Recently, our friend and former Good To-Go Shipping Manager, Devon Jasinski, approached us for support of a new race he had entered and was training for. We were eager to help fuel a Good To-Go alumni in pursuit of his ambitious goal: ultra-cycling 630 miles from Blanchester, OH to Atlantic City, NJ.
2024 marked the inaugural year of Race Across the East (RAE), a new qualifying race for the renowned Race Across America (RAAM). Race Across the East follows the final leg of the 3,000-mile RAAM, stretching 630 miles with an impressive elevation gain of about 40,000 feet. Riders traversed through six states: Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey.
The RAE featured four 2-person teams and 17 solo riders from various countries, including the USA, Brazil, India, and Slovenia. Competing alongside these participants were the RAAM riders, who had started their journey from Oceanside, CA, a week earlier. With twelve 4-person teams, five 2-person teams, and 24 solo riders, the addition of the RAE participants created an exciting atmosphere for the RAAM racers completing the final stretch of their race.
Devon’s journey into cycling began when his father, an avid cyclist, inspired him from a young age. He recalls watching the documentary “Bicycle Dreams”, which chronicled the experiences of cyclists racing the RAAM. It showcased their struggles with rest, nutrition, and the mental challenges of such an extreme event, including the heartbreaking loss of a fellow racer. The film planted a seed in Devon’s mind.
His uncle was a source of inspiration, too, having completed marathons of up to 150 miles, further convincing Devon that he could take on such a challenge himself. Feeling stagnant in his life, he decided this was the right moment to take the leap, and he registered to compete in the 2024 RAE!
Devon began training in mid-December 2023, primarily using the indoor cycling app, Zwift. As his rides gradually increased in distance, he faced a significant challenge: knee pain during rides over 60 miles. Fortunately—after some careful diagnosis—he realized that his saddle position was the problem, easily solved with a new seat post. This simple solution was made with just two weeks to go before the start of the race.
Mental preparation is another crucial aspect of a cyclist’s training. Devon invested in a good pair of headphones that didn’t block out ambient sounds, allowing him to enjoy music and podcasts while riding. As someone who had always cycled with nothing but the sound of the open air and road, this new addition gave him a noticeable boost in motivation. While off the bike, it was the excitement and anticipation of entering such an extreme event that fueled his determination.
Of the numerous challenges racers would face along the route, sleep deprivation ranks high on the list. Devon had been warned it could lead to hallucinations and experienced it firsthand during the race. Equally as challenging is finding the proper calories to compete at this level. At the start of the race, he found himself relying on granola bars as a convenient energy source—but he needed more. Before long, it was Good To-Go meals that became Devon’s go-to fuel, for their balanced mix of carbohydrates, fats, protein, and flavor.
Devon was especially impressed with the Stove-Free™ options for their ease of use. Having a meal that could be rehydrated in 10 minutes using only cool water was a real game changer for him throughout the event. Less prep time means more time spent in the saddle!
His primary goal for the race was simply to finish within the time limit. He was pleasantly surprised to achieve 6th place out of 17 in his field, especially considering the training challenges he faced leading up to the event. With many of the kinks worked out, he emerged from the experience confident he could train harder, and ride faster should he ever decide to participate in a future ultra-cycling event. But for now, he’ll leave that decision for another day.
The Race Across the East was not just a test of endurance, but a journey of personal growth and resilience. We look forward to seeing what the future holds in Devon’s cycling adventures!
Story by: Kristen Murphy
Photos by: Devon Jasinski
