Four women from the Children’s Tumor Foundation’s NF Endurance Team will compete in Race Across America (RAAM) to raise awareness and money for NF research. RAAM is a 3,000 mile bike race that begins in Oceanside, CA and ends in Annapolis, MD. This 4-woman team, CrankNF For A Cure, will race 24/7 in a relay style, leaving one rider on course at all times. As a team they will cover about 450 miles a day and set a goal to finish in (under) 8 days and 5 hours. The team will be accompanied and supported by an 11-person crew (read more about them here).
Keep reading to meet the team!
Angela Earle (Krum, TX)
Why are you doing RAAM this year?
To help raise awareness of NF.
How do you train for a 3,000 mile ride?
A lot of riding on tired legs. I don’t think any amount of riding will prepare me for what I’m about to endure. This is going to be the most difficult endurance event I’ve ever even considered in my life.
What’s been the most difficult aspect of training?
In my case, finding the time. It is a lot to balance with working, traveling, and raising kids.
What’s the first thing you’ll do when you cross the finish line in Annapolis?
I’d like to say celebrate, but realistically, I’ll probably cry. This is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime achievement.
What are you most excited about during the ride?
Getting to bond with the other riders and crew. We really have an incredible team. I mean, the entire crew is volunteering their time to do this. Who really wants to spend eight days in vehicles with stinky riders?
What are you looking forward to the least during the ride?
I’m really anxious about climbing the mountains. This will definitely be a huge undertaking for me.
Is there anything else you want to add?
The reason why I continue to push myself to the limit is because of my daughter Kylie. She is nine years old and has gone through so much more in her life than most adults. I see how being different and living with NF impacts her life. Despite the hurdles she’s gone through, she is a very positive and strong-willed little girl. This is only the beginning of her life-long journey. Riding my bike across the U.S. is the least I can do. I want to show both of my girls that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. You fall down in life, you get back up. Over and over.
Lesley Oslica (Conway, AR)
Why are you doing RAAM this year?
I am riding RAAM because a wonderful opportunity to fund NF Research came about through the Children’s Tumor Foundation after a generous donor offered a $2.5 million matching gift. One of the guidelines to the match was that it had to be new money coming in. So, I came up with an idea to do something “BIG” to earn “BIG” donations that could then be a part of the matching gift. We set our team goal of $100,000 – which after the matching gift is applied would be $200,000. I know firsthand, that $200,000 can fund a lot of NF research and as a mother of a child with NF – that is motivating!
How do you train for a 3,000 mile ride?
Our training plan evolves as we get closer to the event. At this stage of the process we are training 150-200 miles a week – with some focus on hill climbing and some focus on sprints.
What’s been the most difficult aspect of training?
The most difficult – but rewarding aspect of training has been learning to climb mountains. I am not an elite athlete and certainly do not have the physique of an elite bike rider, so climbing mountains has been one of my main goals. And, while I am not fast at climbing, I am at least gaining confidence that I can pedal them without falling over.
What’s the first thing you’ll do when you cross the finish line in Annapolis?
Probably cry, then high-five and congratulate our team, then have a celebratory beverage!
What are you most excited about during the ride?
I am excited to see our team gain confidence and work together to obtain our goal. RAAM is a monumental task, one that calls for extreme selflessness and endurance. I’m most excited to see them accomplish their dream of finishing RAAM and knowing we advanced the mission to End NF.
What are you looking forward to the least during the ride?
About 3 to 4 days into the race the adrenaline wears off and the crew and riders become tired and fatigued. Sometimes, the fatigue is so great it causes team mates to act in ways they wouldn’t usually act. I’m a people pleaser and want everyone to be happy…so I’m least looking forward to the moments along the way that people aren’t happy. But I know the feeling at the finish line will help us overcome those obstacles!
Is there anything else you want to add?
There will be a great opportunity to track our team. RAAM has a new and awesome tracking system where people can follow us literally where we are on the map at any given time. It can be a very fun activity for families as well as a learning opportunity for kids in many aspects (geography – learning direction, elevation; math – calculating mph, miles left to go; history – learning about mountain ranges, when they were developed, first settlers). Families with NF might watch us along the way and when we are nearing their region or state, we would love to see a message, picture or encouragement when we pass by their area. We ride for all those affected by NF. The journey of RAAM is somewhat parallel to living with NF…some mountains we have to climb and some valleys we endure. For those that follow us on the tracking link, we could sure use an extra push when climbing the Rockies and the Appalachian mountains.
Hanna Turnbough (Conway, AR)
Why are you doing RAAM this year?
My sister and I joined the Women Run Arkansas Clinic in 2009 to run a 5K together. At this running clinic, we met a mother of an NF Hero who shared her passion for advancing the mission to End NF and invited me to join the NF Endurance Team. I did my first half marathon with the NF Endurance Team in 2010 and later did 3 marathons in a row with NF Endurance and became a Marathon Maniac. In 2011, I crewed for the men’s NF Endurance Race Across America Team. From that point on, Race Across America became a bucket list item of mine and I had always wanted to be a rider in an all women’s team. Throughout the years I have continued to participate with NF Endurance and the foundation by running, riding, volunteering for the Annual Dancing with Our Stars Gala and other various fundraisers.
How do you train for a 3,000 mile ride?
You take a full time job, multiply it, and spend all of that time in the saddle. A week of training looks like this: A couple of long rides of about 100 miles, with one day of hill repeats, and a couple days of speed work. I also teach spin class which gives me a great opportunity to have an indoor training outlet with other riders.
What’s been the most difficult aspect of training?
Personal tragedies when both of my grandparents passed away within 4 weeks of each other. It has been difficult to cope with their loss while also having to maintain heavy training. Aside from these tragedies – being a personal trainer, we spend so much of our of energy motivating others to reach their goals, sometimes it’s hard to motivate ourselves.
What’s the first thing you’ll do when you cross the finish line in Annapolis?
Find a cold beer and some fresh seafood.
What are you most excited about during the ride?
Having the opportunity to ride through various parts of the country, especially Monument Valley. I look forward to the overall experience and helping the team hammer as much miles as I can.
What are you looking forward to the least during the ride?
17% grade mountains and headwinds!
Julie Hathcock (Malvern, AR)
Why are you doing RAAM this year?
To raise awareness for NF, and for my friend, Dena, who has NF, and to help raise money towards research that will find a cure for NF.
How do you train for a 3,000 mile ride?
I ride my bike, ALOT. I use my spinner bike when weather is too bad outside, or I use my bike with the trainer attachment for some indoor riding also. I ride shorter 10-40 mile rides, two-three times per week and longer, over 50 mile rides on Saturdays and on Sundays, with lots of hills. I do hill repeats once every week or two on the shorter ride days. I have also got in a several night rides with some teammates and by myself.
I also, along with two of my teammates, competed in the 400 Mile RAAM Texas Challenge Series in March in the Hill Country of Texas. This was an amazing experience and gave me a new perspective on what challenges I would face this summer.
My whole team will do another 200 mile ride in a couple of weeks to help prepare for the RAAM ahead of us!
What’s been the most difficult aspect of training?
Making time for training when I have a full time job, a family, and many other extracurricular activities that I am involved in or my family is involved in.
What’s the first thing you’ll do when you cross the finish line in Annapolis?
Thank the Lord for giving me the courage, strength, and determination to accomplish such an extraordinary race! I’m sure I’ll cry and shout ‘Wahoos!’ and ‘We did it!’, etc, and then I’ll hug my teammates and crew members.
What are you most excited about during the ride?
Seeing the beautiful countryside from a cyclist perspective and helping to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than myself.
What are you looking forward to the least during the ride?
Being away from my family, the lack of sleep, muscle fatigue, and the mountain descents.
To follow the team along this magnificent journey, download the Tractails App on your Smartphone and follow CrankNFor A Cure [RAAM 4-Person Female (18-49) Standard]. You will have access to the team’s location along the route, as well as information about distance and elevation.
