Cyclist Born gives RAAM one more try

Born, 40 in October, is making his fifth attempt at RAAM, which Outside Magazine determined through a poll in 1993 to be the world’s toughest endurance event. He and other solo cyclists will be riding day and night, for about eight consecutive days, across the southern tier of the U.S. from Irvine to Savannah, Ga.

"I’m as fit and healthy as I can be," said Born, who left Ketchum July 13 for Palm Springs, Ca. to become more acclimated to the southern desert heat. "I know what I have to do, and I’m as strong as anyone in the field. My goal is to finish—finishing is winning in this race—and obviously I’m racing to win."

Wisconsin native Born, now manager of The Natural Niche in Ketchum, was working in the film industry as a sound effects editor and living in southern California when he completed his first solo RAAM in ninth place in 1988. He was 11th in 1991. But he didn’t make it out of California in 1993 and 1995, suffering food poisoning the first year and a parasite infection in 1995.

"I’ve had two really good races and two races where I was sick at the start," said Born.

Living in Ketchum the last few years, he has improved his cardiovascular fitness with cross-country skiing, thanks to his association with girlfriend Muffy Ritz and the WIND women’s cross-country skiing team. Ritz, of course, is the Sun Valley Junior Nordic ski team coach who has finished as the RAAM women’s runner-up three times, 1993, 1995 and 1997.

Born said, "Muffy and the WIND team have put me through the paces. The aerobics and fitness from skiing give me a real advantage. There was a time when I overtrained on the bike. This year, I didn’t get on my bike until April. We really maximized the amount of training time."

Since April, Born has cycled 6,000 miles in three months, averaging 400-450 miles a week. He has taken two major tours—a 10-day tour from southern Colorado into New Mexico in mid-May, and the 16-day, 1,700-mile Pacific Crest Tour with plenty of climbing and speed work from June 13-29.

"We started in Reno and covered every mountain pass we could find. It was a big figure eight through the Sierras and northern California," said Born, joined for the tough tour by Ketchum’s John Craig.

He won’t be the youngest racer in RAAM, but Born still feels he has what it takes because of his amazing accomplishment last July. He set an Ultra Marathon Cycling Association record by pedaling from border to border, north to south in Idaho, cycling 645 miles with 30,000 feet of climbing in 39 hours and 37 minutes.

"After setting the Idaho record that may never be broken, I feel I still have something left," he said. "It showed me what I’m capable of doing. The main thing in RAAM is not to worry about what the other people are doing. Especially this year, some will go out too fast and bust out at the start."

This year’s RAAM course has been changed into what organizers call "a potential record ride featuring the flattest and fastest course to date."

Born said, "They cut out three major climbs in Colorado and moved the course south, through Arizona, New Mexico and a lot of Texas. The majority of climbing will come in the last two states, from eastern Arkansas through Tennessee into Georgia. It will be hot and windy. The heat, wind and sheer boredom will be great equalizers.

"There are five former winners in the race, and probably the strongest field ever in the men’s division."

Born, 1994 winner of the Furnace Creek 508, is sponsored locally by Smith and Botanica. He’ll take four Kestrel bikes and eight sets of wheels. On his crew are eight people, including mechanic and massage therapist Roger Mankus, and Ritz.

Check out race updates, on line, at www.RAAMonline.com.

Top racers in the $50,000 Ensure RAAM will begin arriving in Savannah on Friday, July 31. First prize for solo men and women is $10,000. Records are three-time winner Rob Kish of Florida eight days, three hours and 11 minutes in 1992, and five-time winner Seana Hogan nine days, four hours, 2 minutes in 1995.