Updated: March, 2008
Copyright 2008 by Race Across America, LLC (Colorado). All rights reserved.

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In 1986, Pete Penseyres set the all-time RAAM speed record of 15.4 mph over a course of 3107 miles with a time of 8d 9h 47m. It’s a record that has stood for more than 20 years. Just how fast is that?

The winning speed in 1982 and 1983 was still under 13mph. In 1984, Penseyres pushed that to 13.29mph. In 1985, Jonathan Boyer set the still standing rookie record of 9d 2h 6m for an average speed of 14.31 mph over a 3120 mile course. Pete came back in 1986 on a virtually identical course to 1985 and set the record beating Boyer’s speed by 7.6%.

In 1992, Rob Kish set the fastest ever RAAM time of 8d 3h 11m on a course that was 2911 miles long for an average speed of 14.91 mph, which stands as the second fastest speed. At Pete’s pace of 15.4 mph that would have been 7d 21h 1m. Pete’s pace was still 3% fast on a course 200 miles longer. Over 200 hours of racing, 3% is 6 hours.

In Lance Armstrong’s seven Tour de France wins, his average time was about 86 ½ hours. His average margin of victory was about 6 minutes. 6 minutes out of 86 ½ hours is just 0.11% (one-tenth of one percent).

In 1986, the second place finisher was Lon Haldeman at 9d 8m 2m, Lon’s best time. Pete’s margin of victory was 11.03%. The average margin of victory in RAAM is 3.6% or about 8 hours.

How fast is the winning time?

• In 26 years, 14 courses have been 3000 miles or longer.
• In 26 years, 13 wins have averaged 14mph or better. Only two of those were on courses longer than 3000 miles.
• The overall average winning speed is 13.93 mph. Penseyres’ average is 11% better.
• The average winning speed on course of more than 3000 miles is 13.75 mph. Penseyres’ average is 12% better.
• The average winning speed on courses shorter than 300 miles is 14.17 mph.
• Only two rookies have ever averaged better than 14 mph – Jonathan Boyer and Wolfgang Fasching.

The 14mph Club
Pete is the only person ever to average more than 15 mph in RAAM. Michael Secrest averaged 15.24mph on a non-RAAM crossing. Only 24 finishes by 11 racers have ever averaged more than 14 mph. 11 of those were not wins. For the record, the 14mph club includes:

• Jonathan “Jock”Boyer (1)
• Danny Chew (2)
• Wolfgang Fasching (4)
• Bob Fourney (3)
• Gerhard Gulewicz (1)
• Rob Kish (4)
• Pete Penseyres (1)
• Jure Robic (2)
• Michael Secrest (2)
• Paul Solon (1)
• Gerry Tatrai (3)

Only three racers have averaged 14mph in back-to-back years – Wolfgang Fasching (99-00), Bob Fourney (90-92), and Gerry Tatrai (98-99).

How did he do it?
Precision and efficiency. Penseyres had his crew keep track of his off-the-bike time and sleep time down to the second. 
Here’s a table of data from Pete’s 1986 RAAM:

Day	On Bike Time	Daily Mileage	Cumulative Mileage	Average Daily Mileage	Daily On Bike Ave Speed	Daily Total Average Speed	Cumulative On Bike Ave Speed	Cumulative Ave Speed	Sleep
1	23:56:55	448.7	448.7	448.7	18.7	18.7	18.7	18.7	0:00:00
2	21:22:40	370.8	819.5	409.8	17.3	15.4	18.1	17.1	2:00:00
3	21:48:02	390.3	1209.8	403.3	17.9	16.3	18	16.8	1:40:00
4	21:57:40	362.7	1572.5	393.1	16.5	15.1	17.7	16.4	1:30:00
5	21:48:13	358	1930.5	386.1	16.4	14.9	17.4	16.1	1:30:00
6	21:50:15	349.8	2280.3	380	16	14.6	17.2	15.8	1:20:00
7	21:52:25	344.7	2625	375	15.8	14.4	17	15.6	1:30:00
8	21:27:10	328.9	2953.9	369.2	15.3	13.7	16.8	15.4	2:00:00
(8.408)   9	9:29:40 out of 9:47	153.1	3107	369.5	16.1	15.6	16.75	15.4	0:00:00

In 1986, Pete was off the bike a total of 16h 14m, or just 8% of his entire race time. His total sleep time was 11h 30m or 71% of his off-the-bike time and 5.6% of his entire race time.

The Race of a Lifetime
In talking with Pete about his record, his always remarks at the perfection of that race. He believes the 1986 course was fast because it covered 300 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway with zero stoplights and stop signs, though in his humility Pete forgets to mention the climbing. Pete also notes that 20 years ago there was less congestion everywhere on that course, especially at the eastern end. Since the year 2000, the overall climbing has been higher, though five 14mph crossings have happened in the past 7 years including three in last year’s highly competitive race.

Pete called it the "Perfect Storm" - everything he tried worked, from the training to the sleep patterns,and aerobars. He was never rained on, so stops for clothing changes were minimized as well.
 

RAAM is an established event, but still a young one. This data should give you an appreciation of Pete’s effort 20 years ago. Who knows when that record will be broken!