Winning it all on the SS!

Last year I was bummed to miss a new marathon race just two hours away from home in Oakridge, Oregon. One of our boys checked it out and gave it a couple thumbs up so I made sure it was on the calendar this season!

Ryan and I headed south after work Friday and checked in at the Oakridge Hostel (great place to call home for any Oakridge adventure). We had a decent rest and were up in time for the 8:30 start. There was small but decent field that included some local and out-of-state riders. boys checked it out and gave it a couple thumbs up so I made sure it was on the calendar this season!

Steve leading former teammate Brett Luelling!

The Hood River Double Cross turned out great. This is my first ever back-to-back cross race and it was a blast. I got a nice call up for Saturday’s race and the pace was furious from the get go. Donald Reeb and I sprinted for the single track and from there he slowly distanced himself. I was joined my Brett Luelling and Molly Cameron on the first lap and we stayed together for several laps until Molly slid out. Brett and I set out to close in on Reeb, but he was simply too strong to catch that day. We kept the pace high and stayed together until about a minute before the finish where I put in an attack in the sand pit to finish 2nd on the day. Brett is a great racer and I had fun pushing the pace with him until the end. Sunday’s race started out similar with me, Brett, and Molly quickly distancing ourselves from the rest of the field. Molly dropped back after about a lap and it was Brett and I riding together again. Brett set a blistering pace and I held on until about the half way mark where I’d dropped my chain on a run up and then had to back off– I settled in to my own pace, but I was quickly going backwards and ran out of gas with about 3 to go. Molly caught and passed me and I had to settle for third on the day. I finished 2nd overall on the weekend and I feel that the back-to-back racing was a great stimulus as we get closer to the opening Cross Crusade race on October 2nd. This is going to be a fun season!

Thanks for reading,

S.

My sponsors and I had targeted this event from the beginning of the season and I hoped earn an elusive stars-and-stripes jersey from the outset. While I enjoyed the three hour drive over the Cascades after so much travel to other events this year, it was hardly a home course feel. I rarely visit Central Oregon but had recently had a chance to ride the upper loops of the course. It was typical of the region this time of year–dry, dusty, and rough with little sustained climbing. The trails bend to and fro constantly and with the incessant chatter racing in Bend can be deceivingly difficult. The marathon course was no exception.

We began in the Old Mill District south of downtown and headed out of the city on pavement toward Mt Bachelor. The single speed race immediately came apart with the high speeds as Cary Smith (Hammer Nutrition) and I set the pace. Read more »

My boy Steve Carwile blew me away when I first met him some years ago. He has had some health battles too but has always been a teamplayer with CSC and now ep.com.

This season I have watched Steve return to the form that made my head turn the first day I met him and that makes for a great story. Today at the first ‘cross race of the season, Steve was the only man to follow King Trebon and that is pretty RAD!

Here is what he had to say about it:

The race today went really well! The course had everything…dusty single track w/ 2 steep climbs, twists, wide open areas…fun. Trebon and I took off and put in a large gap over everyone else. After a few miles I was going into the red zone so while I was recovering Donald Reeb bridged to me. He didn’t want to do much work (it was windy) so I got rid of him and had a big enough gap that I couldn’t see anyone behind me. I’m getting faster every week and I really surprised myself today and had a great time. I was surprised I had such a gap as I was just keeping a steady pace and not drooling on myself. Thanks for your support.

Steve

I would say so too! Glad to have you back!