June 2012
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Local Cyclist Finishes 3,000-Mile Race →
Reston Patch.com’s Karen Goff covers the story: Len Forkas, the founder of Reston’s Milestone Communications and the nonprofit Hopecam, crossed the finish line in the Race Across America on Sunday Night…
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Crew Chief’s Thoughts at the Finish
Wow! What an all consuming experience.
What I took away from this is how true the statement ‘anything is possible’ is. I had read about RAAM almost since it began and knew that it took 20 hours of riding a day… But seeing a rider turn themselves inside out day after day is not something that I could truly understand until you see it.
Watching Len pop out if bed with energy and...
Almost Home!
Len just checked into time stop 52! Only 50 miles to go!
NEW RACE FINISH PARTY UPDATE!!!!
We have decided to move the party to the City Dock. We should be there with light refreshments and drinks by 6:30 or 7 pm. Look for the orange Hopecam tent! He is expected around 7:30 or 8:00. Please join us if you are able!! It would mean the world to Len to have his friends and family there!
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Len climbed through one of the most difficult sections of the race yesterday afternoon in the Allegheny Mountains, an appropriate place to thank the Fairfax County Fire Fighters and Fairfax County for their hard work supporting our community and their support to Hopecam, including two of the team’s crew, Greg Wood and Kenny Gates!
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Hopecam Crew Finish Time Predictions
It’s hard to believe that Len will be crossing the finish line in a handful of hours.
In anticipation of the finish and celebrating with friends and family the crew has placed Some friendly bets on Lens finish time:
John 6:47
Ken 6:27
Bill S 5:58
Katie 6:32
Steve 5:30
Bill V 7:17
Wayne 5:00
Amy 8:25
Joe 9
Ed 8:45
Greg 10
WatchKenny Gates, Fairfax County Firefighter and EMT shares his thoughts on the push to time station 52 in Hanover, PA.
RECEPTION TIME CHANGED TO 3 PM
Please note to those of you attending the reception and joining us to watch Len cross the finish line, Len is not expected to cross now until 7 or 8 pm. We have moved the reception to 3 pm and will be transporting folks over to the city dock around 7 pm. Stay tuned to the blog for any future updates!!
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WatchLen powers through Greencastle, PA.
Len looks good but there is no doubt that the challenging climbs from this morning and the thousands of miles over the last 10 days have had its effect.
The crew is working hard to keep him motivated and alert.
No Mistakes Today
We have already run into two officials today. The team is very conscious of caravanning and providing leap frog support.
One of the officials gave us some chalk to decorate the next climb with words of encouragement.
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Crew Chief’s Thoughts for the Day - June 23
Today was a disciplined day. We rode smart and careful to protect Len, his lead on the age group, and catch the mistakes accumulating fatigue is causing us all to make. We even see the other racers helping each other out. The biggest cheers we get all day are from the racers (mostly for the open category of younger racers, one woman who started a day ahead of the men and an amazing 60 year old who...
Last Push to Annapolis!
Len has just completed the most challenging section of the course in 3.5 hours. Len is greeted by his friend Tim Dennis from Waterford, VA
“We are looking forward to wrapping things up today” he announced to everyone when he got off the bike. A quick nap and he is back on the road.
Cell coverage is rather spotty so uploads may be less frequent today.
WatchCleaning up at RAAM
Len is cleaning up on the road holding a solid first place lead for the last two days in the 50-59 category.
Every couple of days a group will head out in search of a laundry mat. Each crew member was limited to one small duffle bag.
With a dozen people and 100 degree temps we have never gone more than 2 days for obvious reasons.
WatchThe Long and Steep Winding Roads of West Virginia
Len is into the most challenging sections of the course. It’s hard to believe the mountains of West Virginia and Maryland could be more brutal than the Rockies!
These sections also have many turns and lack shoulders which require crew to be on top of navigation and support while abiding by all the RAAM rules.
Len has a huge advantage...
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Len passes through TS45 in Ellenboro, West...
With only 10 time stations in the Race Across America remaining, Len passed through TS45 in Ellenboro, West Virginia at 8:25 this morning. Hopecam thanks Barry Moss, Ed Gosselin, McGuire Woods Consulting and Jack Dale for their support!
Ellenboro was named for Ellen Mariah Williamson, the eldest daughter of the family that granted a right of way for the Baltimore Ohio railroad. It is a very...
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Race Across America Eyes Finish Line →
By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Andrew Rosenthal: The winning team arrived in Annapolis, Md., on Thursday, while a new rookie pace record was set by Swiss cyclist Reto Schoch, finishing the 3,000-mile journey in just 8 days, 6 hours and 29 minutes. Early this morning, the leading woman, Trix Zgraggen, also of Switzerland, cycled to Annapolis` City Dock. As many as six other solo riders find...
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