Fire at Challenged Athletes Foundation

The unfortunate news this morning is that the Challenged Athletes Foundation office suffered a serious fire last night. No word on the cause or on the amount of the loss. At least from the initial reports, no one was injured.

If you’re not familiar with the Challenged Athletes Foundation, it’s one of those charities that continually reminds us that there is more to life than just training and racing; that the great part of life is breaking down barriers and helping others exceed their perceived ‘limitations’.

CAF has focused on helping people with disabilites that may not have the resources to participate in sports, the financial backing and equipment in order to do so. Want a “reality” check? Watch a guy with a leg prothesis run down Ali’i Drive in Kona during the Ironman, passing a bunch of two-legged triathletes. Makes all that self-centered whining we all occassionally do seem, well, uhm…like self-centered whining…

CAF has been a big part of my life; I owe my marriage to the fact that CAF athletes inspire people everyday to better themselves -  all people, regardless of physical abilities.

I met my wife standing in line to check-in at the 2002 California Half Ironman in Oceanside, California. Although she blew me off, wouldn’t give me the time of day, much less a last name or phone number, our paths crossed again, and the rest, as they say, is history.

What does the Challenged Athletes Foundation have to do with that meeting? Laura was inspired to get into triathlons after watching a triathlonthat a friend was racing in and was amazed by the determination of one triathlete – Jeremy Newman , a paraplegic who literally crawled up a muddy boat ramp in order to get to the swim-bike transition area. After witnessing that feat of determination, she began her journey into the multi-sport lifestyle.

RAAM Update – 6/21 – Goodbye Country Roads….

What type of race saves the hardest part until the end?At least in the the final day of Tour de France the riders arrive in Paris at a relatively easy and relaxed pace until the sprinters get the opportunity for their last shot at a stage win. Team Beat Cancer just rolled through Time Station #50 in La Vale, Maryland after completing the stage with the most climbing so far.That’s right, forget the climb over Monarch Pass in Colorado, don’t try to compare the ‘hills’ around Flagstaff, Arizona – its the hills in West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania that offer the highest elevation gain per section in RAAM!George and Rick just came through 4,500+ feet of climbing to leave the country roads of West Virginia behind.But like a bad Ginsu knife commercial – Wait! – There’s more!They still face sections with 3,000+, 4,300+ and 3,200+ across the next three time stations through Maryland and Pennsylvania.That’s enough for almost anyone to wish that they were back in Kansas – especially after 2,500+ miles of cycling.BUT…They’re not done yet! Time Station #54 to Georgetown, PA features almost a vertical mile of climbing (4,910 feet if you’re scoring at home!) – The most climbing of any section of RAAM.Follow along with Rick and George’s RAAM adventure! 

RAAM Update – 6/15 – Team BeatCancer

Rick and George (and support crew) continue their ‘adventure’ from Oceanside, CA to Atlantic City, NJ. Now well into Day #3 and entering Day #4, Team Beat Cancer has made it over Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado and is about to enjoy some Midwest flats and rolling hills for the next several days.

Rick just called in from the South Fork, CO time station and sounded in great spirits and had a lot of energy for a guy that is almost 1000 miles into an ultracycling race. Other than some fatigue, occasional cramping and a small saddle sore, he’s doing amazingly well – and getting ready to give George a bit of a rest by gearing up for a 100 mile pull!

RAAM Update #3 – Team BeatCancer

The Race Across America is well underway, with the lead solo riders approaching the half way point after beginning on Sunday.

The team competition started Tuesday. Team BeatCancer by www.coastalsportsmedicine.com seems to have found their cycling legs and have moved on up in the field according to the their last time station check.

Both riders are reported having problems adjusting their sleep schedules but may be on track after Rick Schulz took a 100 mile pull last night to give team mate George Vargas some well needed sleep and recovery.  Once both riders can get a little recovery, I believe we will continue to see Team BeatCancer move up through the field. Sleep and recovery off the bike will continue to become important factors for all racers as we get further into the race. Look for a shake-up in the team standings in the latter part of the races as competitors that went out too fast and didn’t plan for good recovery start to fall off their pace. Sometimes its better to be the tortoise than the hare.

Follow Team BeatCancer from their team blog 

Race Across America – TeamSam.com – Part 2

Swamis Cycling TeamSam.com turned in a great effort and solid performance in the Race Across America 24 hour Corporate Challenge, covering 493 miles from Oceanside, CA to Flagstaff, AZ in just over 25 hours to take 3rd place behind a super-charged Clif Bar team featuring former pro dualthete Kenny Souza and triathlete Chris Randall, and the American Specialty Health teams. Swamis Cycling TeamSam.com kept close to the second place team despite losing a rider to injury during the first part of the race.   I have to give credit to the RAAM organizers. They have done a great job this year increasing the media coverage of the race with video posted to YouTube.Sammy Hutchison (honorary team captain) and rider Jon Martin made part of the segment below.   

Race Across America – TeamSam.com

Every once in a while, someone or something comes across your path in life that makes you slow down, pause, think and reflect that maybe, just maybe, your life isn’t really that bad.

Today, for me, its a little tough guy named Sammy Hutchison – honorary team captain for the Swamis TeamSam.com cycling team competing in the 24 hour Corporate Challenge of the Race Across America (RAAM) from Oceanside, California to Flagstaff, Arizona.

Sammy is more than just your exuberant red-headed 6 year old kid. Technically, as I have been informed, his label is:

“…a fun-loving, soccer-playing, heelie-wearing, taco-eating, video game- playing, bike-riding, Magic Treehouse book-reading, bionicle-building, transformer-transforming, brother-tormenting, brother-loving, baby brother-kissing, speed-loving six year-old.

So what makes Sammy honorary captain of his own cycling team; what quality does he possess to get adults too caught up in their own lives to stop and ponder that maybe there really is more to life that the proverbial non-stop hamster wheel?

On January 19, 2005, Sam was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma with a tumor in his abdomen, three bone lesions, and 95% packed bone marrow. He’s has gone through multiple rounds on chemotherapy, a six hour surgery and a stem cell transplant and a relapse in 2006. Despite all that, Sammy looks at life with the wonderful innocence of a six-year old. Legoland – cool. Cycling – cool. Hospitals and monthly blood draws – not so cool, but he faces it with a determination well beyond his years.

I’ve been peripherally involved with TeamSam.com this year and only had the chance to meet Sammy this morning – standing tall and proud in his TeamSam.com cycling jersey, arms raised in victory in front of his cycling team (at least for a moment, then as most 6 year olds – something else caught his attention, and with his smiling-freckled face and red hair, he was darting off on another 6 year old adventure…

If you want to find out more about Sammy and his cycling team, check out TeamSam.com. Inspired? Then help out and donate to the Penolope and Sam Fund for finding a cure for Neuroblastoma.

Follow the Race Across America 24-hour Corporate Challenge at www.raceacrossamerica.org