For most people, riding a bike for three and a half hours is considered a long ride. For new Madrona resident and local business owner Urs Koenig, it is more of a short ride - especially when you compare it to the 3,047-mile one he will do later this month.
Koenig is preparing for what is arguably the most challenging endurance event in the world: the Race Across America (RAAM). On June 19 in San Diego he and 129 other riders - only 24 are attempting to do it solo - will take off on a cross-continental journey through 14 states, four time zones and 109,000 feet of altitude gain to reach the famous Boardwalk in Atlantic City.
Why do it?
"I really thrive on putting up a goal, an ultimate challenge, throwing everything I have at it, and seeing if I can pull it off," the 37-year-old said.
Helping others
One strong motivation for Koenig to finish the race is Cancer Lifeline, a Seattle-based nonprofit organization on whose board of advisors he has served for the last year. The organization provides comfort for those living with cancer by providing them with a place to participate in group activities and classes that focus on support, education and healing.
As of now Koenig has raised more than $3,000, with hopes of raising a total of $10,000.
"There are so many people out there helping me to achieve my goal," Koenig said. "So while I am out there doing my own thing, I really want to take the chance to make a difference in the lives of people who are not as fortunate as I am to use their body because they have cancer."
Rough road ahead
RAAM has no stages or designated rest periods. Riders go across deserts and over mountains, and face the possibility of bad drivers and inclement weather.
According to race rules, to finish the race they must reach the Boardwalk in less than 12 days and two hours. Racing solo for the first time, Koenig hopes to average around 250 miles per day, with one and a half hours of sleep the first night and three hours the rest of the nights.
Besides sleep deprivation, riders will face the hazards of dehydration, saddle sores and hot feet and hands. The challenge will be mental, as well as physical.
For Koenig, the real challenge will be to keep his upper neck from collapsing. Since he began training for the race in October neck-muscle problems have continued to plague him. To prepare for the possibility of neck problems, a friend is designing and making a special lightweight brace for Koenig to wear during the race.
Dedicated athlete
In this event's 23-year history, only 169 out of 276 people have finished. Fewer than half of the rookies who enter this ultra-endurance racing challenge finish it.
Koenig is equipped with a crew of 10 dedicated volunteers. He proudly notes that they come from four different nationalities. They have helped him raise funds and train, and eventually when the race begins they will ride alongside him in a pacer car, as well as leapfrog ahead of him in an RV. Without them there to support him, the race would be impossible and extremely dangerous, he said.
Koenig is a highly accomplished endurance athlete. He ran his first marathon at age 14, and by 20 he was racing in his first Iron Man Triathlon in his home country of Switzerland, where he was also a competitive Nordic skier.
Koenig is also a veteran of various 100-km running races, multi-sport competitions and ultra-cycling races, one of which was the 2002 RAAM, in which he participated in the team competition and finished second.
Getting motivated
Four years ago, when he moved to Seattle from Australia, Koenig began his own business-coaching company, called Redpoint. Training has caused him to cut back on his hours in the office, and in May he started his two months' off to fully dedicate his time to the race.
But his experience as a coach and motivator will play a major factor in helping him to cross the finish line.
It has also given those whom he has trained the chance to coach him for a change. Shannon Perry is Koenig's friend, client, crew member and public-relations representative. She is happy to have this chance to support Koenig in such an impressive endeavor.
"He is a machine," she said. "Anybody who knows him knows that he is the ultimate cheerleader and is always out there supporting everyone. So it's neat to change the tables and get the chance to cheer for him instead."
Passion for the road
As the start of the race quickly approaches, his training sessions will gradually get tougher. On the weekend of April 8, he and a skeleton crew of five did a practice run of 390 miles in 28 hours, from Seattle to the end of Methow Valley in Central Washington and back.
The experience taught Koenig how to dine through a car window, taking food from his crew members; make quick gear and shift changes; and keep track of his nutritional intake.
The crew learned to make pancakes at 50 mph.
For crew chief David Harris, the long hours and time spent away from work are well worth the chance to tour the United States For most people, riding a bike for three and a half hours is considered a long ride. For new Madrona resident and local business owner Urs Koenig, it is more of a short ride - especially when you compare it to the 3,047-mile one he will do later this month.
Koenig is preparing for what is arguably the most challenging endurance event in the world: the Race Across America (RAAM). On June 19 in San Diego he and 129 other riders - only 24 are attempting to do it solo - will take off on a cross-continental journey through 14 states, four time zones and 109,000 feet of altitude gain to reach the famous Boardwalk in Atlantic City.
Why do it?
"I really thrive on putting up a goal, an ultimate challenge, throwing everything I have at it, and seeing if I can pull it off," the 37-year-old said.
Helping others
One strong motivation for Koenig to finish the race is Cancer Lifeline, a Seattle-based nonprofit organization on whose board of advisors he has served for the last year. The organization provides comfort for those living with cancer by providing them with a place to participate in group activities and classes that focus on support, education and healing.
As of now Koenig has raised more than $3,000, with hopes of raising a total of $10,000.
"There are so many people out there helping me to achieve my goal," Koenig said. "So while I am out there doing my own thing, I really want to take the chance to make a difference in the lives of people who are not as fortunate as I am to use their body because they have cancer."
Rough road ahead
RAAM has no stages or designated rest periods. Riders go across deserts and over mountains, and face the possibility of bad drivers and inclement weather.
According to race rules, to finish the race they must reach the Boardwalk in less than 12 days and two hours. Racing solo for the first time, Koenig hopes to average around 250 miles per day, with one and a half hours of sleep the first night and three hours the rest of the nights.
Besides sleep deprivation, riders will face the hazards of dehydration, saddle sores and hot feet and hands. The challenge will be mental, as well as physical.
For Koenig, the real challenge will be to keep his upper neck from collapsing. Since he began training for the race in October neck-muscle problems have continued to plague him. To prepare for the possibility of neck problems, a friend is designing and making a special lightweight brace for Koenig to wear during the race.
Dedicated athlete
In this event's 23-year history, only 169 out of 276 people have finished. Fewer than half of the rookies who enter this ultra-endurance racing challenge finish it.
Koenig is equipped with a crew of 10 dedicated volunteers. He proudly notes that they come from four different nationalities. They have helped in a unique and inspiring way.
"Urs is doing an amazing thing, and I am more than happy to be a part of it," he said. "He is always looking for opportunities to help others, and this race gives him the chance to not only achieve a goal but to also raise some money for a worthy cause at the same time."
As for how Urs feels about his crew: "They are an incredible group of people who love and respect me," he said. "When you get people passionate and enthusiastic about something and fired up about something, then they will go the extra mile, and [they] have gone for me."
How about the extra 3,047 miles?
How to help
Contributions to Cancer Lifeline can be made on-line by going to www.cancerlifeline.org and clicking on "donate now."
Let Cancer Lifeline know that your contribution was prompted by Koenig's participation in the RAAM under the "My gift is" blank on the registration form. Select "for the occasion of" in the drop-down menu, and type, "Urs Rides Across America" in the space provided.[[In-content Ad]]
