VSP Blog

Team Type 2 crossed the finish line of the Race Across America (RAAM) early Sunday to complete the grueling, 3,021-mile journey in seven days, seven hours and 24 minutes.

The squad’s stirring finish in front of a large crowd on the City Dock in Annapolis, Md., featured a mix of hugs, smiles, a few tears and plenty of high fives. One long-time RAAM observer called it the most emotional finish line celebration he has ever witnessed.

“It’s exciting to work so hard to get it done,” Team Type 2 director and rider Bob Avritt said. “It gives us the opportunity to look forward to help people and inspire them about what people with Type 2 diabetes can accomplish.”

Team Type 2 is believed to be the first squad consisting entirely of athletes with Type 2 diabetes to successfully complete the non-stop, transcontinental race since teams began competing in RAAM in 1989. People living with the disease have too much sugar in their bloodstream because their bodies either do not use insulin properly or do not produce enough insulin.

In addition to Avritt, team members were John Anderson, Bill Arnold, Bob Chaisson, Larry Cleveland, Peter Cowley, Mark Thul and Denny Voorhees.

Chaisson survived a scare in the final 12 hours of the race when he badly cut his right calf after slipping off the pedals. He needed seven stitches and a tetanus shot, but resumed riding four hours later.

Team Type 2 is an extension of Team Type 1, which was founded in 2004 by Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge. Team Type 1 has competed in RAAM since 2006 and has men’s and women’s professional racing teams, a triathlon team and a development team. Team Type 2 strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes; through active management, one can achieve their goals, dreams, and potential.

On Friday, Team Type 1 won the eight-person team division of RAAM in five days, nine hours and five minutes while bettering the race record. Many members of that team, as well as the squad’s volunteer crew, were in Annapolis Sunday morning to greet Team Type 2.

Avritt said RAAM – which began last Saturday in Oceanside, Calif. – was everything that he expected. “Some of it was more difficult than I could have imagined,” he said. “The most difficult was the sleep deprivation. I knew it would be an issue, but not so much of a predominant issue. Regardless, we were able to meet our goal of finishing in seven days.”

Brian B. (left) is with VSP's customer care team.

Each year I challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone. Last year, I tried commuting to work on public transportation. I figured it would be my contribution to being “green”. I am still using public transportation each day. I was actually one of the first people to ride in the new Rancho Cordova Van, which drops me off right in front of the office. I love it! My goal for this year is to try and be more talkative. I am a relatively quiet person, and not the first to initiate conversation. I would like to be more comfortable doing so. I tried it this week and had surprising results.

While riding the van this week, I asked the driver how she is enjoying the new route and if she noticed any trends(this is the second week.) She told me that she has seen a few more people than last week. She said that she is dropping off a couple of people at the same stop that I use every time she makes her route. She asked where I worked. When I told her that it was VSP, her reply was. “Oh WOW! That is a great company. I only hear great things about them” I was instantly filled with pride by her response. I sat and thought about it, and a great big smile came to my face. I realized that she is dropping off my coworkers all morning long. My personal challenge helped to remind me that I work for a company that does its part for the environment and so does its employees. How cool is that?

Very Cool!!

Annapolis, Md. (2:34 a.m. EDT) – A year after falling short in its quest to win the Race Across America (RAAM), Team Type 1 rode onto the City Dock early Friday in Annapolis, Md., as champions of the eight-person team division.

The eight athletes on Team Type 1 who have Type 1 diabetes won the non-stop, transcontinental race in record time, completing the 3,021-mile (4,861 km) distance in five days, nine hours and five minutes.

Their average speed of 23.41 mph bettered the 23.24 mph of last year’s winner, the Norwegian Byggkjøp presented by BMC Cycling Team, which completed nearly the same distance in five days, nine hours and 43 minutes.

Team members Jeff Bannink, Simon Bennett, Alex Bowden, Matt Brooks, Tom Kingery, Lonny Knabe, Bob Schrank and Mark Suprenant were recognized on the victory podium to the cheers of a large crowd of supporters that included Team Type 1 founder Phil Southerland.

Schrank teamed with Southerland and Team Type 1 co-founder Joe Eldridge in 2007 when Team Type 1 won its second straight eight-rider RAAM team title. Last year, Bowden, Brooks and Suprenant joined Schrank on the squad that finished second.

Team Type 1′s record-setting performance was not without several obstacles, including a grass fire in the Arizona desert that destroyed one of the team’s minivans, an RV that lost its transmission in Utah and a crew car that ran out of gas – all within a 24-hour span early in the race. The team is also looking for Mark Suprenant’s Orbea Ordu time trial bicycle, which went missing in the final 24 hours of the race.

Team Type 1 was created in 2004 to inspire people living with diabetes to take a proactive approach to managing their health and overcoming the obstacles often associated with the condition. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly control blood sugar levels.

Jeff Bannink was part of the Team Type 1 squad that won the Race Across America early Friday morning while bettering the record for a transcontinental crossing. He and his seven teammates completed the 3,021 miles in five days, nine hours and five minutes. Throughout the race, Bannink shared his thoughts and observations exclusively with VSP Vision Care. This is his final entry.

So we’re all done and it feels good. I don’t know where to start. As I write this, I am completely – physical and mentally – ready to shut down. We finished the race just before 3 a.m. EDT, then did all the pictures and celebration that goes along with it. We got back to the hotel, I showered up and now we’re going to go out for dinner – or maybe it’s breakfast.

On our last shift into Maryland, everyone was pretty stoked to bring it home. We all had a lot of adrenaline starting out, but in a six-hour shift, you get into a grind of doing it. But the last two hours we were just flying, trying to get it done.

I think there’s something fun about suffering together as part of a team. Obviously only one of us was riding at a time, but when we were riding, you ware thinking if I can just go half a mile an hour faster, it will help the team. So that was my motivation throughout the race, not individually, but working toward a team goal.

I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I can’t think VSP Vision Care enough for setting us up with some terrific Nike sunglasses. When you don’t have an issue with your eyewear, that’s when you know something’s good. And I didn’t have any issues with my glasses during the entire race.

Finally, I can’t close without saying how much I grew to appreciate the crew – and the sponsors – and everyone who helped us do it. You’re pretty helpless without the nutritionists, the drivers, the navigators, etc. A big thank you to everyone who made it happen. It’s amazing how much work other people put into helping eight guys go fast.

Team Type 2 is making its way along the pleasant back-roads of Ohio.
Photo by Bob Avritt
Near Chillicothe, Ohio – Team Type 2 is becoming the model of consistency during its first foray into the Race Across America (RAAM).

The eight riders who have Type 2 diabetes held throttle at 17 mph as they cruised through Kansas, into Missouri, through Illinois, into Indiana and now on the roads of Ohio. Since early Wednesday, the team’s average speed has increased from 17.1 to 17.65 mph

Team Type 2 crew member Andrew Burgess said Director Bob Avritt has been riding some “monster” shifts on his Orbea Opal, including the bridge which crossed over the Mississippi River.

If the team continues its current pace, it will arrive at the finish line in Annapolis, Md., Saturday about 8:30 p.m. EDT.