Mark Glaister

 Mark is a researcher and lecturer in sport and exercise physiology. He's a keen endurance athlete who has recently started competing as a triathlete. Mark is always up for a challenge ('mid-life crisis') and the opportunity to test himself in such an extreme event as the Race Across America was too good to miss. Although Mark is the slowest cyclist in the team he expects his ability to last the distance (tortoise and hare philosophy), navigate (unlike his GPS reliant team mates), and remain cheerful in the face of adversity, will prove worthwhile to the team cause.

 

 

 

 Corinne Abraham

Corinne was thinking it was about time she found herself a new challenge when RAAM dropped into conversation one day at lunch..."perfect" she thought and made positive noises through her sponge puddng and custard. She's not sure when spending 7-9 days in a campervan with 3 sweaty guys and cycling her share of 3000 miles over the Rockies and Appalachian mountains became her idea of fun; but somewhere in her childhood of climbing, caving, hiking up mountains and building dens on the hill, the spirit of adventure obviously took hold.  Corinne will be contributing the time management gene and adopting the coordinators role for scheduling team rides. She is also very excited about getting a new shiny bike and getting out and about in the hills and countryside for training.

Tom Bennett

A relative novice to the world of endurance cycling with a background in distance running. Tom was a late call up to the team having spent the last year racing in triathlons he seemed the ideal "super sub". On joining the team Tom said " The opportnity to join the team was a no-brainer for me, I can't wait to get started I wish we could start tomorrow !". The cold dark winter months have been spent in the BASES accredited physiology lab eating,sleeping and  breathing watts and lactate thresholds (training report to follow) to prepare for the challenges ahead.

 

 Jon Goodwin

Jon is a strength and conditioning coach and lectures on the Strength and Conditioning Science programme at St Mary's University College. Originally a track and field 'sprinter' (sort of - 400m hurdles with a tendancy to fancy himself as an 800m runner) he is currently trying to stir all his slow twitch fibres in cycle training. In an interview earlier this week Jon told us "On the track and in the gym I've always thought of myself as an endurance animal! Yet here I am swimming in lactic (translate to fatigue inducing inorganic phosphates all you physiologists - yawn, yawn) and unable to keep my heart rate down. I don't want to let the team down but I'm worried I might just break!"

The Support Crew

 The support crew is an essential component of any RAAM team. Two support vehicles are essential so that you can have a smaller vehicle to follow riders at night to stop them being eaten by bears or crushed by sleepy truck drivers. We're planning on taking a fairly small crew of 4-6 people to drive the vehicles and generally make sure everything runs smoothly. We haven't pulled our team together yet, so if you're interested in helping out then let us know. It could well be an experience of a lifeime and a real achievement to be part of.

Support Crew Criteria (set by Hill and Legg)

Must have a 4 letter surname. Must be fun. Must know (at least) 1 Kings of Leon Chorus. Must be able to quote lines from the following films; Team America World Police, Wizard of Oz, Top Gun and Priscilla Queen of the Desert! Must be able to come up with one abusive game EVERYDAY to entertain Hill and Legg. Must have the Being A Legend Accreditation (BALA), or be working towards it!

Jess Hill

Crew (mis)Chief 

Legend!

More details coming to a screen near you soon!!

Hayley Legg

Crew Entertainment (mis)Chief

Also, a Legend!!

Hayley the Biomechanics Technician likes to play with force plates and vicon all day. The rugby player of the team is now training to do marathons and half marathons, endurance will be a key aspect to her role in entertaining the team for the gruelling days ahead of them.  There were initial concerns over Legg’s skill set for the trip.  However, she has recently learned how to change a bicycle tyre, oh and learned how to drive (the pink licence is in the post), two skills she feels will benefit her on the trip.

  

Kim Goodwin (Team name Kimmi Good)

Crew Ultra-enduro driver (mis)Chief

Ultra-enduro Legend!

Details?! You can't handle the details!

Kimmi was quoted earlier today... "The dark of the alley, the break of the day, ahead while I'm driving, I'm driving"

Alice Egerton (Team name Alice Edge)

Crew (mis)Chief

Can't drive Legend!  

Details coming soon to a screen near you.

Mike Hughes (Team name Mike Hugh) 

Crew (Hanker)Chief  (Wayeee!)

The only male legend in the village.

Hugh is a researcher and lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology at UWIC. His main interests are all sorts of sports, photography, moonwalking, guitar hero and dressing up.

The oldest member of the support crew Hugh’s vast experiences and wisdom will be a great asset to the crew.

He is most looking forward to meeting Rachel Stevens at LAX airport and is currently working towards his BALA status.  Unable to communicate without the use of powerpoint presentations, Hugh is hoping the battery on his laptop doesn’t run out.