Sam Rizvi On Race Across America




Kamla Bhatt Show show

Summary: Samim or "Sam" Rizvi (45) is an extreme athlete from Bangalore, India. This week he became the first Indian to participate in the grueling bicycle event Race Across America. The race is flagged off in Oceanside in Southern California and ends in Maryland on the east coast. Cyclists race coast to coast biking 3,000 miles in 12 days, crossing 14 states with just an hour's sleep everyday. That is just the description of the race. What about the total number of calories Sam expects to burn by the end of the race? 200,000 calories. Sam is unfazed by the challenge and says he has tested his endurance level a handful of times. In 2007 Sam became the first Indian athlete to run from Bangalore to Mumbai averaging 50 miles a day. "It was like a marathon everyday," he says. It took him 22 days to complete the race. Flushed with success Sam discovered and decided to participate in his next extreme sports and honed in on Race Across America (http://bicycledreamsmovie.com). Established 29 years Race Across America is a often described as an ultra-endurance sport. I talked to Sam on the eve of the race to find out what inspired him to participate in this race that tests an athlete's mental and physical endurance. Tune in to find out. You can also follow Sam's progress by checking the hashtag #samrizvi (http://www.twitter.com/#samrizvi) on Twitter.