![]() by Dave Speelman, Meteorologist KAMR NBC Channel 4, Amarillo TX Monday's Outlook: More like normal, with sunshine and highs in the low 90s.
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Important Note: In the previous update, Team Coast Guard was listed as being unofficial finishers. This statement was in error. Team Coast Guard is indeed an Official Finisher of RAAM 1998! We regret the confusion this may have caused, and apologize to Team Coast Guard for the error.
![]() The clouds faded away Sunday, replaced with brilliant sunshine as RAAM 1998 began to wind down in Savannah GA. While spectators and officials waited at the Finish Line, there was a never-ending stream of activity, day and night, on the Savannah River just a few feet away.
![]() Steve Born was able to overcome his personal RAAM jinx when he crossed the finish line just before dawn Sunday. With a time of 9d 17h 27m, Born became the 8th solo finisher in the race. It was his third RAAM finish, but his first since 1991. Born was emotional as he crossed the line, which is common among finishers. The amount of physical and emotional energy it takes to make it across the country in RAAM is staggering.
![]() The second rookie to cross the line was Andrew Bohannon, with a time of 9d 22h 11m. Andrew improved steadily in the second half of the race, steadily moving up through the ranks and leaving competitors in the dust. Bohannon is a product of the Furnace Creek 508 RAAM qualifier, and joins a growing group of RAAM finishers who earned their right to race RAAM at the most difficult qualifier in the country.
![]() Mark Patten was the next rookie finisher, crossing the line in 10d 2h 40m. Patten was understandably a little tired, but had a coast-to-coast smile when he reached the finish line. Patten, too, is a product of The 508, and has proven himself at numerous ultra cycling events across the USA.
![]() In the Relay Team Division, four more teams crossed the line. Team New York (above) was the 9th place team, with a time of 7d 2h 22m. Finishing ahead of them were Adventure Cycles (6d 15h 10m), Team Tyler (6d 15h 55m), and Men in Motion (6d 20h 33m). Team Tyler was the focus of a week-long special on ABC's Good Morning America. The team was racing RAAM to raise funds for a home for parents of children with cerebral palsy, and had met 90-percent of their fundraising goal before the race started. The object of their affection, 2-year-old Tyler, was at the finish line as his team crossed the line. Team Tyler is to be commended for blending an important social cause with their race effort.
![]() At 5pm, all activity shifted to the Grand Ballroom at the Savannah Marriott for the RAAM awards ceremony and banquet. Michael Shermer, RAAM's Executive Director, presided over the gathering. Each of the riders and teams had a chance to step to the podium to give their remarks and personal thanks. But while the ceremony was going on, word was received that three more solo riders were about to reach Savannah.
![]() Harold Trease rode across the finish line in 10d 6h 40m. While everyone else was eating, Harold was toiling through the final miles into town. Trease was consistently the happiest rider throughout the race, never a complaint on his lips.
![]() Rick Anderson followed shortly, with a time of 10d 7h 25m. According to Race Officials Mike and Cindy Roark, Rick had been seen grinning from ear to ear the last two hours as he converged on Savannah. With the finish imminent, Rick's thoughts turned to the gold RAAM ring that he could now proudly wear.
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Statistics as of late Sunday night:
Solo Riders
![]() And what do crew people do after the race is done? They eat, of course! Veteran RAAM crewperson Roger Mankus (who was on Steve Born's team this year), was happy to make the conversion back to "real food" following nearly 10 days of convenience store fare and eating in a van.
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Use the menu below to check the updates posted each night during the race!
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