Tough December

December has not been a very good month for training in Iowa. I can't seem to find much motivation to ride indoors and the roads have been a mess. Hopefully tomorrow they will dry out and I will be able to get a long ride in.
New Years day is the sign-up day for the race so at that point I will be committed. The serious training will have to start then. Larry Ide is wanting me to go to Sebring 24 with him over Valetine's Day weekend. It will be good training but comes at a bad time of the year without many miles ridden. Hopefully I can talk Bill Ford into going with us.

Provided by the Race Across America Officials

For nearly three decades, the Race Across America has provided an opportunity for men and women from all over the world to gather in California and race their bicycles to the Atlantic Ocean. To successfully complete a "RAAM crossing" demands and extracts a Herculean effort, and like climbing mountains or sailing oceans, RAAM becomes a catalyst which ignites the fire within.

In this way ultra-endurance cycling becomes much more than a "tough ride", it becomes a part of you. The effort, discipline and determination necessary to succeed are stamped into one's spirit and transcend from the saddle to daily life.

Now in 2009, the Race Across the West will be held in conjunction with the Solo Race Across America. Both races will start simultaneously side-by-side and follow the same race course until Taos, NM where RAW concludes.

This is an opportunity to race against the very best ultra-cyclists inthe world!

Four times RAAM Champion Jure Robic from Slovenia, RAAM Champion Daniel Wyss from Switzerland, Gerhard Gulewicz of Austria and many more arescheduled to compete. Last year, while competing in RAAM, Jure Robicled the way to Taos, NM in 2 days, 19 hours and 15 minutes. For a RAW soloist to become an official finisher he or she must beat a cut-off time of 3 days 20 hours. From sea level to 6,950 feet, across deserts,over mountains and more mountains for 1,000 + miles in a single-stage; this is definitely not a tour.

RAW challenges a racer to more than 1,000 miles on as little sleep as possible, and if that isn't tough enough, we threw in some mountain ranges, extreme climate changes and brutal heat. Headwinds? You have to race it to find out.

Pies Delivered

16 pies were delivered or picked up on Wednesday. We have orders already for 12 more. Connie told her boss (jokingly of course) that she may have to turn in her resignation and open a bakery. Ha!

Final Pie Before Thanksgiving

The last pie just came out of the oven for Thanksgiving orders. Connie will deliver 16 pies tomorrow. She has orders for 10 more already between Thanksgiving and Christmas! Pies look delicious and the house smells great! I think all three Mann-men wish that one of these pies were for here. I think there have been a few volunteers that if any pies were ruined or somehow overcooked, it wouldn't be a problem getting rid of them.

Pies, Pies, and More Pies

Let the pie baking begin! Actually it started at 11:30 a.m. this morning. We have orders for 16 pies for tomorrow (8 pecan and 8 pumpkin). The first four pumpkin pies are baked, two more are in the oven and then two to go. Chris, our oldest son, is home this week from Iowa State. He helped by mixing up the filling for the first four pies. Nice to have his help. With luck, the pies should be done tonight, but Connie needs to take a break and go to the Quad Cities because her sister just went in the hospital today. Pies will be on hold temporarily. It's going well though.

Fund Raiser Update

It's one week before Thanksgiving and we already have orders for 19 pies! In addition to that, we have two who are donating and requesting no pie. It's going to be a busy pie-making day at the Mann house next Tuesday!

24 Hr. Challenge - August 30, 2008

UltraMidwest 24 Hour Challenge

431 miles and RAAM qualified! On August 30, 2008, I rode throughout the night to lead me to a 2nd place overall finish in the UltraMidwest 24 Hour Challenge. My crew was my wife, Connie; my son, Chris, and a friend, Eric Furnas. The night was perfect temps even though it was somewhat windy and we had some route issues early on where some individuals messed with the course and changed the course markings. However, I managed to complete my goal which was to ride 425 miles in order to qualify for the Race Across America, which only 900 Americans have ever qualifed for. Race Across America is held every year where individuals ride 3,000+ miles. New in the last year is the Race Across the West (RAW) that RAAM qualified persons can race 1,044 miles in 3 days. I have chosen to do the Race Across the West will be starting on June 18, 2009 and will begin in Oceanside California. There will be more on this ride later.

Our First Fund Raiser - PIE!!!

Our first fund raiser for the Race Across the West: Do you love a homemade Pecan Pie or Pumpkin Pie? Why not place your order now for one or more for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas? Contact Connie Mann at cmann@machlink.com to place your order. Only $13.00 each!!