Annapolis, Md. – Team Type 2 crossed the finish line of the Race Across America (RAAM) early Sunday to complete the grueling, 3,021-mile (4,861 km) journey in seven days, seven hours and 24 minutes.
The squad’s stirring finish in front of a large crowd on the City Dock in Annapolis, Md., featured a mix of hugs, smiles, a few tears and plenty of high fives. One long-time RAAM observer called it the most emotional finish line celebration he has ever witnessed.
“It’s exciting to work so hard to get it done,” Team Type 2 director and rider Bob Avritt said. “It gives us the opportunity to look forward to help people and inspire them about what people with Type 2 diabetes can accomplish.”
Team Type 2 is believed to be the first squad consisting entirely of athletes with Type 2 diabetes to successfully complete the non-stop, transcontinental race since teams began competing in RAAM in 1989. People living with the disease have too much sugar in their bloodstream because their bodies either do not use insulin properly or do not produce enough insulin.
In addition to Avritt, team members were John Anderson, Bill Arnold, Bob Chaisson, Larry Cleveland, Peter Cowley, Mark Thul and Denny Voorhees.
Chaisson survived a scare in the final 12 hours of the race when he badly cut his right calf after slipping off the pedals. He needed seven stitches and a tetanus shot, but resumed riding four hours later.
Team Type 2 is an extension of Team Type 1, which was founded in 2004 by Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge. Team Type 1 has competed in RAAM since 2006 and has men’s and women’s professional racing teams, a triathlon team and a development team. Team Type 2 strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes; through active management, one can achieve their goals, dreams, and potential.
On Friday, Team Type 1 won the eight-person team division of RAAM in five days, nine hours and five minutes while bettering the race record. Many members of that team, as well as the squad’s volunteer crew, were in Annapolis Sunday morning to greet Team Type 2.
Avritt said RAAM – which began last Saturday in Oceanside, Calif. – was everything that he expected.
“Some of it was more difficult than I could have imagined,” he said. “The most difficult was the sleep deprivation. I knew it would be an issue, but not so much of a predominant issue. Regardless, we were able to meet our goal of finishing in seven days.”
Photos: Courtesy Michael Scholl
No comments:
Post a Comment