LETTER: Give old dudes more credit

Editor,

I appreciated your review of the 2003 LOTOJA, a race of epic proportions and sheer endurance and craziness. However, I was disappointed by the fact that the article totally missed the real human interest story of the race, which was the domination of the race by a few old dudes. While it’s true that Category 1 racers crossed the line first, Masters 35+ racer Jim Yorgason had the fastest time of the day at 8:15:08, a full four minutes ahead of the pros. Jim started the race with the Masters pack of 32 riders, 10 minutes behind the Category 1 group, only to brake away from the Masters 35+ pack with Mark Schaefer and Dave Sharp just outside of Preston. These three riders then passed the main group of 1s, 2s and 3s just before the first feed zone, to stay away for the remaining 115 miles, bucking a head wind the entire day.

Jim successfully attacked with 5K to go to realize the fastest time of the race, one minute ahead of Mark and Dave, who both finished two minutes ahead of the fastest Category 1s. Not to diminish the victory of Jeremy Smith, Sandy Perrins and Bryson Perry, because these guys are true animals, however, it would be nice to also acknowledge the impressive performance of three old dudes who raced 184 miles with heart.

Dave Sharp