Chiropractor Zoë Lofthouse
The Race Across America (RAAM)
That’s right! This is The Race Across America and it takes no prisoners! The world’s toughest bicycle race has been defeating competitors for 36 years! Our brave (and maybe slightly bonkers) guest, Penny Barker, is grabbing the proverbial bull by the horns. She is set to start this monster challenge this Tuesday 13th June 2017.
In 12 days RAAM covers 3000 miles, climbs 175,000 feet and crosses 12 states. Most racers competing in relay teams. Penny however is taking it on as a solo rider. She will sleep only 3 hours a day with everything else happening on the bike, including eating and brushing her teeth! Penny will cross deserts and mountains and encounter the extremes of blazing heat and freezing cold and storms.
She will do all this supported by a crew of 8 people. One of these is our Senior 
Chiropractor Zoë Lofthouse DC. The crew will be in charge of the 2 follow car vehicles and one RV. They are responsible for driving, navigating, cooking, cleaning washing, morale boosting and stage prepping. Zoë will endeavour to try to keep them all functioning (even after driving shifts of up to 16 hours).
Many of you may ask “but why!?”. Penny says, ‘To explore the limits of my own physical and mental capability and to raise money for two charities. I’m passionate about both the British Heart Foundation and Hounds for Heroes.’ These are both brilliant charities. If you would like to get behind Pen and support her superhuman feat here is her webpage and just giving page:
Sports Chiropractic
Obviously RAAM isn’t something you can just do without any training. Penny has been working towards this goal for 3 or so years! She understands the importance of the body working to its optimum and so has undergone sports chiropractic care, massage therapy, core strength training, heat and altitude training and of course lots and lots of endurance.
Penny has a level of fitness that is much higher than most! However it is so important that whatever level of fitness you are that your body works to the best of its ability! If one on Penny’s bicycle wheels had a kink in it that area of the wheel would get more wear and tear on it and degenerate more quickly than the rest of the wheel. And it’s the same for the spine! If one area has a loss of normal function it will have more stress and strain through it and degenerate more quickly. So not matter you age, occupation or fitness level everyone should be checked to make sure your body its functioning the best it can. If you are sporty, regardless of whether you are a weekend warrior or elite athlete then sports chiropractic can help you to perform better!
