Team Laughing Dog conquers Race Across America

SANDPOINT — Climbing hills on a bike is tough. So is riding into the teeth of a 40 mph wind. Ditto for cycling round-the-clock for more than a week straight.

But those challenges weren’t the toughest faced by Team Laughing Dog riders recently as they raced more than 3,000 miles from the coast of California to Annapolis, Md., during the Race Across America.

The toughest challenge proved to be the sweltering heat, as the stifling and energy-zapping temperatures reflecting off the asphalt in Arizona and Colorado registered at more than 140 degrees.

Sandpoint cycling enthusiasts Julie Nye, Gina Pucci-Deprez, Arlene Cook and Kathi Riba Crane trained as well as possible to prepare  for the rigors of riding for their final finish time of eight days, three hours and 38 minutes.

But there is simply no way to simulate the kind of oppressive heat they encountered while training in Sandpoint.

“Coming from here, it was amazing. We had to swap out every 15 minutes,” said Pucci-Deprez, breaking from the 30 minute pulls that the team hoped to stick with. “We were happy to finally be in the rain. It was a reprieve from the heat.”

Riba Crane echoed a similar sentiment when asked what the toughest part of the race was.

“Some of the hill climbs in West Virginia were fairly tough, but I think that riding in the heat was the most challenging,” she said. “My mouth and throat dried out immediately and I worried about being dehydrated and bonking so early in the race.”

For perspective, consider that the RAAM is twice as long as the Tour de France, yet riders must complete the distance in half the allotted time. Riders typically consume more than three gallons of fluid and 8,000 calories a day, passing through 12 states as fast as possible on two pedals.

Helping the riders was a crew of 12 people, led by crew chief Judy Thompson, who helped orchestrate and execute the myriad logistics that keep a race of this magnitude running smoothly.

 Riba Crane said what sticks out most when looking back on the adventure is when the entire crew was actually together for the first time in the hotel parking lot listening to Thompson’s pre-race talk. She felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment in just getting to the starting line.

Of course, the finish line elicited plenty of strong feelings from the riders, crew and family members alike.

“When we crossed the finish line and saw family and friends it was very gratifying and emotional,” said Cook. “It was a very bonding experience.”

The respect between the riders and crew was mutual. Crew member Yvonne Arnold called the four riders amazing.

“They are some of the most impressive athletes I’ve seen,” she said. “No complaining, no whining, no edginess. They just smile and keep getting back on the bike.”

Pucci-Deprez said the race could never have even been attempted, let alone finished, without the crew members, many of whom bought their own airfare and donated their time for the cause.

“They were our backbone, you knew they were on it. I felt so safe, and here we are on four-lane highways,” said Pucci-Deprez. “We worked so well as a team. We didn’t walk away saying ‘Oh my gosh, get me out of here.’”

All told, the team has raised more than $95,000 and donations are still trickling in, much of which will be donated to autism organizations in North Idaho. The Sandpoint community played a huge role in the team’s success, taking part in fundraisers and making donations.

 “All the support we had was incredible,” said Cook. “Hopefully what we did will continue in people’s minds and hearts to raise awareness for autism.”

To find out more about the race, or to make a donation to autism, visit “www.teamlaughingdog.com.”