After finishing his most difficult race, Kevin Kaiser received a silver medal and a jersey.

Those items mean little, he said, compared to the self-fulfillment of finishing the Race Across America, an arduous 3,021-mile trek from Oceanside, Calif., to Annapolis, Md.

"My friends know me as someone able to finish the world's toughest race," he said. "That means more than any medal."

In his first solo ride in the Race Across America, the Evans resident finished fifth, completing the ride in 10 days, 17 hours and three minutes. The race began June 17; Kaiser finished Sunday, two days behind winner Dani Wyss, of Switzerland, (eight days, five hours, 45 minutes).

"I think I rode about the best race I could've ridden," Kaiser said. "I've trained a lot of years for this. It's a huge thing."

Kaiser was one of 21 competitors in the male, under 50 division -- 28 total riders began the event. Kaiser was the second American finisher and was just one of 14 cyclists to finish the journey -- one of nine in his division with an official time.

With a race budget of about $15,000, Kaiser worked with a crew of eight people. The caravan included one minivan behind him at all times and two in front to perform tasks like buying food or cleaning laundry.

It wasn't uncommon for him to wolf down a Whopper to try to reach his goal of 8,000 calories a day. Kaiser said he went through "1,000 Pop-Tarts" and countless Oreos. He also drank Ensure and grape soda throughout the trek.

Kaiser had plenty of time to eat. He slept on average about three hours a night -- 90 minutes in the morning and 90 in the evening.

The 41-year-old Kaiser competed in the Race Across America last year with Jeff Bauer, of Nashville, Tenn. They placed fourth in the two-person male team category. This year, he said the experience was much different.

"In this event when I got sore and tired, I didn't have anybody to take over," he said.

A pharmacy manager at Publix in National Plaza, Kaiser trained about 25 hours a week in preparation for the race. That helped him survive an early test. About 300 miles into the race, in the long, hot climb through the Mojave Desert, Kaiser began having stomach aches.

"I just slowed down and hoped my stomach would turn around," he said. "I would've had to think about this all year long if I would've quit."

One of his friends gave him a pep talk, assuring Kaiser of a descent just four miles away. Kaiser kept hope, and his friend's words rang true. Kaiser's dreams of finishing remained alive.

With his trouble in the desert, Kaiser fell to the back of the pack. He also fell behind the race's minimum time limit -- racers had four days to reach each of three checkpoints. After falling almost two hours behind, Kaiser reached Taos, N.M. -- the first checkpoint -- with three hours to spare. If he would've missed the time, he would've completed the journey as an unofficial finisher.

After reaching New Mexico, Kaiser kicked it up a gear. As he began cycling through the heartland of America, Kaiser began passing riders. He reached the second checkpoint -- the Mississippi River -- in three days. Kaiser began entertaining thoughts of becoming the top rookie and top American finisher.

"I raced my heart out for days to try to keep in the lead," he said. "I'm very excited that I'm the second American and second rookie finisher. It's a tremendous honor."

Kaiser returned home Tuesday and went to work after a three-week hiatus Wednesday. He said he's already starting to get excited about next year's race, but first he said he owes his wife, Lisa.

"I need to take care of my wife," he said, "with a real vacation."