Day 3 was only a good day. Janet covered 230 miles - shortest so far - on a day marked by a few small crew mistakes, hot pavement, and a dull afternoon. She rode into Monument Valley in Utah at sunset, past Mexican Hat, and a sleep break in the Road Trek somewhere out of Montezuma Creek. She had a little puffiness in the face and legs. She's tired but focused and in very good spirits (considering a new level of discomfort).
Day 4 is shaping up to be better. After a 3 hour sleep break, she rolled into Cortez Colorado and started the big highway climbs into Durango. The SW wind was gusting to 30mph on the long circular route to Pagosa Springs. Riding in wind that never abates is part of RAAM. She is trying to accept that speeds she would normally consider "slow" are actually "fast" - though it isn't easy. She has also started asking for Sustained Energy (rather bland but it works) bottle after bottle - another good sign of a RAAM rider. Puffiness in face is better but her quads are still in shock from covering 800 miles in 72 hours.
We were finally passed by Jure Robic. We have seen no other riders since Monday afternoon.
I expect her to arrive in Chama a little after midnight local. The continental divide and high point of RAAM stand between Chama and Taos, New Mexico. We look forward to more RAAM supporters in Taos.
