A few comments
Since I've been posting I thought I would give you a few thoughts about Michele's effort and DNF (did not finish).
Michele is a heck of an athlete. To complete RAAM is a huge accomplishment. As I told Michele today only the very best in the sport are good enough to fail at RAAM. The statistics say that 50% of all solos who enter will DNF. What other sport do half of all who enter not finish? In RAAM you race against the course, not just the other racers. To be the very last person to cross the finish line is still a high honor. To qualify to enter the race is an honor.
There are many many things in RAAM that must go right in order to complete the race. Being well trained and fit isn't good enough. You must have good crew, equipment, logistics, training, and a fair amount of luck. With everything lined up, best of equipment, well trained, experienced talented crew, sometimes it just doesn't work. Michele had all the things she needed, except may experience in RAAM. I don't know what the DNF rate for rookies is but I'm sure it is a lot higher than 50%. You can bet Michele learned a lot from this crossing. In RAAM you will learn things about yourself that you can't get anywhere else. I know Michele did. Lessons learned.
In my opinion Michele put out a huge effort. A try worthy of all the effort needed to even get to the start line.
I think we can all be proud of how much Michele accomplished and I expect that she will be back.
Thank you all for the supporting messages you sent. Michele loved them and know that they did help her get down the road.
David Bradley
Michele is a heck of an athlete. To complete RAAM is a huge accomplishment. As I told Michele today only the very best in the sport are good enough to fail at RAAM. The statistics say that 50% of all solos who enter will DNF. What other sport do half of all who enter not finish? In RAAM you race against the course, not just the other racers. To be the very last person to cross the finish line is still a high honor. To qualify to enter the race is an honor.
There are many many things in RAAM that must go right in order to complete the race. Being well trained and fit isn't good enough. You must have good crew, equipment, logistics, training, and a fair amount of luck. With everything lined up, best of equipment, well trained, experienced talented crew, sometimes it just doesn't work. Michele had all the things she needed, except may experience in RAAM. I don't know what the DNF rate for rookies is but I'm sure it is a lot higher than 50%. You can bet Michele learned a lot from this crossing. In RAAM you will learn things about yourself that you can't get anywhere else. I know Michele did. Lessons learned.
In my opinion Michele put out a huge effort. A try worthy of all the effort needed to even get to the start line.
I think we can all be proud of how much Michele accomplished and I expect that she will be back.
Thank you all for the supporting messages you sent. Michele loved them and know that they did help her get down the road.
David Bradley
Comments
"It's not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled, or how the doer of deeds might have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; who's face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again; who knows the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause and who, if he fails, at least fails while bearing greatly so his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." --Theodore Roosevelt