mmur-@teleport.com
The current OBRA membership list has 63 women 35 plus (55 road and 8 mtn)
and 98 women 30 plus (80 road and 18 mtn). There are only 25 women in the
between 30 and 35 age group with road memberships. Although this group does
include some of the faster riders those riders virtually never ride masters
women events. Most are Cat 3 or 4 riders. The 35 plus group contains 1 Cat
1 rider and 4 Cat 2 riders so going to 35 plus still contains fast riders.
Given that about 20% of the available market will turn out for women's
races, dropping the age for a master's race from 35 to 30 will likely only
add 4-5 rider to the master's field.
The whole issue is really splitting hairs. The whole point of masters
competition is 2 fold:
1) To decompress the overly large Cat 3-5 fields and
2) To take advantage of the large demographic bulge in this age group.
Neither of these arguments really applies to women's racing anyhow. Age
really matters little anyhow. In the men's field David Auker and Hank
Pfeifle are both top riders and they are 50 plus. The average age of a Cat
1/2 OBRA rider, irrespective of gender, is 33. 37% of the Cat 1/2 riders are
35 plus. The more appropriate and fair method is separating riders by
ability category anyhow.
Mike Murray
-----Original Message-----
From: Beth Whittaker [mailto:Bet-@schetkynw.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2001 10:04 AM
To: ob-@topica.com
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Men's and Women's Masters Class? Where should the
age break be????
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I have been silent long enough and I apologize If I am beating an old horse
to death. When I was 30 years old I was a single parent with 2 small
children. I ran races and I cycled and trained all the time. My energy was
pretty high about getting up at 5:00 AM to run and cylcing at night. I
worked 2 jobs full time 40 hours a week and held a part time job of catering
weddings, birthdays, rotary clubs etc in my spare time. It was survival!!!
Now I am 35 and I have earned some very courageous badges of growing older.
Such as cellulite, tiny spider veins and a few extra pounds. Not proud of
these badges just have accepted them.
Today I have 2 teenage daughters and am still happily single. I no longer
run because of too many injuries and it is too hard on my body today. I
still cycle and commute and race when I can between being a Mother. I own
my home now and have a fairly decent job so I don't have to work 2 jobs.
My point.....The difference in age and character between 30 and 35 is like
night and day. What is fair?????
Is it fair to advertise a Women's Masters Class of 35+ and 5 days before the
race change it to 30+? Team Time Trial!!! Let me hear your point of view.
I am NOT whining....I only want to hear your opinions or points of view.
And for the 30 year olds....let me ask you this same question in 5 years.
Beth Whittaker
Age 38
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