Biking | VSP Blog

Posts Tagged ‘biking’

Team Type 2 finishes RAAM in 7 days

Posted on June 21st, 2010 by Lisa P.

TeamType2RAAMFinishLine Team Type 2 officially finished Race Across America (RAAM) in 7 days, 15 hours, and 8 minutes. They began their 3,005-mile journey in Oceanside, California June 12 and crossed the finish line in Annapolis, Maryland June 20, in hopes to inspire others living with diabetes, to achieve their dreams.

All the riders in Team Type 2 participating in RAAM have type 2 diabetes. Team Type 2 rider Rob Coburn said “It’s one thing to control your blood sugar during a day at the office and a daily workout. But it’s really different when it’s 27 degrees at 9,000 feet above sea level three days into a race. It’s hard to explain…I thought the riding would be harder, but the logistics were so much a part of the success.” Team Type 2 is living proof to all patients with diabetes that their disease can be controlled through healthy eating, regular exercise and appropriate medication.

VSP Vision Care is proud to be the exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider for Team Type 1 and Team Type 2.

About Team Type 1 and VSP Vision Care
Team Type 1 is a group of athletes living with diabetes. The team includes professional race teams, a triathlon team and a development team. Team Type 1 strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes. VSP® Vision Care is proud to be their exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider.

File under: diabetes, RAAM, Team Type 1 | Tagged: biking, cycling, diabetes, procyling, RAAM, race across america, rob coburn, Team Type 2, Type 2 Diabetes, VSP, VSP Vision Care
No Comments »

How Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis was first detected in the eye

Posted on June 21st, 2010 by Lisa P.

Guest Blogger: Casey Knopik, winner of VSP’s Amgen Tour of California Scavenger Hunt. Casey shares a personal story about how his niece was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The term arthritis conjures up images of a disease that affects individuals in the retirement age. But the truth is that arthritis can affect you no matter what age you are. And no one knows that better than my family.

Brooklynn

My niece Brooklynn was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) the day before her fourth birthday. Brooklynn’s mom was getting her ready for daycare when she noticed that Brooklynn’s eye was very red and irregular looking. They immediately went to the doctor and blood tests confirmed that Brooklynn had JRA. No one had seen it affect a child’s eye before and after seeing specialists and doctors, Brooklynn eventually had to undergo surgery to remove her left eye.

Now at 10 years old, Brooklynn is a happy and active little girl. She has a prosthesis eye but it is uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. She also has glasses that she wears to help protect the good eye from rocks and flying objects. They are transitional to help protect the eye from sunlight too. However, JRA will always affect her. “My shins and ankles are pretty good as long as I take my medicine and don’t overdue in gym or on the playground especially with a lot of running!” said Brooklynn. “Rainy days and when it is really cold or snows a lot makes them hurt. I try to stay in as much as possible when it is really cold.”

Team Brooklynn

On behalf of Brooklyn, I formed a team with my dad and friend to race in the People’s Coast Classic Bicycle Ride, a benefit ride for the Arthritis Foundation to help raise funds and awareness about this terrible disease. If you are interested in donating to this cause, please check out our Team Brooklyn donation page to find out more about us. If you’re unable to donate, please feel free to leave us a comment wishing us well with our training and on our ride. Thank you.

File under: eye health | Tagged: biking, charity, cycling, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, People's Coast Classic Bicycle Ride
No Comments »

Team Type 1 & Team Type 2 on RAAM

Posted on June 16th, 2010 by Lisa P.

Team Type 1's Tom Kingery and Lonny Knabe switch leads on a flood plain outside of Alton, Illinois during Race Across America

Team Type 1′s Race Across America Update:
Team Type 1 has been averaging 23.5 mph during the Race Across America and crew members suggest the team is, in fact, traveling faster, and may have a chance at beating its own 3,000+ mile record of 5 days, 9 hours and 3 minutes. Team captain Bob Schrank said Kansas was beautiful and they were lucky to have missed a massive storm that hit the night before which caused major flooding. Power was out and lines were down all over western Kansas.

The hills immediately started when they hit Missouri, and they just didn’t stop. The hills were difficult but the guys were thrilled to push each other to ride harder and faster. The team is hungry to break a record this year and plan on making the second half even faster than their first.

Personal update from Team Type 2 rider Rob Coburn:
We are moving through Kansas. Now at Yates Center waiting for the transition to the other squad. One of our guys got sick last night so three of us went out about midnight local time and rode about 150 miles. It was a great night. We raced back and forth all night with another team and averaged 20.87 mph for about 35 miles.

We are just over half way through the course. The routine is working itself out and we are all adapting in ways you wouldn’t believe. Our crew is top-notch and essential to making all of this work. A huge thunder storm just went through, glad to still be in the RV. Chances are pretty good we’ll get wet at some point.