016: Joan Deitchman - 3 time RAAM Soloist

"Expect the unexpected is the only rule on RAAM." - Joan Deitchman

Joan Deitchman is a three-time Race Across America soloist in 2012, 2014, 2015.

The Race Across America (www.raceacrossamerica.org) is a billed as the World's Toughest Bicycle Race. RAAM started in 1982 and is a transcontinental bicycle race that runs from Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland.

Joan is the first and only Canadian woman to finish RAAM. She is also one of only four women to finish the Race Across America 3 or more times. There are less than 40 women who have even finished solo RAAM.

Joan and I talk about how she got started with ultra-cycling. She is also a multiple Ironman finisher (www.ironman.com).

She has also raced Furnace Creek 508 which is now called the Silver State 508 (www.the508.com) and also Race Across Oregon (www.raceacrossoregon.com)  and we discuss other races as a part of qualifying to participate in RAAM.

Joan is considered a solo cyclist but we talk about what kind of team you need to complete RAAM.

We chat about how a bike route all the way across the USA is marked for the RAAM participants.

Joan explains how sleep deprivation is something needs to be planned during RAAM and how she handled this during her race in 2015. You will really want to listen to see how much planning goes into just sleep over the course of the race.

Joan talks about specific RAAM ailments including Shermer's neck and how to best prevent chaffing on a 3000 mile bike ride.

We also talk about the mental aspects of a race as big and long as RAAM.

We talk about what it takes to recover from a race as long as RAAM.

Thank you Joan for joining me on the Mile after Mile Podcast.

If you're curious about what the host Amy is up to visit her website at www.amysaysso.com