Team Xtreme RAAM - On the Road for Down Syndrome

Fight hard – Trust – The day Marie saved the race.

marcleblond — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 08:53:17 +0000

Day 2 – Thermometer blocked at 125 F. Cannot eat. This is hard…

The boys had planned on eating solid foods. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, good for calories and salt.

After one day, could not get them down.

The liver has 4000 Cal of reserve, they use 8000 per day.

Marc’s speed went down 30%. Finally got through an anxious phone call from us waiting at the time station (coverage in the desert is very poor). ”We are trying to bring the boys home”.

Marie diagnosed correctly, Stephanie and Emily got the boys on liquid food. That same evening, we started the rush to Durango. The boys were back.

We found out later that a Belgium racer had the exact same symptoms. He did not have Marie with him, and dropped out day 3.

Marie, no words can express our thankfulness.

Below, Marie, at left, with sister Elisabeth.

RAAM is hard, but you can stop at any time. The kids we run for cannot.

marcleblond — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 08:19:16 +0000

The race is over, but Down’s syndrome is still there.

One of the racers at the award ceremony, running for a foundation for kids with cancer said: ”RAAM is hard, but the big difference is, you can stop at any time if you want. Those kids cannot”.

We continue. You continue. Let us follow these boys’ example.

We have many more stories, fun and painful both, which we have not had time to share. Stay tuned.

The cause continues…

I am a little tired …. Am I ?

marcleblond — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 08:11:10 +0000

When Patrick did his Ironman last Fall (2.4 miles swim, 112 mile bike, followed by a marathon, i.e. 26.2 miles to run) and I asked him at the finish how he felt, he said “I am little tired”.

So when the officials made them pause at the finish, they picked up their bikes for the photo.

So George, race director, said: “give me 10 push ups”. Our boys, not to be outdone, did not 10, but 11, clapping push ups.

So George said: “give me 10 sit ups”. They said: ”that’s good”.

We did it!

marcleblond — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:16:50 +0000

Team Xtreme finished today at 11:21 AM! We’re going out for some quick burgers and a well deserved brew, and we’ll be back with an update!

A Honeymoon ????

marcleblond — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 22:46:07 +0000

Call that a honeymoon ?

Stephanie, driver, Gabriel navigator, today, Sunday June 22. The final rush to the finish, through the hills of the Appalachian mountains. It does not look like it, but it is just as tough as Colorado. Good thing, the weather is cool.

What a honeymoon trip for Marc and Stephanie, who were married May 26! We have a new daughter in the family.

The Continental Divide – Wow !!!

marcleblond — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 22:44:08 +0000

Climbing to the Continental Divide

marcleblond — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 22:38:39 +0000

On the climb to Wolf Creek Pass summit, the Continental divide, highest point of the Race, at 10856 feet elevation.

A picture perfect moving exchange, with Patrick retiring rider, Marc new rider.

It is mighty steep. Unfortunately, the 7% caution sign in the background is for the guys going the other way. For Patrick and Marc, this was a 7% climb, from 7800 feet to 10 857 feet, in 8 miles.

A world away

marcleblond — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 19:03:33 +0000

The starting line seems like a world away. Yet this picture right before the start is only 8 days old.

Leapfrog support

marcleblond — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 18:55:07 +0000

The great thing about leapfrog support, used during the day, is that the car can pass the running rider and wait with the new rider. Here is Patrick getting some support from our wonderful Emily.

Just how hard is it?

marcleblond — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 18:48:45 +0000

See for yourselves. Please think about our runners as they make the final dash for Mt Airy, which they have to reach before 10:00 am EST Monday morning. If they make it, and they WILL, the race is won.

We in the crew are humbled by their extraordinary courage.