is to be alive and healthy enough to do this I am grateful.
Riding to enable a cure.
Steve
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Our Soldiers spent most of their day pedaling through Kansas. Their first checkpoint was Montezuma, Kansas at 1:15am EST. By 11:25 PM EST, our heroes had entered Missouri and had checked into the first time station there at Collins, MO. The distance between these two stations was 394.7 miles!
The word from the team is that the crew has a great "keep on truckin' attitude. They tell us that sleep is light....but when you watch these guys riding hard and pushing on......it certainly makes you feel like you aren't contributing enough!
Pat Mahoney gave Greg Thielen the summary quote for the day, " It's all down hill from here" ... Greg decided not to break the news to him!
Tomorrow is Father's Day and I am struck by the tremendous sacrifice that all of these guys are making for Shannon, Ari, and all of the children affected with NF. I would imagine that in a lot of ways all of the dads on both teams and their crews are doing this race for their own children, as well. It is hard not to be moved by the lengths a father would go to for his own. If you guys want to leave any comments for our Soldiers wishing them a Happy Father's Day, I'm sure they'd be much appreciated. These guys have passed the half-way point and will have to dig deep from here on out. We're pulling for you!!
Go Soldiers,
Stacy
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Hello Friends!
Half of the Angel’s Team is sitting here in Pratt, Kansas waiting for the two Bill’s (riders) and the two Doug’s (support crew) to arrive so John and I can head off into the evening for another all night adventure. Our pace has picked up, and the weather has been cooperating. The days are sort of running together so please excuse any laps or repetitive information I provide. Yesterday we went up and down all three major passes in Colorado (the entire team helped with the steep sections) and for the past 24 hours have been peddling across the eastern Colorado and western Kansas countryside. We have so many good experiences and pictures to share, it’s hard to pick the ones that in any way define the experience. And, as always, the best memories are not on film. RAAM is truly a team sport. And, this team is performing very well.
I think I had the best shower and breakfast of my life in an old truck stop this morning. . .after John and I did a 196 mile pull though the mountains and all night through the plains. Boy did that feel goodJ. Of course, I’d like to give credit to the riders on the team as they are literally busting their humps riding across the country – but without the crew, I don’t know that we’d be out of California. They are without exception the true heroes of our RAAM adventure. I’m especially grateful to have my brother Dan with us for the time being (he’s leaving us tomorrow). As he has done for most of my life, he is looking after me, and the team, with a grace and perseverance beyond measure. We picked up Bob Skold and Doug Rage last evening in Trinidad and pick up Trish Hardy and Connie Oslica in Kansas City and St. Louis respectively tomorrow.
I am looking forward to catching up with Pat Mahoney and his team in Atlantic City to share some stories, and find out how they made out. I understand they are kicking butt, and will be well rested before we arrive. Like I have mentioned, this is an amazing adventure. . .but the effort that the Mahoney family and their team of supporters have put forth in funding a cure for NF, is beyond compare. We are competing in this Race Across America together, but in the core of all of our hearts as we race to fund treatments and a cure for NF it is clear that there is no us verses them. . .there is only we.
So, from Pratt Kansas, where the fine folks at McDonalds have donated a free meal to all racers and crew in RAAM, I wish you all a wonderful weekend, and I’m looking forward to seeing you soon,
For Ari’s Angels,
Steve Kendra
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