October 18, 2008 saw Beth Travers and Cat Thornton in Ringold, GA to see what they could do.  The race was either 8 miles for Women’s cat 3/4 or 40K for Women’s open, and the option to do women’s open was provided to all.  Beth was quick to switch to the 40K race, and Cat wound up taking a second number when someone else didn’t make the race and did both.

It was a bit chilly out there in the morning, but the races did not start until 9:30 with the juniors, so the promise of sunlight to warm our bodies was a good thing.  Cat’s first race went well with a 2nd place finish in Women’s cat 3/4.

In the Women’s open, Beth added two miles to her ride as the volunteer at the turnaround (which was moved up the road a tad due to an accident) moved from his post.  She took the mistake well and finished her race with classic grace.  Cat was started in the midst of the cat 3 men’s starts and missed her start time by a few minutes because she didn’t recognize the name called to the line..  the official called for the man that initially had the second bib number.  Cat overcame that time deficit to take 3rd in Women’s open.

Both Beth and Cat walked away with gold medals however.  The race director determined the Velo Vixens deserved accolades, Beth for good sportsmanship and Cat for being the only woman to race double or nothing.

The Vixens have been busy representing at several major events over the past couple weekends, and turned out  some fantastic results.

In road racing, Beth Travers raced the Oak Ridge Omnium (www.oakridgevelo.com) to defend her 2^nd place TBRA standing, and boy did she ever defend it by taking 1^st in the time trial, 2^nd in the road race and another 1^st in the criterium.  Awesome results, though none of us are surprised. Beth has been rocking it out on the road this year, and its been a true pleasure seeing her rise above the competition.  We are all proud to celebrate her achievement.

In adventure racing, Cathi Cannon, Carol Farmer and Jaclyn Greenhill teamed up for the Tsali Challange ( www.noc.com ), Cathi took 4^th in the open women’s category with a 6^th place master’s finish for Carol.  Then the Jaclyn came out and joined Cathi and Carol for the team effort on Sunday, where they took the 2^nd place women’s team finish!  Reports indicate that Jaclyn tore up the run and Cathi dominated the bike course, beating top racer Norma Rainwater and within seconds of the top place finisher.  Way to show them Vixen teamwork girls! 

Meanwhile, Dreama Campbell, Mindy Williford and Cat Thornton participated in the Frantic Frog Sprint Triathlon (www.scottsborotri.com ).  Mindy had strong 6^th place in her age group, Cat took 2^nd place in the Athena division and Dreama was 5^th overall woman and took 1^st in her age group!  Fantastic representation and finishes all around.

The previous weekend Chattanooga hosted its second mountain bike race of the year at Booker T State Park(www.sceniccitymultisport.com).  Karen Rogers  was the lone Vixen but finished off her first season of racing on the dirt with a second place finish.Â

Sunday, August 17 saw Dreama Campbell, Cat Thornton and Michelle Meeks heading to Fall Creek Falls State Park for an Olympic length triathlon.  Michelle raced relay with Krystal Chicks Britta Rusk and Celeste Sneed and took 1st place.  Dreama Campbell took 2nd place in her age group and Cat Thornton took 2nd place Athena.

Fall Creek Falls is a beautiful place to race.  The lake was proclaimed wetsuit legal, but was a warm and cozy 77degrees.  The bike route had Dreama see a personal best split of 1:03 over a hilly course.  Watch out, Dreama’s riding better than the pro triathlete women now!  The run was on a paved trail through the woods, making for a beautiful and shaded route.   If you get the chance, try this one out next year.

This past weekend found Beth Travers competing in Knoxville at the Tomato Head Time Trials and Criterium. Beth placed third in the 30 K Individual Time Trial held Saturday and followed it up on Sunday with a 4^th in the Crit. Read the rest of this entry »

The Tsali Challenge was held on September 8^th and 9^th in Bryson City, NC.  The challenge consisted of a 3 mile lake paddle, 4.5 mile trail run and 12 mile mountain bike. 

Velo Vixen’s Cathi Cannon finished 4th and Carol Farmer finished 10^th in Saturdays Open Female Event. Sunday the course was run as a relay. Competing as Team Velo Vixen, Carol and Cathi teamed up with Enid Gonzalez and finished 3rd in female division. Visit Cathi’s website  bebackonmonday.com. for photos and her race report.

Four Jerseys were lined up at the start line for the Chattanooga Downtown Criterium, and only one of us, Beth Travers, had any previous experience with this particular kind of cycle racing.  I went into it with low expectations, in part because I’ve never done one, seen one, or anything and in part because it was a mixed field with some incredibly strong talent from all over Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and several other states.  For a first criterium to try, we picked a tough one, Read the rest of this entry »

On Sunday August 19 the inagural Booker T Mountain Bike Race was held at (surprise) Booker T State Park. I had  commited to help my friends that day with the event and thought, I am already out there, why not give the race a try.  Mind you that up  until that week I had two mtn bike rides under my belt for 2007.    But, like many good students I crammed that week and found myself spending  several evenings in the woods .  Read the rest of this entry »

Oh my this race was Hot! Very rolling bike bike course and some rollers in the run as well. It’s a tough race, but a great venue.
Unofficial Race Results:
Jennifer Croft: 1st overall female!
Cecelia Wigal: 2nd overall female!
Dreama Campbell: 7th overall female!
Sorry if we forgot anyone - please send in your race report/results!
Congratulations Vixens!

Let’s see if this description sounds like fun…”50 miles out and back. Start/Finish in the heart of Leadville @ 10,200’. 90%+ dirt or double track dirt roads. Steep climbs: serious descents. 7 mile climb to the 50 mile turnaround at 12,600 ft. Approximately 14,000’ elevation gain. Greater than 65% average finish rate under the 12 hour limit.” Are you kidding me?! Read the rest of this entry »

The temperatures were already climbing Sunday morning before the swimmers entered the water for the start of the 2007 Quintana Roo Sports Barn Sprint Triathlon. Athletes from around the Southeast came to pit their training and conditioning against the clock. Atlanta, Knoxville, Nashville, Jacksonville, Birmingham and others sent their best, but Chattanooga had something in store for them in the women’s field. Read the rest of this entry »