Dorina Vaccaroni Sets New World Record at RAAM 2023 🚴‍♀️

Dorina Vaccaroni (USA/Italy) arrived on City Dock here in Annapolis tonight, where she was greeted by her dog Max, her crew, and in a wonderful show of support, our overall solo winner Isa Pulver, and second-place women's 50-59 finisher Leah Goldstein were both there too.
Her finish was a great cause for celebration. She had just broken the women’s age 60-69 Race Across America (RAAM) record, set in 2019 by Seana Hogan when she completed that year’s 3,069-mile route in 13 days, 4 hours, and 23 minutes (9.7 mph average. ). Vaccaroni, who just turned 60 this year, finished RAAM 2023 in 12 days, 7 hours, 5 minutes, with a 10.29 mph average. Owing to the variations in the course each year—we aim to keep it the same, but there are always detours, road construction, etc.—records are referenced by miles per hour, not time.
Early in RAAM 2023 when Vaccaroni reached Kim, Colorado, it was after 5 days, 1 hour, and 21 minutes of pedaling.This year, she reached the same point after just 4 days, 4 hours, and 42 minutes. Yes, she was 20 hours and 21 minutes faster there this year. Shortly after we began to see her take longer breaks. It seemed she and her crew opted for more sleep—she doesn’t do well with sleep deprivation—and a faster pace on the bike. Clearly, that worked. Interestingly, at age 59 last year, Vaccaroni completed RAAM in 12 days, 7 hour,s and 9 minutes (10.26 mph average), nearly identical time and speed average.