The Camel's Heart:

From Fitness to Death in the Adirondacks

by Jack Papa

This 500 page plus book is non-fiction about bicycle ultra-marathoning in New York.  I know Jack, and stayed at his house in 1989 in preparation for the RAAM Open East qualifier.  I didn't actually ride in it that year, but I did crew for Cathy Ellis in the race.  Not only did she qualify, but she also competed in RAAM later.  I made a number of trips to New York, for both 24 hour marathons and RAAM qualifiers and did finish one of my own qualifiers there.  I can't say that I know Jack real well, but I have seen him enough to respect and love him.  He is a wonderful person.

The book is about how Jack used bicycling to get fit.  His story parallels mine, although he's just a little older than me.  One thing led to another until he was riding in marathons, and then managing them.  I first met Jack in 1987 in Capron, Illinois, at the RAAM Open Midwest.  Because our stories overlap somewhat, I'm even mentioned in his book (but not much).  The book evoked a lot of fond memories for me.

Unfortunately, his race directing ended when not one, but two bikers were killed by drunk drivers in separate accidents during the same race.  I wasn't at that particular race, and didn't find out about it until months later.  My heart would have been broken, too, if someone had been killed during a race I directed.  I know from personal experience that Jack is big on safety, and the accidents were not a result of anything Jack did or did not do, they just happened.

Read the book, and feel the excitement of racing.  Perhaps you can relate to his story like I did.  I enjoyed each and every race I did, whether or not I finished, and for me, the race was anti-climatic.  I enjoyed the training as much or more than the races themselves.  The journey was more fun than the destination.

You can order this book at:

http://trilliansweb.com/camelsheart/

    or from:

Jack Papa

13 South Market St.

Johnstown, NY  12095