VSP Active

Team Type 1 makes no secret about its goals for the eight-person team division of the Race Across America (RAAM), which begins today in Oceanside, CA.

“Our first expectation is to win the race,” said Team Type 1 Elite Team Director Bob Schrank. “Our second expectation is to break the record set by the Norwegian team last year. And always, our hope is that we complete the race in a safe manner.”

The teams competing in RAAM begin pedaling the 3,021 miles to Annapolis, MD, at 2 p.m. PDT. Last year, Team Type 1 finished less than four hours behind the Byggkjøp presented by BMC Cycling squad that won the eight-person team division in a time of five days, nine hours and 56 minutes.

Team Type 1 is comprised entirely of athletes who have Type 1 diabetes, a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly control blood sugar levels. The team 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.

Schrank said having diabetes makes parts of the grueling, non-stop race more difficult. While other teams can relax after riding a shift, Team Type 1’s athletes must be vigilant about monitoring their blood sugar.

“We are constantly using the Navigator and our OmniPods to make small corrections to our Apidra or Lantus (insulin),” he said. “As anyone with diabetes will tell you, managing diabetes is a 24-7 job.”