Meet the Two Person Recuprights!

This has the potential to be the most ferocious head to head competition in the race. We have two of the most accomplished ultra distance recumbent racers in the world (that is not an exaggeration) between Kern and Plath. Jim has the RAO Solo Recumbent record (set when placed 3rd overall solo in 2005), has surpassed 500 miles a couple of times at the Sebring 24 hr and was on pace to become the first solo recumbent finisher at RAAM until he was sidelined with respiratory problems. Fortunately for us bystanders he is going up against Phil Plath. This will be Phil’s third RAO racing in the Recupright Division which he invented. In 2006 Plath raced as Team Dik-Dik with teammate Tim Clark. 2006 was the year of the heat wave and Dik-Dik placed 2nd overall in the Two Person Open division with a time of 32:22. After setting the 2 Person Recumbent record in Race Across America with John Schlitter in ’07, he returned to RAO as part of Team Dik-Less (I don’t think this was in reference to residual numbness suffered during RAAM…). Teamed with Karta Purkh Atehortu, Dik-Less broke the Recupright record with a time of 31:47. Clark and Atehortu showed us what excellent climbers they are in ’06 and ’07. I’m sure I’m offending one or both of the recuprights here but that’s what I’m good at – I don’t have a clue which team has the edge. All the racers are familiar with the route. Clark and Atehortu have both done the brunt of the climbs and were still willing to come back. This is going to be a great race.

210 Team Orthros
James Kern, Sunnyvale, CA (Recumbent)
Karta Purkh Atehortu, Palo Alto, CA (Upright)

208 Team The Second Coming
Phil Plath, Half Moon Bay, CA (Recumbent)
Tim Clark (Upright)

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