For others the next step might be to see how far they can go in a day. Not everyone can complete in the Olympics, but most everyone can set a goal and try to achieve it. Maybe that explains why people like Jim Hlavka, of Racine, WI, Richard Lawrence, of Lexington, NC, Rob Schaller of Folsom, CA, Richard Weis of Cambridge MA, Nancy and John Guth of Stafford, VA, Isabelle Sheardown of Cookstown, Ontario, Canada come year after year to the National 24-Hour Challenge. These bicyclists are not necessarily elite athletes. Ministers, college professors, doctors, assembly line workers, washer repairmen, housewives, and bicyclists from all walks of life have participated.
Ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary goals.
Enameled mileage pins, in 50 mile increments, reward riders who ride over 200 miles. Riders who return and accumulate 1,000 miles in the event earn a Thousand Mile Jersey. Highest total mileage is 6,168 miles by James Hlavka of Racine WI, who has ridden the event 16 times. While all riders get their names in the event's Record Book, some riders set their sights on a Personal Best, an age group record, winning the event or breaking the overall record. Participants leave on a 125 mile rolling to hilly, scenic route through Barry County which has three Checkpoints.