The 508 - Race Report

“The Toughest 48 Hours in Sport”...and yes, we agree.

Billed as “the toughest 48 hours in sport,” The 508 immediately caught the attention of Team NZBLUE earlier this year. As the fourth major challenge on our journey, following Race Across America in 2023, and both the Gibraltar Strait swim crossing and 5 Passes Cycle Tour in 2024, it was exactly the kind of test we look for.

With every challenge comes an opportunity. Not just to push limits, but to raise awareness and vital funds for youth charities in New Zealand.

This year, we were proud to support the I Am Hope Foundation. In August, a hugely successful long lunch and charity auction raised over $33,000, a result we are incredibly proud of.

The Start Line: Borrego Springs, California

The race began at 7:00am on Friday, September 19th in Borrego Springs, California.

Just 24 hours earlier, the area was hit by a one in one hundred year rainstorm. Emergency alerts sounded during the race briefing and flash flooding swept across the desert. Any hopes of reviewing or familiarising ourselves with the course disappeared overnight.

Instead, we relied on experience, instinct, and GPS navigation to tackle:

508 miles (817km)
Nearly 40,000 feet of climbing

Having completed RAAM two years prior, confidence was high. Maybe too high.

“Yep… we’ve got this.” We were wrong. Very wrong.

Navigation Challenges

The course loops in and out of Borrego Springs four times, which is ideal for support crews but far less forgiving when things go wrong.

Despite having GPS files loaded with turn by turn directions, one small error early on created a much bigger problem. Within five minutes of starting, we were off course without realising. We had to double back.

Thirty minutes lost before we had even properly started.

Ironically, we had made the exact same mistake two years earlier. Some lessons clearly take time to stick.

Finding Our Rhythm

Back on track, the chase began.

With an average team age of 55, we might not look like typical ultra cycling contenders. But when the race starts, decades of experience, competitiveness, and grit take over.

Out of roughly 30 teams and solo riders, we began steadily working our way through the field. Roads were smooth, conditions were fast, and confidence started to build.

The first 24 hours unfolded relatively well. We completed the first loop close to midnight, allowing for a quick reset before pushing on.

By 4:00am, we were riding near the Mexican border and passing through armed checkpoints. Passports were ready, but we were waved through with bemused looks. Anyone attempting to cross illegally probably is not dressed in lycra, lit up like a Christmas tree, with a support vehicle following behind.

Into the Hurt Locker

Day two is where the race truly showed its teeth.

Massive climbs, some reaching 5,000 feet, combined with desert temperatures peaking at 38°C, began to take a serious toll.

Our strategy was clear for this section:

Blakey to handle the long climbs
Aaron and Mat to power through the rolling terrain
Bennie to attack descents and time trial the flats

Conditions forced us to adapt. At times, we reduced rotations to just ten minutes to manage fatigue, heat, and elevation. Loop 2 was completed around 8:00am. Loop 3 was done by midday. Then came the final loop.

The Glass Elevator

Waiting for us was the infamous Glass Elevator, one of the most iconic climbs in cycling.

It demanded everything. Physical strength, mental resilience, and total commitment as a team.

Behind the scenes, Kathy Blake was the glue holding it all together. Crew chief, photographer, counsellor, and the most positive person you could ask for in a race like this.There is a saying from early days at Wharenui Swim Club in Christchurch:

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

That mindset carried us through. The determination shown by the team was nothing short of inspiring.

The Finish Line

After 34 hours and 32 minutes, we crossed the finish line:

First in our division
Fourth overall

Ultra cycling is a participation sport chosen by few and witnessed by even fewer. There are no huge crowds. No big finish line moment.

Just a quiet sense of achievement, a couple of well earned beers, and a compulsory tequila shot courtesy of the race sponsors.

A Massive Thank You

This result was about more than just the ride. A huge thank you to:

Our sponsors, who helped us raise $33,000
Everyone who attended and supported the long lunch
And the team who made it happen:
Mat Tolhurst, Aaron Davis, Mark Blake, Kathy Blake

This truly lived up to its reputation as “the toughest 48 hours in sport.”. For us, it took 34 hours and 32 minutes. Pretty good, don't you reckon??

Until challenge number five!

Signing off,
Ben Davies