And so it begins!

Well, this is my first post to the new blog I set up today as I prepare for my 1st experience as a part of the Race Across America (RAAM) with Team Type 1. I leave heading out to California in just 5 days so everything is starting to move pretty fast and the reality of what's about to go down is starting to settle in. But, I really don't know what to expect because I don't know any more about the RAAM than what you can find on the website or glean from reading blogs. And as for being a part of a RAAM crew...well, I know even less about that since it's something I have never done before. I am an avid cyclist, like challenges and really enjoy to travel, so I think crewing for TEAM TYPE 1 is a gonna be a good fit for me. Yeah, there have been conference calls with the rest of the crew, handbooks with lots of info to help me prepare and I am pretty sure will be driving the racer van-the one that puts out the new racer and picks up the one that just finished. Well, at least I think that's my role. But that doesn't matter. I could be the official water boy and would still be just as stoked to serve as part of the team! I have checked out the official RAAM route book, map, rules and all that stuff. But like becoming a teacher, I ain't gonna know what it's really all about until I get there and just start doing "it"...whatever "it" may be. And despite all the questions still swirling in my head along with lots of uncertainties, I can't wait to embark on this journey that's going to take me across the country with a great group of folks (well, they sounded great over the phone) at a speed of around 19 mph as we work hard to support 8 committed riders who are focused on winning the RAAM. I am sure I will see things and have experiences that will be pretty amazing and I hope to post as many of them here as I can...that' s the plan anyway.

I gotta say I am a little anxious about being away from my family for 12 days. My past travels without my wife and kids to an occasional tech conference have kept me away for 4 nights at the most, so this is going to be a challenge for everyone at my house. However, my boys are okay with it as long as I bring them a souvenir from each state I pass through. We'll see how that goes! Oh yeah, and there is a request by my oldest (10) for a snow globe if I can find one. Yeah, he collects 'em. But I gotta say, my wife has been nothing but supportive of me doing this. In fact, when I first told her about the opportunity and mentioned that the dates conflicted with our summer camping plans, she said it was a no-brainer and encouraged me to go for it. I'm not sure if her response was because she wasn't too excited about the thought of 2 weeks of camping at the beach with our 2 year-old or because she really wants me to experience RAAM, but whatever it is, I am grateful to have such a supportive wife (of 13 years this Monday)! So here we are just days away and things are starting to come together. More posts to come...