Alright, voting time!  Is this the cover for the 2011 Furnace Creek 508 race magazine? AdventureCORPS has made a photo of me available for download as desktop wallpaper.  It is one of my favorite photos from the 2010 Furnace Creek 508 taken by  Marcus Edvalson.  He  captured me approximately 350 miles into the race, in between Shoshone Time Station #4 at mile 326 and  Baker Time Station #5  at mile 382.  I am secretly hoping that my photo makes the cover of the 2011 Furnace Creek 508 race magazine.  If you feel the same, please take the time to post a comment on my blog or Facebook!

Felt F2 with Di2 7900 Electronic Dura-Ace, SRM 7900 Dura Ace Wireless Crankset Power with Power Control 7, Skins Compression Pro Cycle Bib Tights and base layer, Bont A1 cycling shoes, Nathan Sports Reflective Gear, Zipp Zedtech 2 wheels, Swiftwick Socks,  Bike Religion Cycling Team and Oakley Sunglasses.

This picture was taken by Marcus Edvalson working on the staff of the Furnace Creek 508 .  I was en route to Baker, Time Station #5 mile 382.6.  I am approximately 28 hours into the race.  Thank you Marcus for the great shot. This one’s a keeper!!

Thank you Felt for the F2 with Di2 and SRM for the Dura-Ace 7900 Crank Wireless Power Meter

Thank you  to my crew for believing me even when I was no longer believing in myself.  Steve, Rachel and Jaime you guys were awesome.

I am now an official five time finisher of the “Toughest 48 hours in sport”, the Furnace Creek 508.  I have finished five out of five consecutive Solo division 508’s I have entered, including one on a fixed gear (49×17), in 2007.  As a five time finisher I am now qualified to be included in the Furnace Creek 508 Hall of Fame.   I set out to achieve that goal five years ago.  I thank ALL my crews from 2006-2010 for helping me in my journey.

A huge thank you also goes out to my sponsors who have supported me this year and years past.  SRM for the awesome Dura-Ace 7900 Wireless Crankset Power Meter, Infinit Nutrition for the customizable nutrition formulas, Felt for the stiff yet supple F2 with Di2, Bont Shoes, PRO for the comfortable and versatile saddle and perfect stem, Bike Religion, Skins compression garments, Swiftwick socks, Oakley for my Jawbones, and Zipp for my Zed Tech 2’s.

A race report will follow soon.

Thank you for reading my blog.

I am not in the shape I was in back in 2008. But I will use the numbers from that year to keep me on track for 2010.

You can keep track of me, The Red Eyed Vireo, and see how I’m doing compared to my PR from 2008 on the 2010 The Furnace Creek 508 Webcast.

And here is the Twitter feed specifically for the Furnace Creek 508.

FURNACE CREEK 508 BEGINS 0700 ON OCTOBER 2, 2010

This is a fun little exercise I did a couple of years ago so people could get an idea how far the Furnace Creek 508 was in tangible terms.

When you have the time take a look at this link and pick and choose different maps of two cities so you can see for yourself how far I will be racing non-stop at the Furnace Creek 508.

First the course profile and then below that is the map of the race course.  The race is non-stop 508 miles through Mojave and Death Valley Deserts, with 35,000 feet of climbing and 10 mountain passes.

Then there are two maps one for the West Coast and East Coast peeps.

San Fran to San Diego

New York City to Raliegh North Carolina

Portsmouth to Dundee

It is with great pleasure and pride that I announce my crew members for my fifth consecutive Furnace Creek 508 Steve Crew Chief, Jaime and Rachel.

Steve - Crew Chief

Steven is a veteran of several 508s, centuries, double centuries, and sub-zero winter commutes in Wisconsin..

He is the Race Director of the Everest Challenge and a growing schedule of mountain rides mostly in the Eastern Sierra.  Our team goal is to do whatever it takes to get the Red Eyed Vireo to Twentynine Palms!

Rachel

Jaime

Since January 2009 I have completed 12 brevets, including my first super randonneur series in 2010, and have ridden more than 6800 total kilometers.  I have also achieved a RUSA R-12 in September 2010.  I truly enjoy the challenge of riding ultra distances usually with little to no support.  I bring to Team Red Eye Vireo, and my first FC 508, the ability to focus on and overcome the challenges that the race will provide and help George Vargas cross the finish line a fifth consecutive time.