Raam Report

The Concept

It started of as newspaper article with the question what if a team of

novice riders were selected from the general public and then trained and

prepared by the best coaches, physios, psychologists and crew Ireland had to

offer. Alan Heary's brain child started to take flower on December 25th 2007

when 40 people answered a newspaper article.

This is a brief look of how the team of underdogs went from just

participants to nearly RAAM team winners , it will probably be a feat that

is not repeated again by an Irish outfit and the time set will make it hard

for any novice team to attempt to break.

Day one of the RAAM

A team of four Irish novice cyclists have taken a sensational lead in a

gruelling 3,000-mile relay race across America - and now they're

planning to stay in front until the finish next week.

The Race Across America is known as the toughest bike race in the world, and

yesterday (FRIDAY) Irish men Colm Laverty, Adrian McNally,

Stephen McManamon, and Alan Duffy were sitting on the top of the pile in the

team event.

The four - all of whom have taken up serious long-distance cycling in the

past six months - produced a stunning opening day performance to lead the

race in the first of its stages in California.

"The lads rode brilliantly. This is such a huge challenge, particularly as

none of them have a background in racing. But what

matters here is how the team works together - and we hope they will still be

leading when the race arrives on the east coast sometime towards the end of

next week," said coach Padraig Marrey.

"The finish is in Maryland and we are very hopeful the boys can hold on. Two

riders go out for 80 miles, then rest, while the other two

take to the road. The team is therefore riding around the clock."

The riders represent the Navan Avonmore club, and hope to raise monies for

the bubble gum club.

Their progress can

be followed on www.alanheary.com

By Declan Rooney reporter.

The Finish

Ireland's Navan Avonmore Team have finished the Race Across America (RAAM )

in a time of 6 days 4 hours 17 minutes to finish 2nd in the 4 rider category

behind Utag Yamaha team of Great Britain who came in 6 days 2 hours 12min.

The 3018 mile race started in Oceanside CA on June 11th finishing in

Annapolis MD crossing the Rockies & Appalachian Mt's along the way. The

Navan team of Alan Duffy, Adrian McNally, Steve Mc Manamon & Colm Laverty

led until 2/3 distance when Utag pulled ahead but rallied in the closing

stages to finish with a total average speed of 20.33 MPH breaking the

previous best time by an Irish team of 7day 12hours which had been set by

Kenny Dunlap's Team Care 4 Kids in 2005.

The participation in the race was the idea of sports psychologist & team

director Alan Heary who chose 4 non competitive cyclists after advertising

his idea of putting a team in the event in December 2007.

Over the last 6 months the team were coached by Padraig Marrey & former

president of Cycling Ireland P.J Nolan who commented after the race "this is

the toughest race I've ever been part of & the performance of the team makes

all the support crew very proud".

Coach Padraig Marrey said " in all the days that I have coached individuals

and teams I never seen such an effort over 6days being given by a 4

individuals who never knew what their own personal limits, the emotion,

pride and admiration for those guys will be a lasting memory and proof that

we as human beings have no limits providing we apply ourselves and trust our

hearts"

The 10 person crew who worked in extreme conditions where sleep and comfort

were deprived. Most crew members barely got 1 hours sleep per day and this

was usually between stations when the RV (camper van) was driving. Baby

wipes and any rivers that were passed were used for Personal hygiene. The 4

cyclist had a better deal but just barely as they were off their bikes

between every 2nd station for around 2hrs. War of words were common, many of

the crew experienced hallucinations from lack of sleep but we all came good

when it mattered especially at the end when for 18hrs solid we fought tooth

and nail to win the 2nd team spot by 1 minute advantage over team extreme 4

who probably had far bigger budget judging by the equipment and vehicles

they had.

There will be a lot better story told and seen when the documentary is

finished which will show the pain, sacrifice, emotion, strength,

determination and above all weight loss by all the crew and especially the

cyclists where one cyclist lost over 4stone from the start of the project in

December to the RAAM finish on June 17th.

The crew

Niall Shanley

Matt Smith

Brendan Heery

Simon O Dea

Declan Seery (Cook)

Ian Mc Govern (Physio)

Simon Linscheid (camera man and documentary Producer)

Padraig Marrey( Coach)

PJ Nolan (Manager)

Alan Heary (Project Manager)

RAAM RESULTS: Four Person Male

1 Utag Yamaha.com 6.02.12 (20.62mph)

2 Ireland's Navan Avonmore Team 6.04.17 (20.33mph)

3 Team Cry 6.10.51 (19.47mph)

4 Adventures For the Cure 6.13.25 (19.15mph)

5 Team Utah Neurosciences Research 6.21.14 (18.24mph)

By John Nolian