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LIVE UPDATE WILL START JUNE 15TH...
Boston, June 13th, 2009 (Day - 4)
I will be flying out to California tomorrow morning, so it's the last time I have a chance to update my website. Starting tomorrow, you will be able to follow our progress daily by clicking on the different links on the home page at www.patrickautissier.org. It's pretty straightforward and as you can see, we'll try to post daily a newsletter, photos, data table, maybe some videos, and the RAAM organization will have all the information per Time Station.
I hope you'll enjoy the race as much as I will, and don't forget to make a donation to Partners In Health or Nashoba Learning Group.
IMMUNE RESPONSE DURING PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION
Boston, June 13th, 2009 (Day - 4)
Finally, I'll be able to do the scientific study that I couldn't do in 2007. The idea is to measure the immune cells during an extreme stress, both physical and mental. Very few, if any, sporting challenges around the world can top solo RAAM. A solo rider usually must stay on the bike for at least 20 hours per day, sleeps no more than 2 hours per day, has to endure brutal change of temperature, hallucinations and delusional thoughts, must eat a minimum of 10,000 calories, climbs the equivalent of 4 Mount Everest during the race. On top of the huge physical challenge, the stress level goes even higher, due to hazard road conditions like potholes, 18-wheeler trucks, animals crossing the road (it happened to me in 2007 and I almost went down!). Finally, the prospect of not finishing the race haunts each rider. Solo RAAM is conceived to test the absolute limit of an individual, both physically and mentally.
You'll have a glimpse of my immune status, as well as some blood parameters during the race. My doctor will draw blood on Day 0, 1, 5, 7 and 8 of the race and will send the specimen to my lab at Boston College and my former lab at Beth Israel Hospital. Boston College will perform complex flow cytometry study that will not be available during the race. However, Beth Israel will do a CBC (Cell Blood Count) and the data will be posted on my website, along with a table giving daily the amount of sleep, time on the bike, time off the bike, etc...I have already collected data before the start, and I'll do the same after the race during the recovery period.
Please take a look at the pre-race time-point on my home page at www.patrickautissier.org
No one has ever done this kind of study and I thought stupidly that I should do it myself. Oh well!
Thank you for your support,
Patrick
Race Number # 302
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