Activity drives Team Laughing Dog member

Kathi Riba Crane is the fourth of five women on Team Laughing Dog to be profiled this week. The team was on the outskirts of St. Louis, Mo., late Thursday night on their 3,000 mile Race Across America.

The team has endured heat, wind and rain/thunderstorms recently, but nothing has come close to slowing them down and they’re schedule to finish in Annapolis, Md., on Saturday.

Riba Crane moved to Sandpoint from Alaska more than seven years ago with her husband Charlie and kids Paige and Charlie J. She works as a nurse at Pend Oreille Surgery Center in Ponderay.

Whether it’s running, biking, swimming or skiing, Riba Crane is happiest when she’s active and loves the feeling of tired legs. A love of the outdoors is a common thread within the team, not surprising since each is biking more than 100 miles a day for seven straight days.

The Daily Bee sat down with Riba Crane to find out more.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: Breaking Away.

Q: Favorite book?

A: Where the Red Fern Grows.

Q: Favorite music?

A: Michael Franti.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Eggs benedict, after I exercise.

Q: Hobbies?

A: Snow ski, water ski, anything outside.

Q: Typical training week leading up to the cross country race?

A: Mondays off, Tuesday strength training and swim, Wednesday running, Thursday a two and a half hour bike ride and Friday strength training.

Q: What I love most about cycling is . . .?

A: How tired my legs are afterward — it makes me sleep well. I’m the least experienced cyclist on the team, but they’ve kind of taken me under their wing. It’s fun chasing them around.

Q: Longest ride ever?

A: 94 miles.

Q: Historical figure, living or dead, that you would love to have dinner with?

A: Joan Benoit Samuelson, the first woman to win a gold in the marathon.

Q: When I finish the Race Across America, the first thing I’ll do is . . .?

A: Cry and smile at the same time.

See tomorrow’s Daily Bee for a profile on team member and crew chief Judy Thompson.

To find out more about the race, or to make a donation to autism, go online to www.teamlaughingdog.com.