I spoke with Rick yesterday and it sounds like his Achilles are slowly improving, but still sore.

No word on when he plans on climbing on his bike (I think he threatened to this upcoming weekend).

A big congratulations to Rick and George, their crew, family and sponsors for a job well done. George took a mighty last leg of over 200+ miles after Rick’s achilles finally got the best of him last night. A fair trade for some of the 100+ mile pulls that Rick took earlier in the race when George was also having problems. And folks, that’s what team RAAM is about – conquering the toughest bike race in the world – as a team!

Only 65 miles from the finish, its pretty much done except for the parade route and the party.

As mentioned on the Team Beat Cancer blog, Rick’s Achilles tendon is done, kaput, ‘sleeping with the fishes’…however you want to put it.

I spoke with him yesterday after he came off the bike. Despite being fairly uncomfortable because of the pain, he was in good spirits and satisfied with the effort he and George have put in over the past 9 days.

I also spoke to Terry, Rick’s wife, who was traveling from San Diego to Atlantic City yesterday to be at the finish line when Rick and George get there later today. She sounded relieved that the finish is almost there for RAAM.

One thing not to forget is that this race would not be possible for Rick and George without the support of their loved ones and support crew. The effort and commitment required to help support an event like this is incredibly impressive!Best wishes and much thanks to all involved!

Finish line report coming up soon!

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.

Want to be in on a secret? Rick’s wife, Terry, is on her way to Atlantic City, NJ to be at the finish line as a surprise for Rick. I figure Rick’s a little too busy to find time to read this blog in the next 48 hours to spoil it.
She’s been the support behind Rick the past twelve months and her successful battle with cancer over the several years has been one of the catalysts for Team Beat Cancer…

The RAAM Website also has some photos of Team Beat Cancer

Roughly halfway through the race, Rick sounds pretty upbeat the couple of times he’s called. That means although he may be working hard on the bike, he’s still able to recover in between pulls, which is critical for RAAM. He’s dealing the the typical muscle soreness and tightness (gee, do you think!), but it sounds like his crew is keeping up on his massages and stretching to help aleviate the discomfort.

I haven’t heard much added news about George except for what’s been posted on their blog.

Both riders seem to continue to take on and conquer whatever RAAM throws their way.

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!

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