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The news hit me on Wednesday like a tidal wave. Steve Larsen had died in Bend, Oregon, close to his home during a track session the night prior.
I was flying out to Europe only a few hours later to compete and was stunned with the news. I spoke with my wife Emma Jane and spoke to both my girls. It was sad, sad news, and my immediate thoughts were with Steve’s wife Carrie and their 5 beautiful children. I am still shaken by the news and I ache for his family.
Words are never enough and I wish I was more articulate, but you could not meet a more genuine human being. A wonderful guy, a fierce competitor and a driven focused individual who had his priorities in the right place. A friend, a training partner and a loving father who at 39 years of age had died doing something he loved – working out.
I had lived in Bend in 2005, and Steve was one of my main training partners during my 5 months in the beautiful town. The Tuesday track session was a weekly set session, and I pictured Steve running with the Cascade Mountains as the backdrop the night prior. I had done this session so many times with Steve, Kerry and Conrad.
I had moved from San Diego to Bend to change my training around and access some of the incredible riding and running that the region has. My close friend Kerry Classen was living in the area and I also knew that super cyclists Steve Larsen and Chris Horner were also living in Bend. Conrad Stoltz was keen to make the move north, and it was full speed ahead. It was the perfect mix with a great swimmer, and some of the world’s best cyclists to work out with. I moved my family north and set up home less than a mile from Steve and his family.
Steve was a great training partner and immediately made myself and my family feel very welcome. It was during this time I got to see the Steve Larsen off the race course, and he was an impressive man.
I had only known Steve through racing and he was a fierce competitor with a huge desire to be at the top of triathlon in the same way he was in cycling. We had met in Wildflower in 2001 and had raced many times together. We got on very well as we had very similar personalities. It was an enjoyable time and we learned a lot from each other.
The real impression he made on me was not anything athletically. It was more his friendly, giving nature and his family-first priorities. We spent lots of time together, doing what we love – hurting each other on the bike. Steve loved to belt the bike hard and put us all in the hurt box, and we returned the favor every afternoon running the trails around the back of his home and pushing each other to the limits. It was great times and kicking back at his house post-tough workouts was always a real buzz, and something I looked forward to. He had some great stories to tell.
When I received a phone call on Wednesday as I was packing my bags, my heart just sank. I pictured his family and hurt all over. I am sitting here in Austria and I had a little run this morning. I ran a little slower than normal and returned to my room and rang my family. It has taken me back and given me some perspective in a season that is so very focused. You just never know. To my girls at home, I love you all so very much.
When I look at this picture I see Steve at his best. Not winning triathlons or bike races, or enjoying hurting us on the bike. Not belting through the running trails around his home or riding his mountain bike along trails faster than most people in the world. I see Steve smiling with the most important people in his life. This is how I will remember Steve Larsen: a great family man who is gone way before his time.
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