Rich Kondzielaski, 48, from Yonkers, NY won the Adirondack 544 mile RAAM qualifier in 37 hours 7 minutes. Kondzielaski finished second in the inaugural ADK 540 in 1999, and finished RAAM in 2000.

The ADK 540 is a unique format: four 136 mile loops of a scenic, but hilly course through the Adirondack state park, with a total of about 27,000 feet of climbing.

Richard Ruge, 46, from Harrison, NY, was the only other finisher in 47:57, qualifying for RAAM.

I had ridden with Kondzielaski and Ruge on my Leadville tour in August - both are strong men, the kind I like to sit behind on a windy day! Kondzielaski said that the wind the first lap of the ADK was so strong that it nearly blew him over! The second and third laps, done at night, were "cold, but not too bad". He said the "fourth time around was horrible. It was so mentally hard to start out on the last lap, I had no need to go, no reason to go."

This was Ruge's second attempt at the ADK. "I knew what to expect. I almost had the course memorized. That's what got me through when my knee gave out about 60 miles from the finish." He developed tendonitis so severe that he could barely walk, much less turn the cranks. However, his crew refused to let him quit. Ruge said "the last part was a series of highs and lows. The highs coming when I thought about the end and qualifying. The lows coming when I thought about the pain.

Nancy, 52, and John Guth, 49, from Stafford, VA, were riding unsupported trying to complete a three-point event for the John Marino Competition. Unfortunately, remnants of Hurricane Hanna blew in and it rained hard the second night including, according to Guth "serious lightning, so much that I rode 1/4 mile ahead of Nancy to make us a little less 'attractive' to lightning".

Lew Meyer had entered the race, but "at 67, I never had thoughts of riding RAAM." Meyer rode the first two laps with the Guths. Meyer dropped at 333 miles, unable to maintain their pace and projecting he could not finish within the 53 hour cut-off. He hitched a ride back to his car and drove behind the Guths the last lap. "After riding in heavy rain for about 25 miles, a microburst struck. Neither of them could see the white line on the road due to the very heavy downpour. The wind had blown Nancy out of control and off the road. Leaves and branches were flying. Any travel was unsafe. They put their bikes on the road in front of my car and we all climbed in."

The Guths rode 479 miles. No woman has ever finished this event and the previous best woman's mileage was just under 300.

Fifteen people entered the event with nine attempting the full four laps. Only two finished the 544 miles; normally, about 1/3 of the field finishes this very tough RAAM qualifier. Six riders did finish the one-lap Bronze Blast.

The tentative date for next year's ADK 540 is Sept. 12 - 14, 2003.

Results

Solo Riders
Rider / Hometown	Hours:Minutes
Rich Kondzielaski, 48, Yonkers, NY	37:07, Previously RAAM qualified
Richard Ruge, 46, Harrison, NY	47:57 RAAM Qualified
Also
Rider / Hometown	Miles Completed
John Guth, Stafford, VA	479.4 miles
Nancy Guth, Stafford, VA	479.4
Luke Wiaczek, Milford, NJ	408.3
Jim Scheller, Beaufort, SC	387.3
Lew Meyer, Berwyn, PA	333.3
Ed Mulhern, Charlotte, NC	272.2
Tom Murray, Dover-Foxcraft, ME	182.4
Bronze Blast (136 miles)
Rider / Hometown	Hours:Minutes
Ralph Pruitt, Holmes, NY	8:47
Ross McCabe, Cohoes, NY	10:21
Pat Carter, Far Rockaway, NY	11:10
Janet Magajna, Queens, NY	11:10
Dave Obelkevich, New York, NY	11:10
Brian Uline, Sloatsburg, NY	11:10