Twenty-seven women have competed in the Race Across America in its twenty-seven year history. The oldest starter was 54-year-old Rebecca Smith, and the youngest was 24-year-old Shelby Hayden-Clifton. The 1997 RAAM offered a $25,000 prize for the first woman to not only beat the rest of the women in the field, but also the men. Seana Hogan came close to claiming the prize, leading the entire field for most of the first 1,200

miles, then staying within an hour of the leaders for another 600 miles. Hogan finished first among the women and fourth overall. “I have no mechanism to pee from the bike” Hogan said, “thus I lose four minutes each time I have to go, which is quite often.” Despite her numerous bathroom breaks, Seana Hogan went on to win the Race Across America’s womens’ division a record six times.