Hypercat Racing

09/02/2026

Congratulations to Val Ritchie on winning her age group at the Bonnie Lake Sprint Triathlon 🏆

Val finished first in the female 70-74 age group and 15th female overall with a time of 1:26 on a run course she described as" VERY hilly ." She's been working through a heel issue and made the smart call to hold back a bit and race within herself and it paid off. In her words: "Overall happy with my day!"

Val is just getting started. She's headed to Ponte Vedra, Spain later this month to compete for Team USA at the World Championships. We can't wait to cheer her on!

Let's go Val! 🙌

09/01/2026

Today I celebrate 52 years on this glorious planet!

Let's talk about something that I think every aging athlete faces...comparison.

08/31/2026

Congratulations to Patricia on finishing Ironman 70.3 Cairns! 🏊‍♀️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♀️

Patricia crossed the line in 7:43, placing 15th in the Female 50-54 age group, and this was a day that asked everything of her. The swim was moved closer to shore for safety, which put athletes right in some rough water.

A strong swimmer, Patricia still finished 7th in her age group. The bike brought wind gusts up to 50km/hr and a 60km headwind, and Patricia made the smart call to slow down and prioritize safety over speed. Then the run delivered its own curveball: strong winds and rain along a beautiful, flat esplanade, "pretty much 4 seasons in a day."

In her own words: "Got it done. So tough."

That's what I love about this sport and about coaching athletes through it. Race day rarely goes as planned, and the real win is making smart decisions when conditions turn and finishing what you started.

08/31/2026

Congratulations to Brendan Jackson on an incredible performance at the Fall Creek Falls Half Ironman in Spencer, Tennessee.

Brendan broke six hours with a 5:56:04, finishing third overall and first in the male 25 to 29 age group. After coming up just second short of the podium at two recent sprint races, this finish means even more.

The Tennessee summer didn't make it easy. Heat and humidity ruled the day and Brendan lost most of his water bottles early on the bike leg. He adjusted his carb strategy on the fly, cutting it back to match his fluid supply and he still had an average pace of 18.4 mph through Amish country, including one close call with a startled horse carriage.

On the run he kept his cool literally, packing ice in his hat, and he adapted his fueling again with two gels instead of one to push through the heat.

Staying calm, adjusting the plan mid-race, and trusting the training when conditions get hard. Excellent!

Brendan called this one of his best races and it was indeed !

Way to go Brendan! 👏

08/31/2026

Congratulations to Bronwyn H. on an incredible finish at the Tamalpa Headlands 50k 🏃

This was Bronwyn's third 50K of the year and she crossed the line in 9:12:31, for fourth place in the female 60-to-69 age group. 💥

The course threw everything at her: relentless climbs up the Dipsy, steep technical descents, and a long out-and-back to Stinson Beach that tested her mentally as much as physically. She pushed through the toughest stretch and came out on the other side stronger.

Then came her strong suit. On the four-mile descent to the finish, Bronwyn said, "I just picked up the pace and kept it all the way down." She flew through the technical switchbacks and flew all the way down to the line.

Bronwyn's training and mental toughness were built over months of consistent training. The results of her hard work showed on race day.

Way to go Bronwyn! 👏

Whether it's your first 50k or your 15th, I'd love to help you get there too. DM me. 😃

08/29/2026

Good morning from the Santa Barbara Triathlon!

08/28/2026

Racing at the Santa Barbara Triathlon & Beach Festival?
Comment below!
See you tomorrow!
Look for the Hypercat Cycleworks / Hypercat Racing tent on the beach in the expo. Philip Casanta will be there to help with bike tech. If you forgot something or need nutrition/gear etc. No stress - stop by the Hypercat tent. 😀Coach Rachel Sears Casanta and son, Giovanni will be out cheering on course and taking photos. 📸
It is going to be a great day!

08/21/2026

Sound up!

To celebrate National Radio Day, I dug into my archives.

If you didn't know, before I was a mom, Scout Leader, bike shop owner, professional triathlete, XC/Track & Field Coach, Radio Sales Rep....I worked on the air as a on-air personality.

I got my start in radio at WJPZ-FM (Z89) and WAER- FM Jazz 88.3. My first paid job was with "Hit Country 108, WHEN-FM". Later I was hired by New City Communications and worked on both B104.7 "Today's Hot New Country" and WYYY-FM "Y94-FM - More Favorites and Less Talk".

I believe my hourly rate at B104.7 was about $6.24 per hour. I worked at "The Bee" while in college in the early to mid 90s.

I plan to return to my broadcasting roots. I will be launching a podcast...stand by.

08/19/2026

We think winning is showing up each day, making sound body & mind decisions and living a healthful life of gratitude. It is also pretty darn awesome when winning means climbing atop the podium and taking the top spot in a triathlon. 🥇
Congratulations to Valerie Ritchie who finished 1st place in the female 70+ age group at the Lake Meridian Triathlon. She was 13th female overall! She posted a 5k split of 28:27. 😮

08/16/2026