The Race Across America is not just a battle against fellow riders or fatigue: the true invisible enemy is the official race clock (the Official Race Clock). It starts ticking in Oceanside and never stops for any reason, crossing four time zones. All official tracking and HQ communications operate strictly under the US East Coast time zone (Eastern Daylight Time - EDT, expressed in a 24-hour format).
1. Time Allowance by Category
Each division (solo or team) has a pre-determined amount of time to complete the 3,000-mile course, calculated from their actual staggered start time:
| Category | Time Limit (Hours) | Time Limit (Days / Hours) |
|---|---|---|
| Solo Men | 288 hours | 12 days |
| Solo Women / Solo Men 60+ | 309 hours | 12 days, 21 hours |
| Solo Women 60+ / Solo Men 70+ | 317 hours | 13 days, 5 hours |
| Teams (all) | 216 hours | 9 days |
| Teams 80+ (2 & 4-Person) | 228 hours | 9 days, 12 hours |
2. The Three Critical Checkpoints (Intermediate Cutoffs)
To ensure competitor safety and continue racing, all riders and teams must clear three major checkpoints within their division's allotted times. Respecting these cutoffs guarantees that Time Station staff and marshals remain active on the course to support the racers.
| Time Station / Location | Solo Men Cutoff | Solo Women / Men 60+ Cutoff | Team Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| TS 15: Durango, CO (Mile 928) | Start + 81 hours | Start + 87 hours | Start + 61 hours |
| TS 35: Mississippi River, IA (Mile 2043) | Start + 192 hours | Start + 206 hours | Start + 144 hours |
| TS 54: Atlantic City, NJ (Finish Line) | Start + 288 hours | Start + 309 hours | Start + 216 hours |
3. Soft Cutoffs vs. Hard Cutoffs & Oak Creek Canyon Shuttle
The cutoffs at Durango (TS 15) and the Mississippi River (TS 35) are considered soft cutoffs. This means that in the event of extraordinary circumstances (such as weather detours or major highway closures), Race HQ can review and grant temporary extensions to keep the rider moving. Conversely, the final cutoff in Atlantic City (TS 54) is a strict hard cutoff: finishing even one minute late results in a DNF (Did Not Finish).
Safety note: riders are shuttled through Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon (20.1 miles) for safety reasons, with a set time added to the official elapsed clock depending on the division.
Staying ahead of intermediate cutoffs is not just about raw power: it is a chess game against sleep deprivation. Sleeping 2 hours too long in Colorado can cause you to miss the Mississippi River cutoff by minutes.
4. Conclusion: Managing the Clock
No athlete can hope to finish RAAM without precise logistical planning and constant time tracking. The support crew must continually cross-reference the rider's average speed with cutoff projections, anticipating physical fatigue, sleep stops, and weather shifts to avoid being cut from the race.