In 1988 Dr. Bob Breedlove, a Des Moines orthopedic surgeon, went on his first Race Across American (RAAM). I knew the people that crewed for him and I knew him. My employer was interested in the physiology of stress and Bob agreed to be a test object - and was glad for the sponsorship. He considered his training as a surgeon, being used to sleep deprivation, to be a major asset in qualifying, as the riders usually ride the first 48 hours with little or no sleep and very little sleep during the race. Yes, at some point he dropped his bike and started running toward the desert "chasing snakes.." The race that year was from San Francisco to D.C. and he made it to seventh place after 10 days, 12 hours and 29 min.
While crossing to Nevada that year, he came upon a motorcyclist that was injured in an accident. Doc Breedlove stopped to administer first aid and to wait for the authorities, but the injured man died. The RAAM organizers gave Breedlove back the time that he lost while on the scene.
The following year he did a "double RAAM" - crossing the country twice, bracketing RAAM.
Earlier this week he started on his fifth RAAM and earlier today I found the tragic news
http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/ He apparently collapsed on his bike and veered into the path of a pickup truck.
Bob Breedlove was 53 and, as I told my still in shock spouse, he died doing what he loved.
May he rest in peace.
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