Reports from the Race Day Two

Good morning and welcome to RAAM coverage day two. I will try to collect and post all the reports from today in this entry as they come in. If You have any questions for the riders or the support staff, post them in the comments or Email me and I will get them answered when Merrill calls. - Mike Z

5:20 AM Thursday Eastern Time- Keith is mixing it up with 18 Wheelers on eastbound I-10 near quartzite, az. Next available 24 hour gas is 140 miles, so we had to stop for fuel.
It is a beautiful night with lots of stars that you rarely see in the DC sky. Very little light pollution out here. Temp is 75. Alex out on a vest when it was 64 earlier but may be regretting it now as he has taken over for Keith on the 10. Alex is stylin in his aero helmet.
Earlier this afternoon Keith was riding up a steep incline where a geared rider passed him. He was apologizing later and said he must have "first day jitters". Really, that is what he said! The grade was like 12%+ for a mile when he got passed. I told him not to worry, the race is 3014 miles. Recently adjusted up from 3008 miles.
We are now at mile 261 at 0520 eastern. That includes 18 miles going 65 in the van in a section of the course that was eliminated due to unsafe construction so they had is out the rider in the van for a short time. - Merrill

6:36 AM - Here in az it is down to 60 F as we approach Vicksburg junction. Keith just stomped out 11.2 miles in 28 min! Alex is on course now and pounding out his last segment this shift.
KAL are riding 30 min each, taking turns for 6 hours while PAD rest. The RV drives 110 to 120 miles ahead and the riders ride to it. Then everyone switches and the new riders head out on the course. We are about to enter hope, az where timestation 4 is located. Only 50 more to Annapolis. - Merrill

7:00 AM Its down to 60f now as we enter Salome, AZ. I'm very tired and looking forward to my first sleep shift. Be back around 2p eastern. - Merrill

10:00 AM - Clint Provenza from Severna Park checks in with the following message for the AFC team: "Hey Mike, please pass along that many SPP folks are watching the RAAM news and wishing everyone well. You all are off to a roaring start holding it above 20mph. And I saw the segment for 50 mi at 25mph! Totally awesome. Wish I was there, after all it was a Thurs am, my usual EC day...just not the same chasing Adam up Lawyers without everyone."

11:00 AM Lee from the my PSC Support group passes on the following message to AFC: "Thank you so much !! I'll be rooting for the team ! May their legs and bodies make the distance ! They are awesome. - Lee

1:28 PM They just rolled into Prescott with the 2nd fastest avg speed (18.23) into TS6 (behind the Irish boys). The guys are on fire and are just 1 minute behind the 4th place team (whom they passed on the road into Prescott) and 14 minutes out of 3rd. Outstanding performance by both AFC squads!!! - Thanks for the update from the cyclist formerly known as GU

2:10 PM - Alex been climbing 7 miles, 3 to go. Too is 7030 feet, just passed 6000 sign. 78 degrees and no shade. Scrub brush and rocks and some pine trees, beautiful for me pain for Alex. - Merrill

2:30 - YDT reports on a Phone call from Keith: I just spoke with KR, by phone. He had Merrill post to give him a call. KR was lucid, but you could tell the toll of sleep deprivation. He has not slept since Tuesday night. Says its hard to sleep in the RV rocking and rolling around. He was quite surprised by the quick shock of a 7-8 mile climb right out of the box yesterday. Said the climb was 7% or so. Ouch. He said the climbing is mostly out of the saddle on that kind of pitch with his gearing. Said it took a lot out of him. Mouth is extremely dry in the desert too. Said they are cheering other riders they pass in the van as the follow Alex now. He is going to have to jump out soon as he will be taking over in the middle of the mountain climb. Says he is climbing to 7K feet. KR commented that there is a very international feel to things as they have competitors from 17 countries. Oh he has to go now, he is taking over for Alex. - Thanks Dave!

6:05 PM I have a limp in my throat. We've been climbing for 30 miles on 89A into Flagstaff, AZ. Giant Tour style climb with cloudless sky and up to 15% grades. Coming into flagstaff timestation now. - Merrill

6:20 PM - 25 hours elapsed. 81 F in Flagstaff, cloudless, breezy the wrong way. Very dry, everyone has chapped lips. Alex nose so dry he out a little Vaseline in it.
Keith may sleep tonight for the first time. He was in bad shape but rose from the dead in the van to resume the climb several times. I'm serious about having a lump in my throat. Alex thought he was letting us down when he pulled over to let Keith takeover at one really steep point. They were doing 2 mile shifts for a time due to the grade and the 48 x 17 gearing. Incredible!-Merrill

7:00 - Merrill said 490 miles covered. KAL off duty PAD racing!