It’s hard to believe that in just a couple days I’ll be starting from here in the Race Across America. This is something I’ve dreamed of doing for nearly 20 years. There is lots I could write about but I have so many things to do. I still need to get reflective tape on my spare wheels, signs on the vehicles, pick up my crew from the airport and on and on.

Chris Kostman, organizer of the Furnace Creek 508, has written a new article about doing RAAM. It has some things to help stay motivated and other tips.

We’ve been having record or near record heat for over a week and so has most of the west. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like it’s going to change before RAAM starts this weekend. Last weekend it was 113 degrees in Blythe, CA. It is forecast to be slightly cooler on Sunday with a high of 107 degrees. I got to Green River, UT around midnight last night and it felt like it was still 90 degrees and its elevation is 4,000 feet.

I’ve continued my heat training in the basement bathroom. I found if I put a towel along the bottom of the door when I was pre-heating the room, I could get it to 107 degrees. Since I wanted to make sure I didn’t also simulate higher altitude than my normal 6100 feet, I would move the towel part way before riding. Over the first 15-20 minutes the temperature would drop to 102 degrees and stay there. I’ve definitely improved my tolerance to heat by doing it but I still hope it doesn’t seem as hot outside. The only air movement I’ve had is the little fans in the heater and all they’re doing is blowing even hotter air on me.

I plan to leave for California tomorrow afternoon. It’s hard to believe it’s only a few days until the start of RAAM. I think I have pretty much everything piled around the basement but it’s not organized or packed. I’ll be very busy tomorrow morning.

Last week a photographer from the Gazette, the local paper, did a photo shoot of me in Garden of the Gods. They posted a cool picture on the out there blog today. There will be an article in the paper this coming Friday.