Joan's Blog » isabelle http://www.joandeitchman.com/blog Joan Deitchman: Ultra-Cyclist Thu, 17 Nov 2016 02:13:22 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Final Preparations http://www.joandeitchman.com/blog/?p=625 http://www.joandeitchman.com/blog/?p=625#comments Fri, 08 Jun 2012 07:14:16 +0000 isabelle http://www.joandeitchman.com/blog/?p=625 Continue reading →]]> Emails have been flying back and forth today.  Mike has built  an amazing bunk bed system for the Sprinter Support Vehicle and is putting together numerous other structural supports in the 3 vehicles.  Joan, Katie, and Dawn were packing, organizing and making all the decisions to try to pack as much as possible into 3 vehicles utilizing space as efficiently as possible.

This is the enormity of RAAM.  No matter now much pre-planning and organizing that is done the week before … RAAM is intense with trying to put it all together.  Sandy Earl an amazing Ultra-Cyclist and Crew Chief for Joan last year on RAW is our 24 hour a day contact person.  Sandy has been part of all the planning and is an enormous asset to Joan’s Solo RAAM journery that begins June 12th at 12 noon.

I can’t wait to see the entire team in Oceanside Sunday morning.  We will be getting to know each other and checking over every detail.  Our goal is to create such a well oiled machine that Joan feels totally confident with crew following behind her, tracking her nutrition, anticipating her every need.  We want Joan to be relaxed and just pedaling forward and not worrying about what is going on behind her.  Bonds are formed during these extreme athletic events that last a lifetime.  This crew is like a “Who’s Who’s”list themselves with their own accomplishments.

Joan we are all so proud of you and amazed at your courage and fortitude to take on the “beast” called RAAM.  My heart will forever be touched as you ride also for my son and the hope of a cure for the Leukemia and Lymphoma diseases.

 

]]> http://www.joandeitchman.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=625 0 A Message from the Crew Chief http://www.joandeitchman.com/blog/?p=622 http://www.joandeitchman.com/blog/?p=622#comments Thu, 07 Jun 2012 05:44:41 +0000 isabelle http://www.joandeitchman.com/blog/?p=622 Continue reading →]]> Solo RAAM is the ultimate race in the world for an Ultra-Cyclist.  Joan has done the training and is very prepared to trek across this country passing through 14 states and traveling from Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland in under 13 days pedaling over 3,000 miles with a total elevation gain in excess of 170,000 feet.

To be Crew Chief for this epic ride is a challenge I am embracing.  Joan has raised over $12,000.00 for LLS (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society).   My youngest son was recently diagnosed with Leukemia and Joan is riding in his honor.  By supporting a charity Joan has turned this ride into something much more than a bicycle ride across the country.  Joan is already a winner!

As Crew Chief I hope to motivate and mobilize 11 amazing people who have volunteered  their time and energy so that Joan may realize her dream of becoming the first Canadian woman to ever be an Official Finisher of Solo RAAM (Race Across America).

We have 3 vehicles that will be moving forward on the course following and attending to all Joan’s needs.  Crews will be rotating shifts every 8 hours and changing between vehicles.  The logistics for a race of this distance and  is mind boggling.

Follow us starting June 12th at noon from Oceanside.  Remember that race time will always be EST.

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