The Osprey battles towards the finish
Chicks Rule!
The women of the 2003 Furnace Creek 508 can boast a 100% finishing rate. Led by Lisa “Deerhound” Dougherty, each of the three solo ladies in the race, not to mention their team racing counterparts, demonstrated their cycling prowess.
Near Time Station #7, Janet “Osprey” Christiansen approached the summit, focused, but looking pained and tired. Minutes behind her, the Deerhound rode smoothly, smiling and looking forward to the final push for the finish. The race between the two was now “ON.” Not until the final 28 miles would we discover who would wear the Women’s crown (tiara?).
In the end, it was the Deerhound who prevailed, winning with over a two-hour margin of victory after Osprey suffered a total meltdown only 25 miles from the finish. As the first place female rookie solo entrant, Osprey won the Nancy Dankenbring Award with her second place finish.
45 minutes after Osprey’s arrival at the finish, Carol “Chickadee” Chaffee sported a huge smile of relief as she broke the tape
The “fairer” sex was indeed well represented at the race this year.