2007 Race Across Oregon Results

cycling, RAAM, Race Across America, Race Across Oregon, ultra cycling | UltraRob | Monday, July 23rd, 2007 at 8:29 pm

Here are the results for the Race Across Oregon. Tom Letsinger, who crewed for me in the Race Across America last year, didn’t finish but I haven’t found out why.

Al Smudz	35:30
Glenn Johnson	39:05
Robert Buntrock	40:12
Ryan Correy	41:31
Bruce Carroll	42:19
Adam Garmon	44:22
Hugh Gapay	DNF
Tom Letsinger	DNF
Ross Muecke	DNF
Brian Cushing	DNF

When I did the Race Across Oregon in 2004 my time was 41:42. That was on a slightly shortened race because we finished at Government Camp instead of doing the last 6 miles up to Timberline Lodge. Actually a few miles have been taken out in other places but they were mostly flat. When the leaders we close to finishing, it was snowing so hard that George and Terri, the race organizers, felt it was unsafe to ride in. It would have been still rideable but it was a white-out and they were afraid someone would get hit by a car. I don’t know what it was like up higher when I finished but it was barely above freezing and pouring down rain down lower.

Although I finished fast enough to qualify for RAAM for my 3rd time, I certainly didn’t feel the race went well for me. We started in drizzle that turned into cold rain as we climbed near Mount Hood. I got a little chilled and apparently burned extra calories and started bonking a little over 100 miles into the race. I did recover from that fairly quickly as I got to where it was warm and dry. Then during the night I had sleep issues from some nasal spray. Trying to stay awake I created GI issues and several quick trips to the bushes. It then became too painful to sit on my saddle and I spent some crying by the road side of the road. My crew got me going again but I felt I was out of the race and I wasn’t going very fast.

Near dark of the 2nd day I felt better and kicked it up a notch after Kelly Hegar passed me late in the race. I was able to pass him back and finished 11 minutes ahead of him. Coming off the last pass it was very dark and pouring down rain. It was in the mid 30s and I had on neoprene booties, winter tights and jacket, Gore-Tex helmet cover and winter gloves and I was still cold. Water was running everywhere but I didn’t let it keep me from still going close to 50 mph.

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