Mother Nature smiled on riders (sort of) at the 8th annual Original Growler. Although Saturday’s Half Growler (1 lap and 32 miles) started with muddy conditions, actually being able to race was amazing in light of the 11pm and 2am downpours that pummeled the Gunnison area. Riders were already on their heels as mountain bike racing in Colorado had witnessed events cancelled due to muddy conditions on both weekends prior to the Growler. The roads early in the race proved to be the most challenging sections of the course for Half Growler riders. As the race wore on, course conditions improved substantially and no more rain fell on the course for the rest of the weekend.
The riders contesting Sunday’s events – the Full Growler (2 laps and 64 miles); Sunday’s Half (1 lap and 32 miles); and the first ever Original Meowler mountain duathlon (a 32 mile MTB ride sandwiching an almost 10 mile trail run) – were treated to perfect trail conditions, as good as it gets.
The Half Growler was won by Megan McCarthy Carrington riding for Naked Women’s Racing in a time of 3:21:02 and Kalan Beisel riding for Giant Factory CO in 2:48:21. The Full Growler was won by Amy Beisel riding for Giant Factory CO in a time of 5:46:13 and Cameron Brenneman riding for Bike ‘n’ Sport Racing in a time of 5:09:26. The inaugural Original Meowler was won by Anne Gonzales of Aspen in a time of 4:47:31 and Jeff Sabatka racing for Western State Colorado University in a time of 4:02:47.
Full results are HERE
Archived results are HERE
Dave Kozlowski Photos are HERE (Click in Cycling Photos)
Matt Burt Photos are HERE
Photos Page is HERE
Registration for the 9th Original Growler will open on December 1, 2015.
