Final thoughts

So that's it, over 5000 miles and 500 hours training over the last six months and in a few days we will be off, 3000 miles across a continent. I am still not sure how I ended up here. I only heard about the RAAM six months ago and even then didn't consider doing it.

The challenge is still all a little abstract. How hot is 110f? We will soon find out because that’s how hot it is in the desert and we get there pretty quickly after the start. How big is the mid west? I am guessing pretty big because they seem to have their own timezone. Why did I only put music by Radiohead, Nirvana, Beck and Massive Attack on my MP3 player? If the ride doesn’t kill me off the music just might. I can’t even really anticipate what 168 hours of constant competition will be like.

What do I expect? That it will be hard. Physically brutal. Emotionally draining. Stressful. And hot. I know I am as prepared as I could be but I still fret. Should have done a hot weather training camp (no time)? Is my saddle position right? Will I get lost? Is that a niggle in my knee? Can I remember how to ride a bike? It is amazing that I can manage to fret about anything until I start and then, as if by magic, there is no point fretting it is just a case of getting on with it and seeing what happens.

It is important to try to stay grounded. It is just a bike ride. It should be fun. It should be an experience. We have the chance to raise money and awareness for Prostate Cancer (and that is a good thing). It will hopefully be something I look back on with pride. But it isn’t life and death. There are a few team members that can’t make it to the states as they deal with much more important things. Hopefully, this will help keep some perspective on the venture.

So Sataurday, 2pm Pacific Time, I will be off riding the first leg of the RAAM up to Lake Henshaw. Hopefully seven days later we will roll into Annapolis.

Progress and logs can be followed at www.sharp4prostate.org and race position at www.raceacrossamerica.org . Sponsorship is naturally very welcome either through the Sharp4Prostate site or though my online pages at www.justgiving.com/adamndenton. You can follow me on Facebook and Twitter (@adamndenton) too