Lifelong friends, veteran riders

The annual Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic has become the largest two-day cycling event in the Northwest, and has even been called one of the top events of its kind in the nation. The 200-mile bike ride just completed its 31st running with 10,000 people taking part, one of the highest totals ever.

Of those 10,000 participants, 53 people have done it 20 or more times, including two Silverton natives: Ben Marra and Greg Malcolm. The duo, self-titled "Team Silverton," has ridden a combined 50 times in the STP. Marra, 69, completed the event for the 28th time, while lifelong friend Malcolm, who turns 72 Sunday, finished his 22nd ride.

While the inaugural ride was predicated on speed, it has since become a recreational ride, a fact that is just fine for the team, as the two spend the ride chatting and catching up.

"(It's) a good time for us to do some strong conversation," Malcolm, who currently lives in Boise, said.

Marra, a Seattle resident, had been riding for a few years when he told Malcolm about the race and that he should do it with him.

"He thought I was totally nuts," Marra said of that first conversation.

"Up to then, I thought he was an intelligent person. Then I questioned whether I was right or wrong," Malcolm quipped, laughing. He eventually gave in to Marra's coercing, jokingly stating "my intelligence slipped for a moment," as the reason behind agreeing.

Malcolm had hardly ridden a bike before that first run, and really underestimated it while preparing the first time.

"He said, 'You better train,'" Malcolm said of the advise given to him by Marra. "So I put in about 200 miles of training, and I paid the price. I almost died. From then on I took his word."

A tradition was born though, and the two have met up each summer for the ride ever since.

"We've done it so many times," Marra said. "I don't want to quit until I'm physically unable to. It makes me very proud that I can achieve this. So far, my health is very good."

Both remain active throughout the year, making it easier to start the training process when the time comes. Marra said he bikes around trails in the Seattle area until the winter weather arrives in late fall, then starts up again in February or March.

"From then on, I'm riding every time the weather is good," he explained. "I can work my way up to 30 to 40 miles daily when I'm in training and the weather is good."

On weekends during training season, especially as the STP approaches, he bikes around Lake Washington, a trek that he says is close to 60 miles.

"When I can do that, and then come home and mow the lawn, then I'm getting up to the shape where I feel confident about going," he said.

Malcolm is part of the National Ski Patrol in the winter, so he never loses an edge in being bike-fit.

"My legs are in shape when the snow melts in April. After about 2 1/2 to 3 months of training, I'm ready to go," he said. "We're really lucky at this age to be doing what we're doing. It's amazing."

The two are in constant contact, especially when training, which can include some playful jabs about not wanting to have to drag each other along during the ride.

"We coax each other along that we need to get in shape," Malcolm said.

Marra agreed, adding that the conversation sometimes includes lines like, "You better stay in shape, you old duffer!"

The friendship is a bond that has lasted decades and never really slowed down, from their days at Wallace High School to being fraternity brothers at the University of Idaho to now being the one-two punch of "Team Silverton."

"I think it's wonderful," Marra said. "To have a friend for close to all your life is absolutely amazing. I'm blown away when I think about how much we know about one another ... We've always lived in different spots but always hung together."

Neither has plans of slowing down anytime soon, and each says they plan to continue the tradition.

"As long as we stay as physical as we are, we'll go until one of us can't make it," Malcolm said.