Road Warrior 50

Today was the Road Warrior 50 Road Race.   I didn't race (it's not my thing) but Kathleen did, so I went out to spectate and cheer her on, no bike for me today, but lots of walking.   We got there in plenty of time, and Kathleen paid for her 1 day license to race.   We got her number pinned up, and she spent a little time riding around to warm up.   It was smoking hot out today, so while waiting for her group to form up (Cat 4 Women), she found shade under a tree.

Then it was down to the start area, here they are receiving instructions from the race officials.

Then they were off, she's number 700.

The course was 2 laps of a 13.1 mile loop, here they are coming up the road just after the first lap was completed, Kathleen is about 10 yards behind the field here, apparently the more experienced gals slowed the group up just before the climb to the finish line, then hit the climb really hard, Kathleen chased but was never able to get back on.

And here is the view after they passed by.

Then I wandered over to the finish line, here is the Mens Cat 5 finish, quite the sprint from the guy in the red jersey to take the win.

Then the Mens Cat 5 40+ (which would be my group if I were actually interested in racing) finish, this guy totally won from a break, the rest of the group was easily 15 seconds behind him.

This the Womens Cat 1/2/3 race rolling through the finish on their way out for their last lap (they did 3 laps).

Then was the big moment, here is the Womens Cat 4 winner.

A few minutes later Kathleen rolled in, she wasn't able to quite chase back on to the group after the first lap, so she rode the second lap off the back.   Not a bad result, all of the gals that finished in front of her were much more experienced and serious about it.

I was very proud of her result, it was a hot day and a fast race, the timing people said that they Cat 4 Women were doing faster laps than the Cat 1/2/3 Women.   Here is her Strava map of the race, it used the same course that she had done the Duathlon on, and she was much faster this time, amazing what a couple of years of running, riding and racing will do.