Brian Hetherington (Rider)
- Age: 46
- Occupation: Vice President, Clark Construction Group.
- Endurance Sports Experience: Competitive runner for over 30 years including Division 1 Cross Country & Track in college and marathons and ultra races in adult life. Cyclist for over 20 years and competitive age-group triathlete for the past 4 years. Completed 3 full distance Ironman, 4 half distance Ironman as well as several Olympic distance triathlons in that time.
- Why are you racing RAAM? Everyone faces challenges in life, some harder or more serious than others. Many that we are dealt whether we want them or not and others that we seek out to test ourselves. But I’ve learned from adversity that I find out more about who I am, gratitude for the time we have here, and a desire to make the most of that time by trying new challenges and opportunities to see how far we can go. I hope in this pursuit that I encourage or inspire others to be able to find the same in that same drive, spark, or desire to live life to its fullest in themselves.
- Miscellaneous: I have been involved with Special Love through volunteer work since 2017 and recently joined the Board of Directors. Putting together a team to compete in the Race Across America has been an endeavor that Special Love and I have pursued since 2021, with hopes of competing in 2022. That effort was put on hold when me and my team were injured in a bike-car accident during training. Special Love has been an incredible partner, supporting this dream just like they support so many children dealing with the real challenges of cancer, for our pursuit in 2024.
Rick Phelan (Rider)
- Age: 58
- Occupation: Helping to provide school supplies and apparel to children through the company that I helped start when I was 16 years old.
- Endurance Sports Experience: I did my first triathlon in 2014. I have completed 16 full distance Ironman races and 10 half distance. I have also been blessed with being able to do lots of great swims, bike rides and runs with a lot of awesome people since starting into triathlon.
- Why are you racing RAAM? To meet and enjoy time with people and see parts of the USA that I have not seen before and to hopefully get more people involved with Special Love so that more children with cancer can be helped through the great camps and programs that Special Love provides for the children and their families.
- Miscellaneous: I have lived in Texas most of my life. Currently living mainly in England about 30 miles south of London with Jude, my wife, who I met when we were both racing at the Ironman in Hawaii in 2019. I still have a place near Waxahachie, Texas, that I get back to often. I have always played sports starting with football and basketball as a kid. I have spent a lot of time playing tennis, mountain biking, and triathlon. I have two daughters. Kelly (27) helps children at a day care in the Dallas area. Erin (23) is helping children by working on the education system in Panama with the Peace Corps. I have been helping people with disabilities to water ski for over 25 years now with a great group of people in the Dallas area.
Amy Hite (Rider)
- Age: 47
- Occupation: Chemical Engineer – Commercialization Manager
- Endurance Sports ExperienceCompleted 41 full distance Ironman races including six finishes at the Ironman World Championships and also one finish at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships
- Why are you racing RAAM? To keep an eye on Dave Lundberg and to raise awareness and support for Special Love – for children with cancer. As a recent breast cancer thriver (diagnosed in Dec 2022), I know a bit too well how a cancer diagnosis can instantly turn worlds upside down. My continued training was how I maintained some control and a semblance of normalcy during treatment. The camps and programs Special Love offers, provide this same opportunity of escape and adventure for children with cancer and their loved ones.
- Miscellaneous: My athletic career began with gymnastics, where I competed up to Level 10 in high school. Post college, my athletic focus shifted to climbing: rock, ice, and high-altitude mountaineering. I have summited multiple Ecuador peaks, six over 5000 meters, including Chimborazo (20,564ft) and convinced Dave to travel to Argentina for our honeymoon where we summited Aconcagua (22,841’), the highest peak in the Western hemisphere. I was formerly active in CrossFit, where I coached for several years. Currently I am a triathlon/running/endurance coach with Biscay Coaching. https://biscaycoaching.com/
Dave Lundberg (Rider)
- Age: 59
- Occupation: Recently retired from 3M. During my career I developed products for the electronics and textile industries.
- Endurance Sports Experience: I’ve completed several double century (200 mi) rides in California in the late 1990’s. I have experience with Audax Randonneur bicycling events in Singapore and Malaysia. There I completed single-day rides of 200 km, 300km and 400km. My longest event was a 2-day 664km ride. Recently, my focus has been on triathlons. I’ve completed 42 full distance (140.6mi) and 21 half distance (70.3mi) Ironman races. I’ve also completed 10 marathon run events (26.2mi).
- Why are you racing RAAM? I first learned of the RAAM event in the late 1990’s from friends racing the 200-mile cycling events in California. Many were using the event as part of their qualification to participate solo in RAAM. I’ve dreamt since then of doing the RAAM event and am very excited for an opportunity to realize that dream. It’s also exciting to be racing to help support the great camps and programs that Special Love provides for the children and their families.
- Miscellaneous: I grew up in northern Minnesota, the eldest of 5 siblings. Our family liked to camp and fish. We loved the outdoors. I played ice hockey and tennis through my high school years. My wife, Amy Hite, is also a part of the four-person RAAM team. We’ve climbed numerous mountains together along with participating together in triathlons. We have enjoyed many 100 plus mile rides, so we are quite comfortable being around each other on long rides. I have two children and four grandchildren. I love to spend time with them!
Alyssa Godesky (Crew Chief)
- Age: 38
- Occupation: Endurance athlete & coach with Biscay Coaching
- Endurance Sports Experience: I ran my first ultramarathon at 20 years old and never looked back! Since then I’ve raced over 50 ultramarathons, 37 Ironmans, multiple Adventure Races ranging from 6 hours to 5 days, and set 3 major Fastest Known Times in the Northeast
- Why am on the RAAM team? I’m racing RAAM as a support crew member because I am the coach of one of the team members, Brian. The other three athletes racing are also athletes with Biscay Coaching — we are psyched to represent a full team at RAAM and I knew I wanted to see this feat unfold in person!
- Miscellaneous: I raced triathlon professionally from 2014 – 2022 with an Ironman PR of 9:33. In 2018 I ventured for the first time into multi-day racing, tackling Vermont’s 273-mile Long Trail and earning the Fastest Known Time (supported) for Women in just over 5 days. Two years later, I went to the 46 High Peaks in the Adirondacks, earning the FKT (supported) for women, and the second fastest time overall, in just over 3.5 days. Finally in 2022, I headed to the 48 High Peaks in the White Mountains, and ran the overall FKT (supported) in 3 days and 8 hours. I love the 3-7 day time period for endurance efforts, and I can’t wait to see what can be accomplished in this time as the team Races Across America!
Ted Morgan(Crew/Photographer)
- Age: 55
- Occupation: Economist for the Bureau of Economic Analysis … calculator of GDP.
- Endurance Sports Experience: I’m a dabbler when it comes to endurance sports: 8 marathons, a century ride, and a handful of olympic distance triathlons.
- Why am I on the RAAM Team? I’m super excited to capture the passion, pain, and joy of this team, and to share it with a larger audience.
- Miscellaneous: I race small sailboats and am an avid sports and nature photographer.
Barb Cymanski (Crew)
- Age: 57
- Occupation: Semi-retired teacher. I taught High School and Middle School math for 30 years, and then moved into the role of Math Instructional Coach for four years before retiring. I am now a part time math consultant working with teachers in a local school district.
- Endurance Sports Experience: I have run many marathons, including being a four time Boston Marathon finisher. I am a two time Ironman finisher, along with many 70.3 Ironman and Olympic distance triathlon races. I was a crew member for Matt Cymanski on his FKT for the AT through Shenandoah National Park in 2023, and for Alyssa’s FKT for the NH48 high peaks in 2022.
- Why am I on the RAAM team? I really enjoyed being on the crew for two successful FKT campaigns in recent years, and am looking forward to doing what I can to help support this team across the line in Atlantic City.
- Miscellaneous: I live in northeast Ohio, with my husband who is an avid runner and triathlete. I have three adult children who are scattered across the US, and are all very active. I had a hip replacement 18 months ago, and because of this have transitioned into a hiker and Peloton rider. I spend a lot of time traveling with family, with friends, and solo. I am a detail oriented person and love working on all the logistics that go with traveling and trip planning. I am hoping to use some of those skills with this team.
Kelsey Rogers (Crew)
- Age: 29
- Occupation: Graphic Designer, Boston Globe Media.
- Endurance Sports Experience: I’m a founding member of Chaos Crewing Co., providing professional crew support for endurance athletes. I’ve crewed for several FKT projects, 200+ milers, and a solo runner’s record-breaking, 346 mile solo mission for The Speed Project.
- Why am I on the RAAM team? There is no greater feeling than seeing folks cross the finish line and knowing you helped them to get there. Seeing ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things never ceases to amaze me, and I’ll never stop chasing that high.
- Miscellaneous: I live in Rhode Island with my cat, Binx. My sport of choice is boxing, albeit non-competitively. I have a pretty impressive antique bottle collection, and could talk your ear off about the climate impact of food waste.
Brittany Koether (Crew)
- Age: 35
- Occupation: Small Animal & Equine Veterinarian.
- Endurance Sports Experience: I am a runner, soccer player and rower. I have completed several half marathons, one formal marathon, a 50 miler, a 60k and attempting 100 miles this fall! I have crewed and paced many ultramarathons.
- Why am I on the RAAM team? I am racing RAAM as crew because there is nothing better than helping athletes accomplish big goals.
- Miscellaneous: I am originally a New Englander, born and raised in Connecticut. I have moved several times for veterinary school, internship, jobs and have settled currently in Indiana with the best German shepherd, Kahlua, my significant other Matt and his kids Izzie and Ellie and chihuahua mix, Sprocket.
Ashlee Prewitt-Crosby (Crew)
- Age: 35
- Occupation: Grants/finance Manager at Princeton University.
- Endurance Sports Experience: I co-founded Chaos Crewing Co. which provides professional race support for ultramarathons, FKTs, and other endurance challenges. I’ve been crewing ultras for over a decade and work with athletes of all abilities to help them achieve their goals by identifying and training crew. My goal is to help elevate the endurance sports experience for all!
- Why am I on the RAAM team? I’m both impassioned and inspired to help athletes surpass their goals! Crewing on the RAAM team will be an incredible experience and the longest event I’ll likely ever crew. I hope to build new friendships and learn a few things along the way. I also hope that it will inspire other people, whether athletes or not, to get involved with endurance sports by supporting exciting projects like RAAM.
- Miscellaneous: I’m an avid reader, an ultrarunner’s wife, a caregiver to two dogs and three cats, and an aunt to 19 nieces/nephews (and counting)! I live in Rhode Island and between endurance comps you’ll often catch me planning my next trip back to Oklahoma/Arkansas to visit my very large extended family.
Rolo Abaca (Crew)
- Age: 49
- Occupation: Professional Mountain Guide, ski instructor, bike mechanic and owner of “ACONCAGUA BIKE“.
- Endurance Sports Experience: Summited Mt Aconcagua (22840 ft) 41 times by different routes. Climbed extensively in central Andes, Northern Chile, and Bolivia where I’ve climbed hundreds of 14,000ft to 19,000ft peaks over the years. Climbed Mount Denali in Alaska. Frequently mountain bike in Argentina and have also mountain biked in Utah. Ski touring is another favorite pastime.
- Why am I on the RAAM team? I am passionate about challenges, adventures and new experiences. Since I knew that Amy and Dave and their team wanted to complete this challenge and needed help from the crew, I thought I could be useful. I love helping people complete their dreams like I do in Aconcagua, while also having the opportunity to meet and enjoy time with people and see parts of the USA that I have not seen before. I hope to build new friendships and learn new things along the trip.
- Miscellaneous: I come from a place very far south, Mendoza Argentina, where I was born and have lived all my life. I really enjoy spending time with my family. Where I live is a city with beautiful mountains, large vineyards and delicious cuisine. Usually when I’m not climbing a mountain, I take tourists to see these beautiful places or ride mountain bikes. I have worked for many years organizing adventure trips, I like everything that involves logistics, bicycles, driving and helping people. I hope that all these skills will be helpful to the team. I recently learned about Special Love and I’m also excited to be a part of it.
Jerry Link (Crew)
- Age: 78+
- Occupation: Retired science teacher for 40 years. During that time was a head coach for over 33 years for cross country and track, both on the junior high and high school level.
- Endurance Sports Experience: Most of the endurance sport experience came in a bit after my better days of running. Though my running days have waned a bit, I now bike about 2.5K – 3K a year. For the past few years I have averaged a couple of centuries a year and just finished Key Largo to Key West. My biggest claim to fame was for my yearly birthday ride, I wanted to do something special and I did 150 miles for my 75th birthday.
- Why am I on the RAAM team? I was fortunate to coach Brian Hetherington in high school and he asked me to join his team and to be a part of his amazing crew. I was looking forward to being a part of something special and now I am with this race across America and a former runner of mine. Doing this in conjunction with Special Love makes the endeavor so much more meaningful.
- Miscellaneous: Born and raised in Connecticut and after college moved to Long Island and then with my wife to Maryland where we raised our family. We recently moved to Boynton Beach Florida where one of my daughters and family lives. My other daughter and family live on Long Island where she started a non-profit free book distribution which is the largest on Long Island and the five boroughs. Recently gave out their 4 millionth book and broke a Guinness World Record for longest continues book chain.