How long have you known about RAAM? How long afterwards did you decide to enter the race? What triggered your decision?
Many years.
Jim Kern contacted me in 2003 and asked if I would like to race in RAAM.
RAAM is bigger, longer and harder than almost anything else in the world, it is a riders Everest.
Athletic history (cycling results & other):
RAAM 2005
RAAM 2007
Paris Brest Paris
Audax Australia Alpine Classic LOTS of times.
Numerous 12hr, 24hr, race events
HEAPS of 600km, 400km, 300km 200km and Brevets
LOTS of long distance touring in Australia, France, Germany, USA, Canada, Switzerland
Club racing
Time Trials
Many years in the Australian Water Ski Racing Scene
Ocean Swim Racing
Triathlons
Running
Windsurfing
Considering all sports, what were the events or outcomes that most impacted your life in both negative and positive manners?
RAAM 2007 had a profound effect on me!
After a front tyre blow-out and a nasty crash on the first night I had to deal with a chipped bone, lots of road rash, blood and what would ultimately cost Tim and I 1st place, a badly damaged knee.
I was in a terrible way!
The accident cost us almost 3hrs over the opposition.
On day 2 my body was throbbing with pain and my morale was low, in my mind ending the race was my only option, rehearsing my ‘I’m going home’ speech was just about all I could think about while riding.
Sometime that day I said to my son James, “I can’t go on, I have to stop”,
He said, “NO DAD, don’t give up”!
These simple words from my boy changed everything!
Initially I was shocked when it seemed he didn’t understand my situation but very soon my head came together and I was in the race again.
It was at Wolf Creek pass Tim and I started to become a formidable and fearsome Team.
We were on fire!
We rode like men possessed, faster than our opponents at EVERY moment, we were chasing them down like dogs on wounded game. It was only a matter of time till we passed them. Somewhere in Kansas we nailed them and over the next few 1000km we opened up nearly a 2hr gap on them. We were getting faster all the time; we were on target for outright victory. But RAAM is RAAM and that knee injury I suffered on the first night was becoming a serious problem.
After a trip to the hospital I was back on the bike for another day, Tim and I were still maintaining our 1st place, however I was extremely concerned about my knee. The next day another trip to the hospital and yet more speed we were still doing well, but that knee was not looking or feeling good.
RAAM was starting to end for me!
My knee was swollen and it hurt a lot, every rotation of the pedals was agony,
my RAAM was over just a few 100km from the end.
We rested for 5hrs and Tim finished the race solo, what a bloody hero he is!
Our opponents now had the opportunity to catch us. We came second but as
Tim said,
“It was the best race I never won”……
Who are your heroes? Why?
My Grandma, she taught me lots about life.
AND
Don Bradman
Australian Cricket Legend
At the crease, Don Bradman appeared a battler. He was confronted with 11 antagonistic Englishmen plotting his demise, making taunts like "knock that bloody Convicts head off." But as an exceptionally aggressive batsmen, Bradman took it upon himself to turn the tables. In his own words,
"When you play test cricket, you don't give the Englishmen an inch. Play it tough, all the way. Grind them into the dust."
Such was his supremacy, the Poms had to cheat to beat him and the Australians, the English Captain, Douglas Jardine, invented bodyline; instructing his bowlers to aim at the batsmen’s body with the intention of disrupting concentration by causing serious injury.
What intimidates you most about RAAM?
It's big, VERY BIG!
Time away from family and friends.
Are you supporting an organization or Charity? Tell us why.
Challenged Athlete's Foundation
Sports builds confidence and enables injured athletes to feel whole again
Favorite quote, either famous or not, that fuels your ambition:
"The time you're most vulnerable is when you're ahead, never let up.”
Rod Laver
Australian Tennis Player
What are your expectations from RAAM?
RAAM is a doorway into myself.
RAAM removes the surface and shows you what you are on the inside, sometimes that isn’t so good, but most of the time it can be truly inspirational.
