So here goes. . . I’m writing this post ahead of time because I want to capture my thoughts & feelings leading up to Saturday’s Race, and then compare/contrast them to what’s going through my head after the race 🙂
I’m planning to dip my toes into some National Level Racing this year. I love racing at the local level, but I want to become the absolute best version of my racing self that I can be as quickly as possible so that I can enjoy as many years of local podiums as possible before I ride over the top of that bell curve, and my fitness level starts going in the opposite direction due to the increased recovery times that unavoidably come with age at some point. I find that, personally, I improve most quickly when I push myself well outside of my comfort zone. That means jumping into the deep end with no arm floaties when I have barely learned to doggy paddle. . .
Let me clarify up front that I have no (nada, zilch, zero) aspirations of ever being signed to a Pro team or quitting my “day job” (aka REAL CAREER) and racing professionally full time. Maybe, in another life, if I’d found bike racing at a much, much younger age, that would have been a distant dream of mine, but as it stands now, I’m very content to just push my own limits, become the best that I can possibly be, and then maybe push a little bit further past that. . . in the evenings and on the weekends. . . when I’m not sitting behind a desk 🙂
In order to do my best to prepare myself (as much as possible) for a “Big Girl Race” at the National Level, I’ve decided to race a few local Men’s P123 races. The thought process behind this is that:
- The field sizes are much larger than the local W Open fields- a much closer representation of what I’ll likely see at the national level
- The competition is (I’ve been told) more aggressive – not in a bad way – they just ride a lot closer together, don’t soft pedal nearly as much, etc – more like what I’ll see on the NRC Circuit
- The races are longer – closer to the Women’s National Level Race distances
- The average race speeds are faster . . . a LOT faster. . . than what I’m used to
- OMG YAYYY. . . This is going to be AWESOME! I CAN’T WAIT!!!!
- OMG. . .WTF was I thinking. . . I’m not ready for this!
- Oh shut up – I’m ready – I’ve been training my butt off all off-season and am in great shape – I can totally hang in there with these guys. . .
- Wait – what if they’re super super rowdy and attack/counter relentlessly from the gun? OMG – I’m going to ride the most humiliating 78 mile training ride of my life off the back of the peloton
- Stop It. It will be FINE. Just be smart and position yourself well. It will be great practice at finding the draft, and holding your positioning. . . .
- But what will everyone think of me if I register for this race and get popped right away?. . . I don’t want anyone to think I’ve got a big head or think too highly of myself or think I’m “too good” to race w/ the women!!
- Stop It. It will be FINE. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. You’re doing this for YOU and YOUR own personal training plan as a pathway to reach YOUR own personal goals. There are no expectations of you, other than to go out there and do what you’ve been training all winter to do. Suck it up and get out of your own head.
- But damn. 78 miles is a LONG way to go full gas. . .I don’t know if I’m ready for this.
- No better way to find out than to just go do it, right?!? Worst thing that can happen? I’ll jump into the deep end, doggie paddle my way across, and finish my race an hour after the peloton. . .thoroughly embarrassed. . .but at the end of the day – who cares? No Harm / No Foul, right?
- Okay – I’m really doing this. No turning back. I’m registered. I CAN DO THIS. Seriously, what am I so freaked out about? It’s just another bike race. . . and it’s not like I’m expected to win it!
One final note regarding my decision to race the M P123 field for this race. . .one of the things that I am most sensitive about is taking away from the support of Women’s Racing and/or decreasing Women’s field sizes by opting to race a men’s race. In this particular situation though, the only other option for me would be to race the W P123 field, which is combined with the M 3/4 field. The scoring is also combined. . so basically the women are racing the men’s 3/4 race in this instance. For that reason, I don’t feel the slightest bit guilty for opting to race with the P123 Men vs opting to race with the 3/4 Men, which is basically what I would be doing if I registered for the WP123.