The Down And Dirty From A Dirty Crew Member

By  Michelle Marison                

It is Day 5 and the RV is beginning to smell "ripe". As a crew member, you are lucky to get an hour of sleep during an 8 hour break and by now have eaten so many pb and j's you are kicking yourself for not hitting up Skippy for sponsorship. We are over caffeinated and carbed out. Simple math is double checked on your fingers and triple checked on your calculator. Half the crew has had an RV side solar shower while the the other half paraded through a local car wash. Yup - as one crew member put it "day 5 shit starts to get real".

Emotions run high as people start to fade. You see the best and worst of your team members and our humanity is exposed. I am sure at this point even our child psychiatrist team member could use a professional session. All you can do is remind yourself to take it all in. This is a once in a lifetime experience - these moments begin to fade as we enter back into our daily lives. 

Things can get tense when you are in a follow vehicle. You are the eyes are ears for the team. As the navigator - you are responsible for turn by turn directions for the driver and the racer. A radio is the only thing that connects you with your racer and if the batteries go out, she is riding blind and a horn morse code is enforced as she turns left with one honk, right with two, straight with three and stops with a long loud blast. As the driver, it is your duty to keep the racer protected at all times, find safe off-road exchange points and manage road rage. I am not going to lie, both are equally challenging crew positions.

Some of us have found unique ways to attempt to maintain our physical condition by doing roadside athletics. Burpees, jumping jacks, pushups, squats, lunges and bike lifts are the drill. One crew on another team is doing 3000 burpees, one for every mile they trek. Other than that, lifting the bike on and off the rack or jogging to an exchange happening on the fly are your only movements. 

Brushing your teeth and layering deodorant become the only thing you can do to maintain any sort of personal hygiene and your toilet is the great outdoors - (this becomes tricky in Kansas). We have had crew members master the "Walmart shower" while others bathe in bottled water. You do what you can with what you have. 

Our diet, while consisting mainly of breakfast burritos and sandwiches, is also supplemented by the occasional gas station find or Burger King milkshake. We are up to our eyeballs in trail mix, nutrition bars and these re-appearing muffins we can't seem to source their origin. We eat when we are hungry having no sense of time - sunrises and sunsets start to occur as the same, they don't indicate any type of routine anymore. 

At the height of crew member fatigue, one of the best sources of energy is cheering on your riders. We have found some of the best tactics to be telling funny jokes (where does a one legged man work? The IHOP), playing the recorder as they go by (yes, the recorder) busting out our ridiculous dance moves on the side of the road to crack a smile and acknowledging them for their accomplishments. This is by far the best way to stay energized and alert. 

So after all this, you may wondering if I think being a crew member is worth it. My answer is found in this quote "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in the moment of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Martin Luther King, Jr.

See you at the finish line. 

The RAAM Time Zone

The RAAM Adventure Blog Part One

By Becky Marcelliano 

We're three days in, I think. To be honest, I've lost all track of time. In this whirlwind adventure the days turn into nights and the breakfasts seems like dinners. Gas station bathrooms are a miracle and coffee is a round- the-clock essential. A lot of thoughts have been rolling around in my head in a fast overstimulating fashion. Thoughts of time stations, judging length of pulls for our riders, and reading route books are the lifestyle. But deeper than that, RAAM is about being in the moment. The moments come fast and furious, just like life, but much more concentrated. I think what makes being in this RAAM moment so unique is that the rest of our worlds were left in Oceanside when we blasted out of there at seventeen past noon on Saturday

.  The real world is so far away that i cant even remember what day it is. Those trivial life details don't matter.  What matters is where I put my reflective vest, is my coffee mug full, and did I remember to put the racers bike on the correct car.  As crew, when we are in the follow vehicles, everything is about precision, intuition, and staying focused. There really is little room for error. We're in the zone... the zone called lets do everything humanly and strategically possible to break this record.  When we are sleeping its all intense sleeping... The time is then, even if it's 11 in the sunshiny morning. When we are in need of ice, it's sprinting into the mini mart for time is not abundant. When it's time to choose a song to blare over the speakers of the van, it's all about choosing one for that moment... Perhaps Living on a Prayer on the rollers or Free Fallin down a mountain pass.  Everything out here on RAAM is magnified in intensity of the now, for it takes many moments of sharp and energetic living in the present to make this record a reality. 

I guess I'm wondering about how to make sure I do this in my life realities of home.  Those realities are often cluttered with social norms, jobs, errands, and other such fog.  I find I often don't take the energy to fully embrace the now.  Am I doing my very best right now?  Am I embracing each moment as opportunity? Am I choosing the best song for the moment or simply turning on the radio?  It's tough to say, but overall I am thankful for this RAAM experience, for it has provided a different type of chaos than life reality... And sometimes our bodies and minds just need something different to find clarity and growth.  Plus, the views out here are not too shabby either.  

I'm pretty sure it's time for some dinner and gearing up for the night shift. Or is it morning? 

The Next Big Adventure - Across America I Go!

RAAM - the Race Across America

Team LS&G necklace with unique logo.

My theme this year is "Life is a Field Trip". I chose this because I am genuinely interested in seeing and exploring this great globe while learning about culture and people and being one with nature. I tacked a world map on the wall in my office and put the vibes out into the Universe! So it was no surprise when my friend Joe called me with an opportunity of a lifetime - to be a crew member for a 4 person woman's cycling team that will race across America. 

The goal of this team, Love Sweat and Gears, is to take a 3,000 mile trek across the United States and beat the course record at 6 days, 11 hours and 30 minutes. I get to be one of the team members in charge of getting the cyclists from one check point to the next. 

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How the race works for a 4 person woman's team:

2 racers resting in the RV at a Vehicle Meeting Point, VMP (4 hours ahead) while 2 racers are leapfrogging each other, 15 minute sprints at a time for the 4 hours. I will be in a vehicle with another crew member, we will drop off a racer at a checkpoint and once she is tagged by the racer on the road she takes off and we follow her, narrating the way through a loud speaker attached to the car while she does a 15 minute sprint to the next checkpoint. 

I have 8 hour shifts - I will be in charge of 2 racers for the entire race. Basically, I tend to the needs of one racer, drive her to each check point, make sure she gets food and water during her break and then send her back on the road. While she is racing, I am either driving or navigating for the driver and the racer. I must read the course map, decipher the directions, narrate through the loud speaker and tell my driver when to turn. 

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We will start in Oceanside California, leaving Saturday, June 15th at noon and will roll into Annapolis Maryland 6 days, 11 hours and 30 minutes later. 

It hasn't sunk in the magnitude of what we as a team are taking on but I feel that my training with the Wild West Relay, a 200 mile running race from Fort Collins to Steamboat, my navigating the peaks and my thirst for adventure have all lead me to this point. Plus I have a secret dream of being a base camp manager for high altitude peak climbers so this serves as training for future expeditions. 

In the Media:

Team Love Sweat and Gears were media darlings last year (as my friend Joe calls them) and I have a few links from last years national news. 

NBC Nightly News:

#1    http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/06/12603689-four-women-overcome-obstacles-to-race-across-the-country?lite

 #2     http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/48098135#48098135

This year, they have already been interviewed on radio and television and featured in web articles, here is a clip from 9News yesterday - 

Local 9 News:

http://www.9news.com/shows/mornings/339597/229/Love-Sweat--Gears-ready-to-Race-Across-America

Staying Connected: 

I will be blogging, face booking and tweeting the entire race. To stay connected, make sure you like the Love Sweat and Gears Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/lovesweatandgears?fref=ts as well as subscribe to my blog http://michellemarison.blogspot.com/ so you get automatic updates. Watch my Facebook page as well, many personal updates will fall there.

Lastly, team Love Sweat and Gears is a non-prfofit, I recommend you check out their causes for kids on their website - http://www.lovesweatandgears.net/ .  Anyone interested in sponsorship or donations, feel free to contact me. 

So there it is…my next big adventure. 

Life is a field trip - let the adventure begin!

Timaree Later

Woman of the Week - The Echo Project

Timaree was a sweet surprise in my life. My friend Bree had been telling me about her for months. She was sure we were destined to meet. Bree was right. The moment I met Timaree on my trip to Salt Lake City, I knew how special she was. Timaree has a sweetness and sincerity about her that comes across instantly. Love and warmth radiate from her smile and her yoga spirit shines through. She is ready to take on the world in a loving, gentle and compassionate way but don't let that fool you…she is on fire. I promise you will fall in love with Miss Timaree Later. 

1. What do you do for a living? 
Full blown design geek! I am a commercial interior designer and LOVE my work. I get to be creative, artistic, work with amazing clients and they pay me for it...crazy right? I will soon be taking the position of Creative Design Director at my firm, a dream I have had for years. Stay tuned!

2. What is your purpose in life? 
I love this question because the answer has recently become very clear for me. My purpose in life is to support and serve others and help them to have the most amazing, fulfilling and powerful lives they can possibly have. 

3. If you had the attention of every woman on the planet, what would you say to us? 
Follow your bliss! No matter how crazy your dreams and passions may seem, follow them and the success, joy and love for yourself and others will be endless. Also, focus your attention outward on making sure everyone around you has beautiful and happy lives and your life in turn will be filled with endless purpose and happiness! Find what your purpose in life is and take a stand, the world needs you!

4. What is your super power? 
I have superhuman listening skills! People open up to me about everything, it's beautiful.

5. If you could interview any woman alive today, who would it be and why? 
Paige Elenson. Paige is a senior teacher for Baptiste Power Yoga as well as the director and co-creator of Africa Yoga Project, a non-profit organization that empowers people of diverse communities in East Africa to become yoga teachers. Through teaching, they become leaders in their communities, inspire positive action and support physical, mental and emotional health. Take a moment to learn more: http://www.africayogaproject.org/ 

6. What is your next big pursuit in life? 
I'm currently working toward my Baptiste Power Yoga teacher certification. Sharing my love of the healing and energetic power of yoga has been a dream of mine for a long time! I do my first week of training in June and start teaching July 1st at the studio where I practice. This particular style of yoga is a vehicle for empowerment and community building. I'm thrilled!

Jessie May

Woman of the Week

Jessie May was introduced to me through a mutual friend. She is bold, courageous and powerful. Her and my mission in life seem to be in alignment - she is all about empowering women and making sure we are all being the best and brightest versions of ourselves. She has a unique way of including everyone around her in a very magical way. She is a master of interacting and transforming her environment AND her smile is infectious. Enjoy Jessie May. xo

What do you do for a living? 
I am a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach and founder of Daring Divas USA, LLC.

What is your purpose in life? 
My purpose in life is to inspire women to be daring and take the risks required to create extraordinary, fulfilled and lit up lives.

If you had the attention of every woman on the planet, what would you say to us? 
Dare to do something that scares you every day! It is by busting through our comfort zones that we create the most fulfilling relationships and careers. In the process we build our confidence, which brings us more happiness and allows us to make a bigger positive impact on the world. I’m not talking about jumping out of airplanes here, although if that’s what does if for you, go for it! Here are some examples of what I’m talking about: Call up someone who you haven’t told “I love you” in a long time (like a parent or friend) and tell them, take a stand for something you deserve like asking for a promotion at work or to be treated with respect by your partner, take the leap and start that business you’ve been dreaming of. What could you do that’s a little bit scary, but will lead you closer to the life you envision?

What is your super power? 
Bringing women into community to support and empower each other to create extraordinary lives!

If you could interview any woman alive today, who would it be and why? 
As cliché as it may sound, I would interview Oprah. She has endured so much hardship in her life yet has created such success and done so much good in the world. I want a slice of her wisdom.

What is your next big pursuit in life?
My next big pursuit in life is to bring Daring Divas communities to cities across the country, so women have a supportive place to create the nourishing friendships they long for.

Secrets of Self Mastery #4 - The Earth Revolves Around Me

Have you ever been talking with someone, possibly sharing a problem or concern and everything you said or any story you told was one-upped or turned around to be about them? Yes, I too have been guilty of this before and I would love to say it his hidden deep in my past, but it shows up from time to time and here is why.

1. I can be too spongey. I start taking on people's complaints and problems like it is my own and think their life objections and grievances now echoing in my head are actually being said about me somewhere else by someone. This may sound crazy - but my listening can actually go this far south sometimes. I feel the need all of a sudden to defend myself, as if this story had ANYTHING to do with me. 

2. I have no real idea what to say to them. Sometimes I can not relate to the person at all and I am stuck in how to coach them. I will try to grab onto anything I can think of that might help and it usually looks pretty messy and creates an awkward space for them. I have literally said to someone before - "Forget everything I just said. I actually don't know what to say to you, so all I am going to say is I love you, you are perfect and trust yourself - you know exactly what to do." This is by far the best coaching I have ever given, surpasses any of my stories. 

3. I am self conscience. I can start talking too much about myself when I am in my head trying to figure out if someone likes me or not. It is more of a nervous chatter where I actually have a conversation hangover hours after the conversation. That guilt of indulging too much in stories about myself. Yuck. 

4. I am overly confident. For some reason I can sometimes think that I have the voice everyone needs to hear. Well, I am hear to tell you that I don't. Foot in mouth I think is a common expression to explain this scenario. I don't think I need to elaborate much more, you get the picture. 

So - I am completely and utterly aware that the earth does NOT revolve around me and I like to blame my humanity for the instances where I forget that. 

My challenge to you is go get lost in conversation so fully that you disappear. Watch what shows up. I promise it will be profound.

Stephanie Carter

Woman of the Week - The Echo Project

I will be really honest - I don't know Stephanie that well. She worked at the Chamber of Commerce when I was on the board of directors and always loved her smile and outlook on life. She was always so pleasant to be around and takes everything in stride. I know her now as a writer pursuing her passion. I love surrounding myself with people who are living big and shooting for the stars - Stephanie is one of those of people. 

1. What do I do for a living? Living is what get's us through each day of our life so it would havet o be my passion for writing. I write everyday, whether it's in my journal, on a current novel, or jotting down notes on a dream I have had that would be a great story.

2. What is your purpose in life? To thrive in the everyday, whatever that might bring. I am a strong believer in the Law of Attraction. What I put into the Universe I will receive, that's the positive and the negative. So I try to staya way from the negative.

3. If you had the attention of every woman on the planet, what would you say to us? I want women to know that no matter how old you are you can still be anything you want to be. You don't have to be a high school graduate to plan your future. Find your passion, your dream, and do everything possible to achieve it. Because you CAN!

4. What is your super power? Openness. I am open to new ideas, people, situations, and challenges. Change is good, take it in stride.

5. If you could interview one person alive today who would it be and why? I would love to interview Patricia Cornwell; writer of the Scarpetta Mysterys. She has achieved so much in her life and I would like to find out more and get advice about writing from her.

6. What is your next big pursuit in life? Living the life of a published writer! Teaching at writer's conferences, being on panels, book tours. Learning more about me.