Monkeyclaw

The AZ state ITT is coming up in a couple of weeks. It looks like I can register as either a cat 5 or masters. I'm trying to decide which would be better. I'm thinking Cat 5, because we all know the masters only race to put the hurt on everyone else. Looking at last year's results, there were more sub-55:00 Masters than Cat 5's (40K).

Thoughts from the more experienced?

wacomme

Will you be a top contender?

shovelhd

Do you want to race against Cat1's or Cat5's?

mollusk

FYPFY. 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. You are screwed either way for an ITT, especially a State championship.

Or you can look at it this way if you feel cocky: Would you rather be a Cat 5 champ or a Masters champ?

caloso

I'm a 44 year old Cat 3. In my experience, the M123 race is always much, much, much, much, much harder than the E3 race.

Creatre

I thought for Masters you had to be at least a Cat 4 anyways?

Either way, I would race Cat 5 personally. Masters in AZ, or anywhere really, is going to be a tougher competition.

kensuf

I don't think they care for non-mass start races what category you are.

If you think you can do a sub-55:00, do masters and go against real competition. There will undoubtedly be one or two pro-tri guys in the cat5's also putting down sub-55:00 times, but the real cat5's will likely be in the 63-65 minute range.

Monkeyclaw

Thanks everyone, I think I'll go Cat 5. My last 20K was 28 minutes in a tri, and may last 40K was 1:02 in a longer tri @ 7K ft with some hills. I'm shooting for a sub-56 on a flat course at 2.5K ft. For the state championships, you need to have a 1-yr USAC license so most of the triathletes won't have one. I have a better shot against the cat 5's than the masters and when it comes to winning, it's all about strategy

Monkeyclaw

Yeah, they don't seem to care for non-mass start.

Hermes

One of the reasons racers race in masters championships events is to compete against racers of approximately the same age. Granted, the masters may be a higher category racer and the field may be smaller. Typically, in NorCal, the masters are Cat 2/3 with a couple of Cat 1s and 4s and 5s. For an ITT, the only hurt that will get laid upon you is that which you do to yourself. And I suggest you do a lot.

I suggest looking at past years' results and see how you measure up in your age group and against the Cat 5s. See where you might make the podium. Then go full gas, above you limit, taking no prisoners, all out ride of your life and maybe you will win. Good luck.

Snap

If I didn't think I was really in contention for a Cat 5 podium, I would look at the start times of both classes and try to catch the best weather for a good ride.

mollusk

Just pin a number on and do it, whatever you decide to do.

Then report how you did in the appropriate thread.

If you do that the whole 33 will applaud.

That is the way we do things around here: You either race or you don't.