Surrounded by charged fans, Brian Toone clicked his cleats in to push his first pedal stroke in the 2017 Race Across America (RAAM) at 1:14 pm Pacific Standard Time on June the 13^th.  In a nonstop race to the Maryland coast, time doesn’t fit quite so neatly into a 24-hour day-night paradigm.

If you know Brian Toone, you know he loves data!  Brian is no longer a RAAM rookie so his examination of 2015 data steered strategy for this 2017 Race Across America.  RAAM finishes are calculated by total time start to finish but often referred to as days, like 10 days in Brian’s 2015 finish.  The plan was for Brian’s first ride cycle to be thirty (30) hours followed by a three (3) hour sleep.  With a 30:3 ratio, cycling and sleeping do not fall day or night necessarily.  Brian saw sundown and sunrise before the notion of a sleep stop was near.

At 8:05 pm PST on June the 14th, Brian stopped at Time Station 07 in Prescott, Arizona; 445.54 miles in the saddle from the Oceanside, California start!  Brian was shuttled by our follow van crew to SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Prescott where he was greeted by Gabe and Team R4G for an emotional reunion [click here to read more on this from Ride4Gabe].

Our incredible but slightly worn-out Team Toone crew was finally gathered in one location again.  For Brian, sleep was SO close…his bed within sight.

Simultaneously, Brian ate from a personalized buffet planned and prepared by our nutrition teammates, debriefed with Crew Chief Jeffrey White and conducted an interview with Ride4Gabe’s Media Crew.  Brian then provided quick blood and urine samples for a research study before showering and application of podium legs [see photo above] for forty-five minutes.  Finally, Brian welcomed the sandman for a tiny sliver of well-deserved rest!

Ride cycle one was complete and the worst thing that happened was Brian being stung by a bee as he descended the “Glass Elevator” in Borrego Springs, California.  Brian’s determination through the blistering desert heat and the remarkable collaboration between our Team Toone teammates made for an exceptional start to RAAM 2017!

Please know that your comments are read to Brian over the follow van’s P.A. system.  There is a definite increase in Brian’s speed and spirit as he hears each message!  Join us on this journey by following, liking, commenting, sharing, live-tracking and visiting Ride4Gabe to learn more about the Hope for Gabe Foundation while we “Race for Accelerated Access to Medicine” in RAAM 2017.

Written by Amy White

Please watch the following videos from our charity partner, the Hope for Gabe Foundation’s Ride4Gabe 2017, and consider a sponsorship of $12 a mile to help us make a difference.