Race Across America 2006

2006 Race Across America - blog Races Index

Act One : Finding GearsCompleting the Race Across America as a traditional soloist is considerably more than "tough work". In fact for about 3,000 wild and excruciatingly long miles RAAM is about as tough as "sport" can legally be. Race-director Jim Pitre noted that he would most likely and rightly be arrested if animals contested traditional RAAM. Year after year, race favorites unexpectedly fall by the curbside to have their dreams crushed or interrupted. Yet each year RAAM draws more and more ultra-riders to its testing ground.  In 2006 a woman from Texas , Lubbock 's own Shanna "The Banana" Armstrong rolled her bicycle up to the starting line.Shanna Armstrong (31), the reigning World Champion Ultraman was competing in her first solo RAAM and I went along to witness firsthand what went down. Immediately I was drawn into a full scale adventure that demanded my best efforts. It was the main event, a push down, slug-fest of a brawl. Yet Armstrong stayed the course with a steely smile, laughter and a set of legs that never quit as she minced problems and obstacles into miles gone by. Shanna's percolating personality and her somehow non-aggressive competitiveness were landmarks in the way the race impacted me. While I came to discover much throughout the journey I also admit to having the time of my life. The impressions should echo forever.

In some circles it is argued that utopia can not exist without conflict, now maybe those philosophers didn’t imagine as much conflict as what occurred during RAAM but utopia wasn’t far off from where we ventured. What they don’t tell you about RAAM is that on the roads connecting California to New Jersey you encounter magic. Or maybe you create it. Routinely during RAAM ordinary people accomplish extraordinary feats and often they do it in ways they themselves can not believe or fail to grasp. Their formulas for success are comprised of passion, courage and massive effort. It's a fascinating process.

Yet as complex and demanding as RAAM can be, there is another aspect that is much more methodical and mechanical. The crew’s key function is to keep their rider rolling without incident. For the rider's life is even more defined, pedaling is priority number two, right after breathing. During the race a shrill alarm rang in my head anytime Armstrong was idle.

For Shanna  the predictability of pain was realized early, her surprise was that RAAM was even tougher than she expected. Usually a steadfast warrior in the windy dustbowl of the over-heated Texas flatlands she got her bell rung on the very first day as she climbed out of the coastal climate into the furnace of the desert. She was struck with nausea and her first eight-count started. Suddenly Shanna was wondering what went wrong, how did RAAM invade her armor and how could she find her way back?

Earlier that day I watched as Armstrong suffered bouts of dizziness, her stomach visibly bloated, we should have made her rest then. But it was so early in the race and after all she lived in the heat. Instead 3 of us left her with her follow crew to go up the road to rest and stock up on supplies. Traveling with me were "Hollywood" Hughes a cameraman and "Vic" Ferrari (oddly Vic is the name I made up) an osteopath from France . Hollywood and Vic soon got lost inside an Albertson's for a record hour and 16 minutes only to  present me with a old cold refrigerated sandwich. If truth be told I went in after them to see what the hold-up was only to discover them giggling like school girls reading NFL magazines. They were quite a site, both gleefully arguing the prospects of their NFL favorites in French. But, when word arrived of Shanna's illness it was back on everyone knew why they were there. Based on my understanding that Shanna's arthritic knees hated cold I had wished for heat. Heat we got, trouble we had.

Stabilization was what was required and our adjustment of priorities came fast and concisely; - survive, keep going, stay in the game. By the time I had rejoined Shanna, she had things well under control, she was smiling and laughing and I relaxed. I knew going in that she would bring her game but this turn of events strengthened my belief in her capacity.

From here we developed a rhythm that was often interrupted by Shanna’s need to chat and talk to everyone that came her way, but nonetheless a system developed and everyone was grateful Shanna was still in the game, safe and within reach of catching many male competitors.

Act Two : Becoming RAAMThe next day, after the climb out of Congress and into Monument Valley life slide into the surreal. Hollywood Hughes, our cameraman extraordinaire who also possessed a vast sense of humor, and I bolted ahead to scout some locations to photograph and film Shanna rolling through. RAAM is a physical, mental and spiritual journey and no matter what faith you follow, Monument Valley offers proof positive that life exists beyond that of practical matters. Right next door to the Valley of the Gods, Monument Valley was spectacular, it provided a little payback for facing this incredible challenge. After nailing a  sunset photo of Shanna back-dropped by unusual rock formations my spirits ran high.

Just then two people from Australia rolled up a dusty road and we spoke. They were exasperated by the conditions, by the beauty, by the heat and rugged terrain and they were very curious about us. We filled them in on “Superwoman” and the lady showed signs of being terribly afraid for Shanna, certainly no one could do what she was doing, but she did. It was a RAAM moment, the quintessential RAAM - out in the middle of a beautiful blazing nowhere, Shanna riding for everything she was worth, people struggling just to be outside their SUV. Optimism ran high, spirits tickled by Mother Nature, the heat pounding down encasing body and spirit in the core of our purpose. There was no where on earth that I would have rather been. You could taste the adventure, feel it in every fiber of your being.

Nighttime soon came, delivered by a hundred billion stars, warm winds served as a massive signal that the world was going to be alright. Shanna silently sliced her pedals through the dark and I handed her water bottles and things to eat. I played deejay and selected some music to accompany the effort. She was happy, excited, in awe, it was more magic, leaving Monument Valley behind on the edge of heaven. Stories from the beginning of time blinked down on us, energy from the earth’s core found its way to Shanna and we made our way towards Atlantic City , one time station at a time. A place still considered a million miles from where we were.

I really enjoyed the diversity of our crew, Jared, the over-sexed blonde Texan masseuse was a character straight out of the movies. Keith, another Texan, the bike mechanic was the only person  that I have ever known to carry a bible in a zip-loc bag. After two years of slugging it coast-to coast with the “Rainman” of RAAM, Mr. Danny Chew, Keith’s often fragmented conversation acted as nice buffer from rain to plain. Keith’s heart was in the right place, he was a total team player and would do anything for Shanna and her crew. Two-thumbs up for Keith.

The reported first big climb of RAAM approached, "Wolf Creek Pass", Shanna had had some trouble the year before with it, but this year she turned the mountain into a bump. As if without effort she climbed to the summit, redressed in warmer clothing and raced down the other side demonstrating bike handling skills that would rival the very best anywhere. Not only tough, she was fearless. Each time she would do something like that it would reaffirm my decision to come along and that there were amazing people in the world. Lance was right, it isn't about the bike.

Keith and I were sitting in a restaurant in Trinidad , Colorado . Our waitress who sported some sort of nose ring an $80,000 hairdo from the Lyle Lovet-Kramer Boutique walked over to inform us Keith's phone was ringing. When we got “the” call we learned that another crew member, Olivier Ferrari, (who I called Vic Ferrari) who flew in from France had run over one of Shanna’s bikes. Egad, I just hate when that happens, so we gobbled up our food and left the waitress a big enough tip to buy hair-rollers. I think that secretly Keith took a shine to her, I know I did.

It was hot as hell, Shanna was slower then slow, she was wearing her neck brace, battling 40 mph crosswinds. I looked at her through the heat fumes, I had to stand at an angle to the wind and I closed my eyes and looked down. I told myself that something was wrong with my eyes, my brain that she wasn't doing that. I looked again and she was. It wasn’t pretty when she rode up, she blasted moi, complaining of a lack of food, electrolytes and quality hair brushing out time. It was the first time in the race that her smile was replaced by a scowl. At the time I was surprised, but in retrospect, I shouldn’t have been. After what promised to be an extended battle with Kansas and its inhuman winds Shanna made it to her motor home for a brief rebuild.

When Brent, Shanna’s Father learned of the bike running over incident, he surprised the heck out of me when he responded with diplomacy. I was forced to tell him about it live on camera, as super sleuth Danny Chew scooped the story and attempted to grill a previously uniformed Brent for information. When I was asked what was up I told. So, the team gelled a little more. Shanna was what was important, not the bike or the mistakes made by people who were doing their very best to support her. Now a little slower, into the heat, into the wind, a little less optimistically Shanna Armstrong rode on. I wanted 1,000 beer.

It was definitely RAAM time and the blows kept coming. More wind, more heat, more pain - then thunderstorms and rain. Every change in the climate hurt her knees and often her neck. Yet she never complained, she continued to smile and laugh, she was quite a sight, with the toes cut out of her cycling shoes, her neck brace, her sun scorched body, but she was racing hard despite all the odds and obstacles.

I felt such a deep connection with her spirit and my own past riding that I just needed her to know that no matter what happens she could count on the crew and me. That no matter what, she was going through. I wanted her to know and feel that, when the reality was quite the opposite. That’s why only half of those who start out in RAAM finish, a challenge would be nothing if it was routinely conquered.

It made me sick, to consider anything but a happy ending.  I had seen riders go through worse conditions and apparently dig deeper to overcome their obstacles. I was at odds with the whole gender issue, I have known of other female ultra riders but this was the first time I was fortunate enough to garner such an inside look. My own sleep deprivation was kicking in, but inside it I found a new fuel, a “wired Perry” emerged and I loved the power, the energy, the burn. However it surfaced in outrageous comments and a terrifically bad vocabulary. I swore up and down at a sweet little old lady who without purpose blocked us in traffic, I developed a very 4 letter diction, "RAAM". Fortunately for the most part the rest of the crew found some relief in my sarcastic humor, but I knew that I was burning the candle at both ends. If I was and I was merely observing, how was Shanna? I worried that while she demonstrated endless energy, we might only find the end of it too late. I wanted her to sleep more, but she didn't think that was a viable option and that was that.

Time stations ticked by, Shanna had told me on numerous occasions that she didn’t want any info regarding progress or position, she wanted to focus on her own race. Who was I to argue? She obviously knew how to run her engine. Yet I did keep an eye on the minimums required. For the most part of the race we were to run in the danger zone. Her pace being comfortably above the minimum permitted, but a bit of bad luck could knock her under the pace. I was concerned she might OD, her energy was beyond questioning. Still though she might “crash” go beyond what her body had, it seemed to make sense to throw a couple or a few more 90 minute sleeps in as a preventative measure. If she became exhausted she would lose the better part of half–a-day. Or more. For the next 150 miles she averaged only 9 mph, the wind and weather was rarely kind.

Hollywood , Vic Ferrari and myself raced ahead to the next time station to wait for Shanna. It was the MacDonald’s in Pratt, Kansas, Steve Strecker the owner, who looks like the twin brother of race founder Lon Haldeman was giving out free food, (all you could eat and carry) water, ice, T-shirts and anything else not bolted down to every single person associated with RAAM. He was as generous as his daughter was gorgeous.

As I chewed on free food I watched in amazement as the sky ripped open. It poured down hard enough to send at least 35 religious zealots into “ark” building mode. Shanna was still out there and conditions were absolutely dangerous. More than that though they were actually absurd, you had to laugh, just how barbaric could it get? People in houses were getting their canoes, kayaks and rafts down. I raced back on the course until I saw her. Visibility was no more than 20 feet, yet she rode strong, kicking up a rooster-tail as if the rainbow started on her. She safely rolled into the MacDonald’s where everyone applauded her and after 20 or so curtain calls we shuffled her off to bed. While I chatted with Jared, Vic and Hollywood inside the MacDonald’s, the “underwear man” appeared again. Several time stations earlier, and on a cold night, I might add, this team rider came out to chat wearing way too informative boxer shorts. The fact that the guy was about 6 foot 10 gave and wore Danny Chew sized glasses gave him an alien kind of look. He talked about how much he liked toast. I grilled him in front of  the many drenched free-eaters and wanted to know why he was walking around in his underwear before. Now he reminded me of Geoffrey Rush in “Shine”, he still didn’t “get it”. But he seemed to be humored by the recollection. He was almost spooky.

Act Three : Race FaceI stretched out for a solid 45 minutes shut eye in wet clothes as word came that the time station up ahead was reporting 85 mph winds and was the subject of a tornado warning. Once woken, I was off in the support vehicle and it was exciting, it was so bloody exciting. Shanna as always was doing well, she started out slow, found her rhythm and rode. She was a gamer, this lady from Lubbock , mind you we didn’t mention the tornados or 85mph winds to her.

When we got to the next time station we had scared the tornados away and set our sights on El Dorado . I went ahead to photograph her, maybe catch a snooze and be ready to escort her again. We were getting phone messages, again she wanted food not contained in her 4 coolers. She was getting a bit grumpy, but you just couldn’t blame her. In the very least it was a tough slug and she was doing admirably.

The time station in El Dorado was full of people who helped our team and also inadvertently caused lots of distractions. We needed to make things happen and we needed Shanna to sleep, which was going to be tough.

The Chief of Police gave us a jail house shower for Shanna and then arranged a police escort for her out of town. Her blonde hair and southern accent was a hit everywhere. The Bicycle Peddler graciously delivered a much needed chain ring and numerous people helped change the front brake pads of the follow vehicle. People came from everywhere to get a glimpse of Shanna and she never turned a single request for a photo or autograph down.

As Shanna rode out of town Hollywood and I raced ahead and purchased some ice to hand-off to the follow vehicle. An old farmer type got out of his pick up truck and said to me, “Welcome to Kansas, God’s country”, he was borderline spooky. There was something about Kansas in RAAM, the Wicked Witch definitely didn’t like cyclists.

At Camdenton , MO I had had to talk to Shanna and gently warn her that to be safe it was absolutely necessary to pick up her pace. In fact her pace was fine, it was the time off the bike not spent sleeping which was the problem.

7 days and 1 hour into her first solo RAAM Shanna rolled into Jefferson City . She had just ridden 1852 miles, the last 60 miles she rode the fastest of her entire race. The people manning the time station I had known for the past few years, we shared a great laugh while Shanna rested, ate and was massaged.

The overlooked aspect of RAAM is that it is as wild as it is long. Many novice riders and crew trying to imagine what they will encounter may think mainly of the distance and all the obstacles that it will deliver. But it is as if no two RAAM’s are alike, that no two riders ever see the same race, that RAAM conjures whatever is specific to each rider’s weaknesses, for Shanna Armstrong it was rain, clouds and several abrupt changes in weather, all things that can bother her arthritic knees. Essentially whatever she hoped for, she encountered the exact opposite. It was a hard go. When she stopped to sleep, she couldn’t, she wasn’t delirious but she was worn in a bit. In some ways the crew had to think for her and we had to be ultra alert to signs that she may be unsafe to ride.

Reviewing the photos of the race gave me a slap of reality seeing how tired she was. Rereading the blog forced me to remember how it was and not how I wanted to remember it. There was a renewed sense of relief that she finished and a deeper respect for the level of difficulty involved with RAAM. Simultaneously it attacks the rider, while offering infinitely small or imagined encouragement, maybe a parent/child relationship, maybe a cruel unhealthy association but whatever is encountered is real and totally all consuming.

What Team Banana experienced and endured was something out of the ordinary but it does not reflect on anyone else’s RAAM. In talking with Shanna post RAAM the two things she has on her mind were to credit the women who raced RAAM before here, who, as Shanna says, “she would not have ever raced if it wasn’t for Susan Notorangelo, Seanna Hogan, Muffy Ritz and so many others, all their efforts inspired my own”. And the second was to urge people to donate to the Boys and Girls Club of Lubbock, Texas.

Leaving Jefferson City and its magnificent architecture there was a reserved collective feeling among the crew that barring some sort of disaster Shanna would finish within the time limit, but another lesson was about to come our way.

By the time Shanna reached the time station in Athens , OH , the winning male solo traditional rider, Daniel Wyss of Switzerland had crossed the line in Atlantic City . We were 500 miles back. It was the middle of a rainy windy night so miserable that even the cruelest heart would let the dogs in. For Armstrong there was one knee-busting climb after another. I was catching a few minutes nap time when “Rocky and Bullwinkle” speaking French to each other and still arguing about their NFL teams, navigated off course leaving us reliant on drunk, on-the-make college students for directional advice. Finally, Hollywood produced a plan which saw us drive up and down and around in circles until we found someone remotely associated with the race. Oddly, it worked. We located the RV with Karen and Bernie who were busy visiting Rip Van but we were able to garner our bearings, suck back gallons of Red Bull and take much needed chicken sandwiches to RAAM cyclist # 111. In Athens , Bernie, Karen and I took over the follow detail. It went quite well. The time station ahead was number 46, Parkersburg , WV . The station manager had contacted me several times by telephone, he told me that there were “stacks” of children, all camping out to cheer Shanna on, that they had gifts for her and the local television station would be waiting. This was all great and everyone counted on it to bolster her spirit. Not that she needed it, but it was to be an added perk or bonus. But our advance vehicle soon told us that because of the time that we would arrive, no children would be on hand. I wondered when kids in West Virginia camped, must be a day time activity only. Brent had told me that Shanna was riding strong because of the children, I wondered how the “no-show” would affect Shanna and Brent. I cringed inside.

When Shanna arrived someone walked up to her and handed her a Japanese orange, so much for her “moment”. But all was far from lost, Dick Bonnet and Michael Flanagan greeted Shanna and welcomed her. They gave her numerous paintings from the children and NBC News was on hand to interview Shanna. I scored a couple T-shirts and I raided the motor home for nutritious items like cheese and vanilla ice-cream, then bolted ahead to post a blog.

Shanna’s ability to smile was what got her through, I don’t think there is much doubt of that. For all her troubles, aches and pains, her lessening energy source, I still had complete confidence in her, it was the race that worried me. Complacency can be a killer and one set of logic said, maintain, keep her calm and she will ease in with time to spare. Problem with that theory was that once she eases off, the edge she is running on becomes dull, her adrenalin production slows or even stops, she becomes increasingly and most likely intolerably tired, her pain will intensify, one mile will seem like ten and then the trouble sets in. Add to that the essentially endless series of climbs and we were still operating in an yellow to red caution zone.

Final Act : Into the WildNo matter how much you bring, RAAM is going to ring your bell. You haven't RAAMed if you haven't faced the fear of how far you can go. Each time you mount your bicycle and set out to conquer a distance so far that it is almost perverse you put yourself center stage at the main event. The RAAM route demands respect and unanimously ranks as the number one contender. For most riders, the rest of the field is nothing more than a comfort blanket. Proof that you are not insane or alone. Misery loves company and riders, even with their crew just a few feet behind can be very lonely people. Maybe not at the start, but at that stage where muscles ache and sleep depravation meets bad weather and doubt, isolation sets in. Some just file it in their "complaints department" as something to be ignored, others sink deeper, feeling isolated not only from the race but from the world. Trouble seeks any avenue and like lions hunting gazelle first it separates, then attacks.Leaving Parkersburg , West Virginia , 9 days and 18 hours into 2,545 miles, Shanna the Banana Armstrong took her place in the saddle and set her sights on Atlantic City . Ding ...... ding ..... ding. It was really up to her now whether she finished officially or not. Barring floods or road closures, if she dug as deep as she could, no matter what she encountered she could finish within time, but she had to realize and want it. There were rumors that she said, "if it takes 3 weeks, I am still riding there". I guess a good attitude to cop if your plane don't depart Atlantic City on Friday or if you are injured or beaten. Now, I kept constant check on her numbers. Bernie was matter-of-fact, he had the perfect voice in the situation. He simply divided the hours remaining until the final cut-off by the miles remaining and that was that. I ran a couple more equations alongside his math, but nothing altered the logic of his formula. I asked him repeatedly what he thought of her prospects and he was never alarmed. I got the impression that if he was in a burning building he wouldn't be alarmed, he would simply locate an exit. I think he divided mentally to 2 decimal points. For the next 230 miles Shanna averaged less than 9 mph. There were hills on top of climbs in some sections and more than rollers usually. She had trouble shifting, a lot of trouble shifting. You would follow and just wait for her to blow a chain, she came off a couple times but it never phased her. Watching her almost frozen in balance trying with everything she could muster to turn over her chain ring on a wet, steep road was like watching a ballerina fall. When she did, it was impossible to get to her before she got up herself. Her game was a bit off but she still commanded respect. She suffered with grace and that clearly sent the lions went away.

The next three time-stations she concentrated on "doing the miles". It was not in any shape or form acceptable to go through everything she had endured and miss out by a couple of hours. Her pace picked up almost 25% or 3mph. I didn't feel like celebrating  but it was like getting unconfirmed reports that medical tests gave a clean bill of health. At this point I told her to not sweat it, barring disaster, it's in the bag, enjoy it. She didn't believe me but she wanted to. I granted her unlimited hair primping time and laughed. Still, after everything it was sad, maybe I told her to relax because I didn't want it to end. I knew it had to end and normal life would once again invade my existence. Maybe I told her because I thought she deserved reassurance, but as thankful and elated as I was for Shanna and all the crew I also felt deflated clinging to the tails of such a great adventure.

I had come along for a few reasons, I thought that Shanna might make a good story, I genuinely thought that I might be of assistance and I love this race. What I gained was the same as everyone else associated with Shanna, I got inspired. It was like watching wild horses dart around tumbleweed blowing across the desert plains, it was poetry in motion and it was right. In the beginning it was just Shanna, her bicycle and a short ride across the United States . In the end, it was just Shanna, her bicycle and a short ride over the wooden planks of the Boardwalk in Atlantic City . In the sunlight, Shanna removed her helmet and applause rained down on her. She has completed RAAM.

First Entry

05:46 Friday

I just received a phone message from motel's front desk that Shanna is sick and won't make her morning ride. We don't know what sick means yet as she asked not to be disturbed. More details to follow.

07:40 Friday

Shanna is dealing with some minor cold like conditions and we are dealing with the matter by being overly protective and cautious. Shanna is 100 % confident the show will go on. Its raining and cool here, a far cry from her usual climate and she is keen to start and ride into the heat that awaits away from the coast.

09:35 Sunday RACE DAY

Shanna Armstrong has begun her quest to conquer the toughest bicycle race on earth, the Race Across America or RAAM. Shanna showed almost no pre-race jitters either on the eve of the race or early Sunday morning before the show began. Mostly, she was concerned that her crew was happy, organized and comfortable in their roles.

On the pier in Oceanside she was a crowd pleaser and received a fantastic ovation. Her striking blonde hair and red Hammer jersey a stand out from the rest. While the race is full of amazing athletes, all of whom she respects, Shanna showed no signs of nervousness, but a little anxiety waiting for the starters gun.

All things considered, she is poised to make history. Shanna wishes to thank her family and friends for all the lovely emails she is receiving. She appreciates the support and everyone helps her to be a little stronger.

12:35 Monday DAY 1

Hello Shanna fans, I've got good news and bad news. Fortunately, I am able to start with the bad. Early in the race, about 100 miles or so in Shanna got blasted by the heat and possibly a case of RAAM rookie jitters. The end result was some vomiting, loss of time and distance and a bit of a blast to her confidence. Everyone on her crew was worried for her, especially her Father Brent who is crewing with us. Where else would you be if your baby girl was tackling RAAM? I told Brent that it was nothing to worry about, all he witnessed was poor Shanna, popping her RAAM cherry. The good news is, being the consummate professional and eternal optimist she is, she not only  bounced back, she did it "Shanna style" that is with a smile. She is currently doing what she loves riding in the torrid heat approaching one of the most demanding climbs of the race on her way to Prescott . Shanna is in the hands of a crew that cares about her greatly, her safety is priority one, finishing priority two and kicking some RAAM ass, everyone's third priority.

Again she wants to thank everyone for their emails and support. We will update as often as we can find the internet to do so. Send her your good luck, every bit builds her strength and ambition.

10:00 Wednesday Day 3

Shanna is alive and showing why she is a world champion Ultraman. After battling nausea, heat prostration and exposure to very cold nights our star is currently resting after a hard fought battle to chase the male race leaders. She has picked up her pace and promises me that she is just finding her stride. Optimism among crew members is extremely high and everyone is finding ways to help her do all she can to make her mark on this spectacular race.  Yesterday she flew through Monument Valley and into Colorado . Shanna is tanned and relaxed and remains in extremely high spirits. Emails from friends and family arrive by the Megabyte full. Fans, new and old from around the world fill our computer. The response is absolutely overwhelming. Shanna wishes to thank everyone and promises to return all your emails after the race. Please keep them coming, they are like little energy boosters, each and everyone. Today she faces Wolf Creek Pass.

02:00 Thursday Day 4

I am sitting here in Trinidad , Colorado with Chief bike mechanic Keith Burt as we swallow cooked food and copious amounts of Coca-cola. As I review in my mind what I have witnessed, I find it hard not to be overcome with emotion. This is the girl that can and will. Shanna Armstrong knows nothing about failure or defeat, all she knows is to be true to herself, take care of her crew and ride as hard and intelligently as possible. I know a lot of words but I think I might run out of the ones most prevalent to describe her and her effort. Amazing, astounding, shocking, inspirational, mind-boggling and just down right fantastic is a good place to start. I have watched while she has had her neck "adjusted", her arthritic knees cared for and watched as she shivers from the colds we have encountered. Through it all, two things remain constant, her faith and belief in herself and her undeniable and endless smile. No matter what happens, she comes up smiling.

Right in front of our eyes, she is becoming "RAAM", a collection of pains and strains, sun burnt here, tanned there, raccoon eyes, helmet lines, arm warmer blotches, sore feet, bum and wrists, but like I said, she is eating it up, she loves it, she always wants more. We have to force her to sleep, to get off the bike.

As I photographed her climbing Wolf Creek Pass what really stuck out is that at the top of the mountain, she was not out of breathe, she wasn't perspiring, she was just there at the top giving her Daddy a kiss. What a scene. sorry that I didn't catch it on film, but so much was going on.

Next she rode down the mountain with steadfast conviction and highly honed bike handling skills. I cringe every time there are railroad tracks or cattle crossing to ride over. Winds from all directions bounce her around and yet the cranks keep spinning.

Early this morning we caught up to Kenny Souza at a time station and the concept of that blew me away. In all reality, something could go wrong, Shanna may not finish, (that's RAAM) and we want to give this great race its due respect, we haven't accomplished anything yet, but just incase she does, she is going on to do her very best. We have a game plan, a race plan and yes Shanna Armstrong fans, friends and family, an ATTACK plan. Stay tuned, the "other" Armstrong from Texas is kicking up some dust and ready to roll.

13:00 Friday Day 5 ROUGH DAY ON PLANET BANANA

And then the poop hit the fan.

No sooner did I finishing penning yesterday's updates when trouble broke. Serious stuff, soul and body breaking stuff. It all started when one of the crew ran over one of Shanna's bikes, then the second one wouldn't work and her pride and joy new bike was too light for her to keep stable in headwinds that blew across the highway at an estimated 40 mph. Then the heat kicked in, team unity suffered some blows of anxiety and conflict, all the while poor Shanna bravely fought a fight that she just couldn't win. It was horrific watching her battle the winds on barren lonely road while time slipped away. Her body at times leaning over almost 45 degrees, her helmet acting like a parachute on the side of her head.

The concept of her not finishing was an evil thought that sickened me and made me think that something with the world just wasn't right. After the fiasco she endured in 2005 2 person RAAM, all her efforts to fund raise and the unimaginable dedication that she put into her training it still appeared that it was possible that a story book ending was going to become elusive. Riding her third bike was straining her knees and putting her body out of its accustomed  alignment. The wind swung around from tail to cross to head to crosswinds again. These were winds that would crush a man, but fortunately not this girl

Then the sun went down, the lightening and thunder joined forces with the rain and it looked as if the curtain call was just an act or two away. I felt my stomach churn out volumes of disgust. I attempted to keep a clear head and did everything I could to assist her overcome these problems. As did her entire crew! I met her out on the highway, I had some good news for her, a few problems solved, but she wasn't buying, instead she blasted me for things her sleep deprived mind evoked. This alarmed me deeper, I had never known Shanna to be like this, it indicated the stress level she was attempting to deal with.

We knew she needed sleep (as did the entire crew) and we talked her into laying down for 90 minutes. When she awoke she was Shanna again, happy, smiling and ready to get on with RAAM conquering. I don't think anyone ever doubted her, but it was fabulous to see she had her reins completely in hand again.

She got suited up and rode off somewhere around midnight into torrential rains, headwinds, thunder and lightening. Her neck was hurting, she was cold and wet and it was getting tougher. I drove down the highway a few times to watch her struggle, to cheer her on and to remind her in any way I can how she must find a way to beat all odds.

As if I had to tell her.

Seventy-five miles later she barged into the RV and kicked me out of her bed so she could take a 15 minute powernap. Friday morning broke to news that her support vehicle needed brakes, the shit just kept coming. But she rode on and she smiled and giggled and laughed. Keith Burt fixed her pride bike and we found brake pads for the support vehicle. Her neck pains increased and she was forced to start wearing her neck brace. Shanna Armstrong is quite a sight, battling the wicked winds of Kansas , enduring pain and racing the clock.

Not once as she ever mentioned "DNF", not once has she ever expressed doubt, not once was she satisfied with anything accomplished so far. Its Friday, its Kansas and its RAAM. If there is a person an earth that can conquer them all, my money, every last cent is on Shanna Banana. As Brent Armstrong said, "Its serious now"!

More updates when we can.

16:00 Saturday Somewhere on the edge of hell.

In my last post, I may have painted a dark assessment of race conditions but the fact of the matter was I didn't think it could get any worse. Well, I have to laugh at that silly naive thought now.

If RAAM was a prize fight, Shanna has been pinned to the ropes and beaten with an arsenal of blows. They came in the shape of massive storms, brutal and energy zapping crosswinds and tailwinds. Vehicle breakdowns, bike breakdowns and yes even crew break downs. At the risk of being repetitive, in all my years of association with RAAM and ultra-cycling, I have never seen anything like her. Not the most aggressive and certainly far from the most intense, she maintains an approach to RAAM that is at the same time extremely competitive. She is at her best when challenged by extreme conditions. She seems to need the added obstacles to find her best game. This unlikely RAAM soloist applies an internally optimistic outlook to everything that comes her way.

Last night, I anxiously waited Shanna at the McDonald's in Pratt , Kansas with cameraman Hollywood Hughes. She was expected any minute but before she could make it there a colossal storm ripped through town, dumping enough rain to drown a desert town. Winds tore everything away, visibility was no more than 10 feet. People everywhere scrambled for any refuge they could find. I myself was completely drenched in running a 20 foot span between vehicle and building. Hollywood hovered protecting his camera like Britney Spears protecting her baby "country-style".

The only thought I had was, where was Shanna and her support crew. I ran back to my van and drove back out on course. Traffic was intense in Pratt, the rain caused rivers on the highway, it was nothing shy of miraculous that there weren't a series of chain reaction auto-accidents. I decided that if I found her, I would force her into the support vehicle, it was simply too dangerous to be riding a bike even in this great race. My van negotiated a small climb out of Pratt when I found her coming down the same hill approaching me. Cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles hydroplaned and spewed rooster-tail like channels of water from their progress. There in the center rode Armstrong. Motorists sensing her plight had formed a protective wall on the sides and behind her. Still the situation was dire. I pulled a U-turn and followed in pursuit.

She reached the McDonald's and went inside where a large group of RAAM people, participants, fans and officials greeted her enthusiastically and with a certain awe for the fortitude she had just demonstrated.

After briefly spending some time with everyone she was ushered back to our motor home, given a hot shower and put to bed.

There was a knock on the motor home's door. It was Steve, the McDonald's owner, he had some bad news, our next time station Mount Vernon was under a Tornado warning and was experiencing winds of 80 mph.

I spoke with Bernie, Shanna's crew chief and discussed strategy. We both knew, that no matter what, for Shanna's RAAM campaign to continue she had to keep riding. RAAM is tough, but sheesh, where does it stop?  I planted myself in the back of one of our escort vehicles and went to sleep until Bernie would wake me.

When he did the monster eye of the storm had passed in just 45 minutes. It was around 1 am , Shanna had ridden about 1400 miles to date, she had her "pains" and although she never showed us, one would have to presume her doubts. Nonetheless she dressed and bravely mounted her bike and headed off into the night.

I drove the escort vehicle that followed, I was joined by Jared Williams, her masseuse and Keith, her bike mechanic. To watch her pump her pedals and ride back into the tail of the storm is the sort of thing you never forget. I mean lets get serious, how does one define courage? We stopped up the road and now that I suspected she was some sort of alien implanted into our humble little world I demanded a sample of her DNA so we could find out if in fact she was human. She laughed and rode on.

Traveling by bike for nearly 100,000 miles in the Outback of Australia, I am no stranger to thunder and lightening. Tonight, I began to understand why Dorothy fled Kansas . It was nutso and it was very, very real. Lightening so massive turned the pitch dark night into noon day brightness. Shanna kept pedaling. Jared kept selecting and playing fabulous rock and roll music which we broadcast to her through out 4 exterior mounted speakers. It was hard to believe I was getting paid for this. This was one monumental adventure and we three men were huddled inside the van. Shanna rode on.

At some unearthly hour Jared and Keith were sent to rest and were replaced by Bernie and Karen. The three of us escorted her to El Dorado as daybreak broke. Her arthritic knees were hurting her, she was dead tired, on the verge of bonking yet, she smiled, laughed and joked with us across the halfway point of RAAM.

As the trucker at the fuel stop said to me, "Welcome to Kansas , God's county".

11:00 Monday: We are Still Racing

Hello, my name is Perry and I haven't had a beer in 8 days. Or a proper sleep, shower or a relaxing moment, not that I care. I have experienced drama to the highest degree, I have laughed harder than I have for years. I have even cried, but let me tell you, I would not trade this experience for anything in the world. There is something so infinitely intoxicating and profoundly rewarding participating in RAAM. And I am just a crew member. While Shanna must keep it together and look at "3,000 miles" I can push it to the limit and over, knowing that someone else will fill in for me while I sleep and recover.

Between Saturday and now things went way RAAM on us. When you look at it on paper, RAAM doesn't look that bad. Who can't ride 3,000 miles in 12 days on 20 hours sleep? Answer; most of the world's populous. So you kind of figure that this sort of tough is enough, but how it breaks down on paper is just the start.

The things that they don't tell you about, make you great or break you. It is an incredible sensation to constantly battle with the best you have, only to be rebuked over and over. I see that in Shanna. I feel that in Shanna. Her demeanor has now suffered a couple of blows, at times now, a more demanding, a less friendly Shanna has appeared. But who can blame her?

There isn't a member of Team Banana that isn't extremely grateful to leave Kansas behind. Missouri 's green pastured manicured estates and sunny skies have been a welcome change to the absolute hostility of the Kansas weatherman.

But out here on the highways and byways of America pretty pictures don't last long viewed from the saddle of a bicycle. Sleep depravation, a lack of personal hygiene and the stress of battling such a formidable foe will wear almost anyone thin.

Don't take this wrong, I think that everyone of this team is having the time of their lives. You come alive in such conditions, the most mundane food tastes like ambrosia, a bottle of Diet Coke is something to go to war over.

For Shanna, its tough on top of tough. She asks me for permission to sleep, which I automatically grant, then when she gets out of her gear and lays in bed, the world gets cruel. No sleep comes her way, her body screams in pain and she is left with nothing to do, but to get up and ride and ride and ride.

Last night I challenged her and she got mad; and I felt really bad. But I loved the results, she rode hard and not since the greatest female ultra-rider of all-time Seanna Hogan have I seen such a sight. She attacked the night and the miles and raced, not rode to the mighty Mississippi River .

To stand on the side of the road and watch her "kick-it" is something words and pictures cannot depict. Her legs, more defined now than at the start, seemed to bask in the glow of the moon. Speakers mounted on the front of her follow vehicle blared Bon Jovi as she lived and chased her dream.

We are heading towards Indianapolis , Indiana right now. Its a witching hour type thing, we need to make the cut-off or everything stops. Something that no one is prepared to face. We are as optimistic as Shanna is courageous. It's one hell of a battle, one hell of a fight and it goes on, one pedal rotation at a time, mile by mile, state by state.

19:00 Tuesday

Suddenly it is difficult to write this blog, suddenly it is difficult to illuminate what is going on. To be honest, Shanna's RAAM quest is in trouble. I find it impossible to think she might be defied by time, but she might.

Time after time, she gets beaten by her body, her energy, the conditions and just the continual slug of 9 days of RAAM. But she seems to find a way to get out from under all the adversity and ride strong into the next time station. Today, I supported her for two legs approximately 110 miles in length. There were times when she moved as slow as a cyclist could. In those moments, myself and the crew must remain strong and supportive, optimistic and if we can, to be brave like her. I am the only one unfair enough to challenge her to do more, (other than herself), this a position she awarded me, to crack a whip as she says, its tough to do. How do you ask someone who is giving it her all to do more? How mean can I be? When, if ever do you throw in the towel?

She is still in good shape, she has endless injuries, some aggravations of existing conditions, some newly arrived, but she manages them, she handles them and she gets above them so a medical DNF is unlikely. But is the World Champion Ultraman running out of steam? I am afraid it is so. Not that she can't or won't finish officially, but she just might have to dig deeper than she ever has before and for those of you know her, you know, that is some kind of deep.

Knowing Shanna for the little time I have, I feel entirely implored to help her in any way I can. Sometimes she asks me to straighten out a crew issue or two, her father hates me, which doesn't make life easy. But we just go on. As I have said I have never known anyone like her before, she is a true champion, gentle, savvy and violently opposed to mediocrity. I watch her reach time station after time station when it looks like she won't have the energy to pedal one more rotation. I see her stall, subconsciously avoiding the saddle and it scares me. Worries me she won't "do it" , when I know she can. Then beneath my nose she moves her game forward. She understands that the only way to finish is to keep going, no matter the pain or how tired she is.

It is really not possible to specifically say how she does it. Some people want to win, I think she needs to. (Win meaning finish RAAM). Sometimes I am afraid to talk to her as I hand her food or replace her water bottles, then other times, I never want to leave.

Shanna Armstrong has fought many a great battles, but this just might be her greatest of all time. It is an honor and a thrill to be a part of it. Everyday, is like another lesson in courage, in persistency, in ambition and desire. Again and again she finds the way.

6:43 Wednesday Day 10

Well after posting last night's blog entry, myself (Perry Stone), cameraman Hollywood Hughes and Osteopath Olivier Ferrari blazed off into the night in hot pursuit of Shanna. We caught up to her on a long climb into Athens , Ohio . She wanted food, the kind you chew, not the kind you drink, so we pulled a U-turn and made it back to her motor home where I made a demand for quick sandwiches. Like a ping-pong ball, we reversed our direction again and shot down the hill to where Shanna was climbing and gave her a much deserved feed.

From there I climbed into the "follow" vehicle with Karen and "Bernardo" to light her path to Parkersburg , West Virginia . I must admit the balmy temperature inside the follow van had me sleepy and I was getting "rollie" neck. Shanna was very chipper and even giddy. This sort of giddy made us think about her mental capacity, but regardless it was a very pleasurable event. But her pace satisfied me and at times was down right impressive. Finishing was starting to look good.

Soon her pace slowed and she needed to climb in the back of the van for a snooze. When she got back on the bike 10 minutes later she told me she felt lonely on her bike in the dark. I pulled out my laptop and read about 100 emails that readers of this blog have sent in. Several times I had to stop reading, to compose myself as I shared your thoughts of love, inspiration and faith to her. Under the stars on the highway with semi tractors raging by it was pure magic. Her pace increased dramatically and she made it into West Virginia .

There she told me about how emotional your words were to her. She had a tear in her eye and it was just a perfectly beautiful moment. Next, NBC TV interviewed her and the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg, gave here a collection of gifts, including many posters drawn and colored by their children. Again Shanna was touched. Such a scene to see her rewarded with what seems to be most important to her.

Now Shanna sleeps, but soon her lion's mane of blonde hair will once again flicker in the wind. If she is in a good mood, her head will bob from side to side and miles will melt away, one by one, as she battles to reach her goal riding  into her dream of becoming RAAM. Its great to be alive, its great to be here and its great to know life as it should be lived.

15:32 Wednesday Grafton , West Virginia

The Banana goes on.

Shanna and crew are trying to tie down the emotions and focus purely on finishing in time. It ain't easy. Most of the crew are reaching or have surpassed their own personal endurance limits and crave a successful completion to this race. Shanna has found her legs and we continue to read your emails to her when it is safe to do so. Personally, I cannot imagine her not finishing, but never count out the unexpected.

Shanna tells me that she has to do the miles. That is her reality, to do the miles and get it done. The weather has been less than perfect but far, far better than it could be. The weather is not a negative, nor a positive at present, some rain and very cloudy. The clouds bring gloom and that is something we are trying to avoid yet she is maintaining her pace which would translate into finishing.

More climbing through the night will be the biggest obstacle, by tomorrow morning we will have a clear picture of what she is up against.

In '97 I started 2 person RAAM completing the course on mountain bikes. In '99, 2001, 2002 I completed three "RAAM style" races around Australia , but never have I felt the emotion of this effort. It is simply shocking to accept that people, from literally around the world, can come here and work together to support Shanna and feel such a bond. I don't know, maybe an argument could be made that, "I don't get out much", but I doubt it. Shanna has that something special that brings people together and inspires the most in a person. She radiates good will, dignity and grace under fire. She demonstrates that obstacles are to be tolerated first, then obliterated. She respects everyone and everything and is the epitome of a good sports person.

The time is now to pull out all the stops. She has her game face on and short of a tornado I think she is there. I wish every one of you could be here, it would influence your lives and how you live them.

Thanks again for all the amazing support.

For all of you in the Lubbock area, Shanna will return home via plane at 20:25 on Saturday night. If you have the time Shanna would love to see you there.

19:25 Wednesday Gormania

Shanna is on the road making her way here. I am supposed to be sleeping but I can't, which I think might be some sort of empathy thing. However my fingers are free to "blog". ( I added a few recent pics of Shanna that I took between the last station and Grafton).

At Grafton, WV., Shanna told me that she only looks good, (many people commented on her vibrancy) but that she doesn't feel that way. Her smile is as disarming as a sidewinder snake's approach and when you look into her eyes, you feel she is in command but she doesn't talk that way, she is humble to the core and carries volumes of respect for RAAM.

We are expecting her to sleep in this somewhat eerie locale and then ride through the night. I will be in her follow vehicle and since she responded so well to readings of your emails received here, I will do so again tonight. Please send your encouragement.

It is a dangerous time in RAAM. People can smell the shoreline of the Boardwalk in Atlantic City , most are very anxious to get there. Others need to fly away before we make it. While the "doing" is the reward in RAAM, the Boardwalk is fun and allows a moment of reflection, a group hug and a gigantic sigh of relief that everyone made it in one piece. After such an epic journey it is hard to accept the accomplishment. For most, that realization may not come for days or weeks. For riders like Shanna there is a personal aspect that may never surface. A confidence or a bolstering of one's acceptance of their abilities under the most dire of situations. There is massive satisfaction in never waving the white flag or feeling sorry for oneself.

RAAM helps people discover who they are. It is so much more than a bicycle race it is almost a misleader to name it such. In RAAM, each man or woman plans a race strategy, they train for it and then attempt to execute it. With Shanna it was a humble approach, when you take into consideration what she has already accomplished. In her pre-race interview she stated that she wasn't here to break records, she was here to RAAM which she called the "Superbowl of cycling". If she set any record she wanted it to be for the "most fun" RAAM ever.

22:00 Wednesday Gormania

Shanna made it in here but she is in less than optimal shape. She is getting "RAAMed". Slightly disoriented and definitely afraid that everything she worked so hard for might be slipping away, we put her to bed. We wake her in 90 minutes and give it another go. Dramatic and dangerous times. Send her your strength.

Can someone tell me the time? ( 13:30 Thursday, Rouzerville ,  PA )

Last night Bernie, Karen, Jared and I escorted Shanna through some very serious climbs and some terrible rain. While she seemed to invent her own sort of RAAM zombie shuffle, Shanna Armstrong still did it all, she kept turning the cranks over and over and climbed what she had to. She had trouble with her back which Jared tended to. She hates the rain and God gave her enough of that to bring her visibility down to zero. This finally forced her off her bike and into our support van where she slept for 90 minutes. While she slept, I raced ahead in another vehicle and started posting this.

At times, dealing with Shanna is like dealing with a prize fighter late in the rounds. A fighter who has been stunned by the veracity of his challenger. A fighter who is a little shell shocked or dazed but deep inside the warrior's mind is still calling the shots. RAAM is a worthy opponent, of that there is zero doubt. But the true grit and steadfast conviction of Lubbock , Texas ' ultimate ultra-rider is not to be denied either. While her times are slipping ever so slightly, if she can stay focused and keep riding, the girl is gonna do her thing. Jeff Born called her "The Warrior Princess" and that isn't a bad call, dignity and grace under fire, she fights for what is right.

Last night, I again read at length your emails and the response from Shanna was immediate and very evident, she rode faster and stronger, so please lets keep those emails coming. Its one big ball of emotion racing down the highway to Atlantic City and like a tornado, nothing will stop her!

Personally what I have witnessed and expect to witness in the next 24 hours has totally consumed my life. All I think is how to help her, how to motivate her, how, we as crew can do anything at all to make her battle easier, safer and faster.

Usually there is a standing joke about a RAAM rider's diet it goes like this..... What does a RAAM rider eat? Answer: Anything they want. If Shanna has one quirk, and RAAM riders at this stage of the game may have a 1,000, it is what and where she eats. We have 4 coolers in her support vehicle, a fridge in the motor home, yet 9 times out of 10, she wants something we don't have or that we just ran out of. Macaroni and cheese, something from the Golden Arches or some sort of concoction that makes you very happy it is almost over. She goes through ice like a Zamboni, and she goes through everything else like a Mac truck.

It is purely simple, you have to admire, respect and love her, her non-aggressive competitiveness is as unique as it is astounding. Hang in there fans, friends and family, we are down to the nitty-gritty.

Friday 8:30 SHANNA ARMSTRONG IS APPROACHING THE BOARDWALK

Details shortly:

Here we go. Eight years ago Shanna Armstrong learned of the Race Across America and knew it was for here. Today, I sit here on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City and await her to live her dream. It is impossible to know Shanna Armstrong and not want her to succeed, she is a genuine person who is devoutly concerned for the welfare of other people. This, she showed us through the entire race, with her care of the crew and the time she spent with other competitors and fans and children along the route.

One little girl who was not fortunate enough to meet Shanna was nonetheless still thrilled to get close. She was so cute and excited we snapped her photo, she resides in Lubbock .

One of the many things that stands out about Shanna's rookie solo RAAM is that she did it her way. I am not aware of anyone who has ever had as much fun as her competing in RAAM. Her almost constant smile and laughter, her endless reassurances to the crew and her silliness were remarkable under fire.

And really all of these above observations are what make Shanna such an unusually remarkable individual. Her athletic accomplishments as outstanding as they are, come in second to the way she lives her life off the bike and out of the pool. But, back to RAAM.....

Was I scared? Did I see a DNF in the making? Yes! Not that I ever doubted her desire and ability, but I know this game, champions go down. Things happen outside the realm of control each individual can have. This is what scared me. I was scared when she fell sick the first day, she had assured me heat was her friend, but the temperature and stress gave her a solid whack.

I don't know how often you see a woman wearing a neck brace riding in 40 mph crosswinds but it was another terrifying situation, even after having heard her laughter and seeing her smile. It goes on and on, but so did Shanna. I just got word that she is 5 miles from the Boardwalk and I will run out there to watch her cross the line. Its magic this journey and it is incredible sad that it has to come to an end. Fortunately, it is the ending we all hoped for. More after she officially finishes.

Shanna Armstrong, 2006 RAAM Champion

11:00 Friday

She did it, its all over she is a RAAM Champion. I'm sorry readers but I have to race to the airport, look for updates on Monday.

6:44 Sunday

Whew, I am still taking deep breaths, that was one heck of a journey. While I will post a review of Shanna's RAAM on Monday ( I hope) I just wanted to take a moment and thank my fellow crew members for their hard work and open minds. Their input, enthusiasm and efforts all helped Shanna realize her dream of conquering RAAM. While we were all robbed of the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishment, I toast you all where ever you are

I would also like to thank all the readers, Shanna's blog received over 280,000 hits during RAAM. Your heartfelt support, appreciation and love was a key factor in keeping Shanna going. In ice-hockey and basketball, fans are often referred to as the "6th man" for Shanna's 2006 RAAM, each one of you who wrote in should consider yourselves part of her extended crew. You made this "ordeal" an extremely memorable and rewarding experience. Thank-you so much!

Cheers from Whistler, BC, Canada .