Katie and Sam's "Ride For Your Lives!" - RAAM 2011

The Race Across America
June 18 - 26, 2011

for Blue Planet Network FARM-Africa Kenyan water projects in honor of Katie and Sam

Katie Spotz and Sam Williams are not professional athletes. You would probably walk past them on the street without a second glance. However, this seemingly ordinary pair has achieved the extraordinary.

Both completed record-breaking solo rows across the Atlantic Ocean, between them spending nearly five months alone in 20-foot boats, travelling 6,500 miles through treacherous conditions. Combined, they cycled more than 10,000 miles across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and swam the entire length of the 325-mile Allegheny River in Pennsylvania. Along the way, they have received worldwide acclaim.

The Race Across America is a 3,000 mile bicycle race across the USA. On the face of it, that seems pretty tough, considering the Tour de France is under 2,300 miles long. But that’s only the half of it. From the moment the race starts on June 18, 2011 in Oceanside, California, the clock will keep ticking, 24 hours/day, until Katie and Sam cross the finish line in Annapolis, Maryland. Relaying as they go and cycling through the night, catching a bit of sleep whenever they can, they are aiming to complete the race in under 7 days 21 hours, setting a new record. During this marathon attempt, they will have to climb over 170,000 feet (almost six times the height of Mt. Everest) and cope with searing temperatures as their bodies tell them, time and time again, that this shouldn’t be possible. Thankfully, they’re pretty stubborn!

• Over 3,000 miles across the USA, passing through 12 states along the way
• Over 170,000 feet of climbing
• The clock runs 24/7, meaning Katie and Sam will be traveling non-stop
• They are aiming to complete the race in under 7 days 21 hours
• That means they have to cover almost 400 miles per day
• Professional cyclists in the Tour de France cover 75% of the distance in 250% of the time

in honor of Katie and Sam   |   Follow Katie and Sam on their web site >>

KATIE SPOTZ
23-year old Katie Spotz, from Mentor, Ohio, describes herself as having been the “benchwarmer” throughout her life. However, there came a time when she made a discovery: you don’t have to be extraordinary to achieve incredible things. And she set about achieving them, one by one. The list of accomplishments to her name is long, and includes a half-Ironman triathlon, an ultramarathon in Australia, cycling across the USA, a 325-mile river swim, running across deserts and a solo row across the Atlantic Ocean. But this wasn’t just any row; when Katie arrived in Guyana, South America, after 70 days at sea, she set a world record for the youngest ever solo ocean rower, one of many records to her name. Through the row, Katie wasn’t just seeking to make history. She wanted to raise $30,000 for Blue Planet Network water projects. As interest grew in her amazing exploits, Katie ended up raising more than $100,000, creating access to water for more than 3,000 people. Katie is continuing to raise awareness of the plight of the billions around the world suffering from a lack of safe drinking water, giving talks to groups and organizations around the USA. Along the way, she can’t help but inspire all who come to see her speak, as they realize that extraordinary achievements are within everyone’s grasp.

SAM WILLIAMS
When Sam Williams, from London, England, got into Pacific Pete, his 23-foot rowing boat, in the Canary Islands, he had no idea what he was about to face. At that point, his experience of the sea was limited to a few crossings of the English Channel ... in a ferry! Despite that, he achieved what many had failed to do, and completed a solo unsupported row across the Atlantic Ocean, eventually reaching land over 75 days and 3,750 miles later in Antigua. Admittedly, had he known that he’d face 30-foot waves, sharks and reckless supertankers, he might have thought twice! But the expedition wasn’t all about striving to achieve the seemingly impossible; Sam was also raising money for FARM-Africa, a charity supporting sustainable farming ventures in eastern Africa. With the support of the public and media in both the UK and USA, around $50,000 was raised and Sam decided it was time to visit the people who had benefited from the funds. So he went by bike! After 6,000 miles, 17 countries, countless punctures and a few worrying moments, Sam arrived in Mwingi, Kenya. Any sensible person would think that would be an ideal time to hang up their adventuring boots. Thankfully for his fans, Sam isn’t always sensible.

Please honor Katie and Sam by supporting
Blue Planet Network FARM-Africa Kenyan water projects