 |
  
|
  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Team4HIVHope Crew: Flexibility and DeterminationBy Carol Hyman June 22, 2011
June 20, 11:36 a.m.; Somewhere near Durango, Colo. There is no question that the racers have an incredibly tough, demanding job. Ride, eat, short rest and ride again. But for the crew, many of whom are also HIV positive, the race is a balancing act of getting things done for the racers and trying to take care of themselves. And it's taking its toll. Because two crew members backed out at the beginning, Sandra had to redo the entire crew schedule, and it resulted in some very long shifts, some more than 24 hours. Some of the jobs, while not difficult, still need the crew member to be alert and vigilant. For example, there are two vans constantly following the racers, and at night the vans play leapfrog to pick up and drop off the racers, scurrying to get bikes on racks and get the next racer on the road. The vans have two crew members: a driver and a navigator. Sometimes the race will go along for close to 50 miles with no turns, and then the course will make rapid rights and left. The crew not only has to keep themselves on track, but also keep the racers on course via radio or flashing headlights to indicate a turn coming up. Martin Berveling, racer Steven Berveling's brother, is a crew member, and he is HIV positive as well. There is no question that the race is taking a toll on his body. In the U.S. from Australia, he had to acclimate to a new continent and a very different time zone, and then to an incredibly rigorous schedule. He was on van duty through three time stations, and it was then that he realized that he needed to take a break. He needed sleep and needed to get his body back on track. The crew, being flexible, made adjustments and Marty got the rest he needed. Now he is taking shifts for those who helped him out. And that is what the race is really about. Teamwork, cooperation, flexibility, and dedication to a common goal is making it work. We pull together when we need to. We give people space when they require it and the support when it's called for. And while we've only been on the road for two days, we've learned a lot. Some of those things are help each other whenever you can, and if you a see a rest room, use it! Get e-mail notifications every time Team4HIVHope's blog is updated.
Add Your Comment:
(Please note: Your name and comment will be public, and may even show up in
Internet search results. Be careful when providing personal information! Before adding your comment, please read TheBody.com's Comment Policy.) |
BLOG:
Race Across America: Team4HIV Hope Cycles to Raise Awareness and to Win  Team 4 HIV Hope The Race Across America is a bicycle race in which cyclists ride 3,000 miles/4,800km from Oceanside, Calif., to Annapolis, Md., in June each year. There is about 110,000 feet of climbing involved. This year for relay teams begins on June 18. RAAM is not a stage race such as the Tour de France. In RAAM, there is only one stage: start to finish. It is essentially a time trial, but a very long one! Challenges include heat, deserts, violent winds, thunderstorms, riding at night, sleep deprivation, muscle injuries and mental acuity. And for the HIV-positive riders, there are more health challenges. An HIV-trained nurse is part of their crew. "Like" Team4HIVHope on Facebook! Follow Team4HIVHope on Twitter! Subscribe to Team4HIV Hope's Blog:
Recent Posts:
May 23, 2012 - Boston Scientist Takes His Lab on the Road: A Blog Entry by Team4HIVHope
December 2, 2011 - Meet the 2012 Team4HIVHope Racers: A Blog Entry by Carol Hyman July 17, 2011 - Reflections on the RAAM Adventure: A Blog Entry by Don Smith July 6, 2011 - Good Work Was Done: A Blog Entry by Don Smith July 5, 2011 - What's Next for Team4HIVHope? A Blog Entry by Carol Hyman A Brief Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by TheBody.com's bloggers are entirely their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of TheBody.com itself. |
 |
||||||||||||||||||
|
The Body: About The Body | Contact The Body | Content Policy | Content Providers | Advertise With Us | Site Map The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 250 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10107. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Email
Comments
Print-Friendly
Glossary
Subscribe
