Here is a team report I wrote up and submitted to the Racing Post, as well as a few personal race comments:
TMBRA race #7: The Cat Claw Classic in Glen Rose
 |
| A group of ladies head for the single track. |
The Solavaca course is a favorite among racers. It begins with a few rock sections that
demand a clean line, and then continues with a good mixture of creek crossings,
short punchy climbs, fast fields, twisty trees, and of course the infamous Culo
de Gato climb and descent. The trail
that winds around Mack Hargrave's ranch includes for everyone's background
viewing pleasure a few grazing goats and ambling sheep dogs (Shouldn't the
ranch be named Solocabrito or Soloperro?)
The mountain bike team from the sponsoring Bicycles Inc. was out in full force. Fourteen racers spanning the entire range from Cat 1 to Cat 3 laid it down on the 8.4 mile per lap course. The Cat 1 men, including the gritty Mark Pruitt on his single speed, made 3 laps in quick fashion and came home with some hardware. Eric Warden, who has recently been lining it up in the cyclocross and road disciplines, proved he still has his technical skills dialed in and took home first in the 30-39 division.
 |
| Eric takes home first. |
Stewart Ericson, who is a blink away from leading the entire
series in his group (he is in second with 350 total points, 351 is leading it)
didn't show any signs of giving up his hole-shot in the 20-29 group and also
stood atop the podium. Jamie Bell had a
solid race in the 40-49 group.
 |
| Stewart atop the podium for the Cat 1 men. |
The Cat 1 core of seasoned veteran riders of the 50 and 60
age groups, Roel Chapa, Bill Moreman, Mark Hargis, and Stanley Ford, were there
having fun and proving their savvy racing adroitness as usual.
In the Cat 2, 50 plus division, Mike Reade had an impressive
day when he beat out 20 other riders to take home yet another first place
finish for Bicycles Inc. Brett Mueller also crossed the line in strong
fashion in the Sport division.
Josh Moreman continued his reign atop a field of 26 Cat 3
men and finished 3rd. He is leading the
overall series, a group that consists of 96 total competitors.
 |
| Josh Moreman drops into a creek crossing. |
On the ladies' side, Brenda Andress, Deanna Mueller, and
Shannon Bell each held their own and also had strong finishes in their
respective groups. Even though the women's fields lack the
overall numbers at TMBRA races, they seldom lack for excitement. Two of the Cat 1 women's races had sprint
finishes to the line to sort out silver and gold. Congrats to the winners of those two duals:
Jenn Taylor and Jen Ragan-Marlowe. And congratulations
to all the other competitors and top finishers at the Cat Claw Classic.
 |
| Deanna and Shannon get ready for the gun. |
A big thanks to Bicycles Inc. and all the other TMBRA
series sponsors.
A brief note on how my race went: The training is finally starting to catch up and my legs felt much better than in Coldspring. Our group only had 5, but 2 of them were Amy Parkinson and Jenn Taylor, the studs of our series who are both knocking on the door to go pro. (A week after this race they both did a 100K mountain bike race to qualify for Colorado's legendary Leadville 100.) My goal was to stay with them for at least the first lap, and also not to get passed by the super fast 40 year old ladies, whose top 2 racers ended up beating the times of both Amy and Jenn.
From the gun, my legs felt snappy and the sluggishness that plagued me the entire Coldspring race stayed away. Off the start line and going into the woods I was right behind Jenn and Amy. I thought Jenn had taken off since she was quickly out of sight. Even though the pace was fast, I was able to hold Amy's wheel. At one point on a slippery climb out of a creek crossing, I passed her. She got back around me before too long, and when we were almost to the end of lap 1 (we did 2 laps), she started creating a gap that was too much for my fading endurance to overcome.
My next goal was to hold off the group of ladies behind me who I knew would be closing the 3 minute stagger gap soon. Those "over the hill" women will roll you up and smoke you like a cheap cigarette before you know what happened. They will be lady like about it though. Jen Ragan-Marlowe got around me at some point during the beginning of the second lap, then Kim Chance. I decided I needed to work to hold my spot in 3rd, plus push myself as much as possible, so I upped my pace to stay with Kim as she chased down Jen. Again, I held them for a while until my legs rebelled and I had to back off of the pace.
Too bad I missed the excitement that occurred only a few minutes ahead of me at the finish. Kim and Jen sprinted to the line (Jen won), followed by Jenn and Amy sprinting it out for first as well (Jenn won).
 |
| Here is a picture from the Coldspring race. It lookes like I'm the centerpiece here, but don't be fooled. I was merely heading out to pre-ride. They wanted a girl picture and needed a bike and I happened to be cruising by. The best thing about bike races is the camaraderie. In this picture (left to right): Tricia, Lisa, Jessica Rawlins (the fastest of the fast, she is winning the pro field), me, Kim, and Julia. |
Perhaps the best part of the day for me actually occurred after the race was over. Aaron, Andrew, and I headed back to Stephenville (where we had stayed the night before with my sister's family) for lunch and an afternoon bike ride with my niece and nephew.
 | ||
| Aaron and Andrew were doing a few bike tricks (I wasn't lucky enough to catch it on tape). |
 |
| Mark and Katie cruisin' (Mark had to give his helmet to Mati) |
 | ||
| Pretty soon he will have to give her his bike as well. |
(Pictures courtesy of Mark Johnson, Bill Moreman, and my iphone)
