Cross Crusade #2 2009

I raced the Cross Crusade race on Sunday at Ranier High School near Ranier, Oregon. I try to do at least one of the series each year. I go for the experience not expecting to be competitive. It was an experience. I think there were nearly 1,200 racers. My race included Masters B 35+ (107), Masters 50+ (68), and Junior Men (26). Staggered start but still over 200 racers on the course at the same time. I'm always amazed at how well the OBRA racers are run. My race went OK. It is a tough course with a long, killer hill and a short, steep forced run up. I just tried to survive. I finished 62nd out of the 68 50+ riders. Some of those guys are 14 years younger than me. That's what I have to remember as about one third of them lapped me. I didn't take any pictures but you should look at these to get a feel for the race. You can also read about it here. I did find some pictures though.
I look like I was really going fast here.












I lose weight and get fit, but I'm still an old, fat guy trying to be a racer.











Here's Thom Kneeland going fast in the Masters A 35+ race. It was really great for me to be racing 300 miles from home, all by myself, and come around a corner to find Thom and Scott Churchill rooting me on.

Next week I'll be back in Klamath Falls for finish the two race series there. Then it's the Southern Oregon Outlaw Cyclocross Series.