To Step Up or Not?

I'm racing in our local off-road point series and doing really well. This is my first year racing so I selected the beginner women 19-29 group. In my class though, there isn't much competition. There is basically myself, and one (maybe two) other girls that are doing the actual series. For each race, a couple other women will show up, but they're never the same people and they aren't doing the series.

So, here's the situation. I've completed 3 races and got 1st, 2nd, 1st. The second place finish was to a random girl that races for the local university and not doing the point series. It's very unlikely that I'll see her again (she's on the other side of the state, where that one race was), but it was great competition, she beat me by 14 seconds. The one girl I keep beating I beat by about 7-10 minutes on a 10 miles course. At the last race, when I got to the starting line, I looked around and saw there was no new competition and knew that I had the race, so I didn't have to push myself that hard.

When I look at the results for the beginner women 30+ group, I would have good competition. The top couple girls have times similar to mine, so if I was a couple years older, it would be a totally different situation. Because of this, I don't think I'm necessarily in the wrong class, it's just there are a lack of racers for my age group, so there isn't much competition. Does that make sense? I've been checking out the next class up, Sport Women, and there are more consistent racers and more people doing the point series (5). The top three would smoke me in a race, the bottom 2 I might be able to hang with. Sport class does double the distance though (beginner will do 1 lap, sport does 2) so I can compare lap times, but they are doing 2 laps so it's tough to know if I could keep the pace consistent for another lap.

If I were to move up to sport, my points will transfer and I would be in 4th place. I know there is no chance in getting top 3 (those girls are smokin fast) but it could be a good challenge for 4th. I'll basically be handing over 1st place beginner to the other girl I was racing, double my mileage for each race and have major competition.

Most of my teammates think I should stick with beginner and just be happy I did well, enjoy the medals, and race sport next year. DH thinks I should move up, as does one guy on my team that's racing expert this year. Me, I sort of think I should move up, it will motivate me to train harder. The one thing that's killing me though is the next race...it's a marathon XC race on a trail with the most climbing. For beginner, it would be 28 miles, for sport 42!!! Yikes...42 miles! I don't know if I can handle 42 miles of off road riding. That is a TON of distance that I've never even come close to doing.

So, what would you girls do. Take the challenge, give up the awards and move up to sport? Or, enjoy the rest of your first year racing in beginner and be proud of your accomplishments?

Oh, one last thing. To qualify for the point series, you have to compete in 5 races. There are a total of 8 races in the series and your top 5 finishes will count. There have been 3 races so far, so there is still a chance more people could enter the series, but unlikely because the next race normally doesn't have high turnout due to the distance.

What matters most to you? Being challenged by the competition and thereby motivating yourself to push harder and longer? Or winning concrete awards for your efforts, such as the 1st places prizes, whatever they may be? If you move up, your rewards won't be something you can hold in your hands, but will still be significant to you, in improved skills and challenge. With 5 races left to go, are you going to be bored if you stay in the beginner class? You sound like you want to move up. You sound ready for the challenge. Why not go for it? Then you'll know what to expect and how to train for next year.

Good luck either way!

Annie

Hmmm... I was faced with this not long after I joined my club.

I was dominating the regular members and when I didn't win it was usually because a visitor was riding.

I decided to stay in my grade til the end of the series to really consolidate my confidence and also to try and improve my racing ability and attitude on hilly courses.

What I did do, however, was to ride up a grade a few times just to "get a feel" for how the grade raced, and what pace they rode at. Are you able to do this? I still got a point because I raced, but even if I had got placed I would still have only got a point because I wasn't in my grade.

When I did move up, I felt prepared and confident (well, kind've :p )

If you want to consolidate, stay where you are.
If you want to be challenged more, either ride up a grade to try it out... or actually move up.

Have fun making your decision
:)

I guess you need to ask yourself... WHY are you racing?

For the medals? Or for the challenge?

If it's for the medals, stay with the beginners. If it's for the challenge, then move up.

Good luck deciding!

Let me preface this by saying that I have no racing experience.

In all honesty, your post sounds like you want to move up to the next class. If you do move up, and you race next year, will it be in the same "sport" class again? If so, moving up now would not only give you a greater challenge, it might also set you up for greater success next year.

I'm very competitive by nature, so for me, a 1st place beginners finish that I didn't feel I had to work for wouldn't hold nearly as much weight or sense of accomplishment as would moving up a class in my first year of racing and finishing in a respectable place. That's just me though.

If you think there is still more to learn and benefits to gain by staying in the beginners class, then it may be worth your while to do so.

Yeah, I guess in my head I've already decided I want to move up. It isn't fun standing at the start line knowing I can win. I'm competitive and I like a challenge. Getting a gold in beginner isn't really my long-term goal. I guess some of my teammates got to my head a little saying that I should just finish the season off in my current class. I guess I just needed a couple more people agreeing I was doing the right thing :)

Thanks girls!

OK, now a question.....

As I stated in my original post, the next race is a marathon XC race. My other races have been about 10 miles long, but I frequently will ride 16-20 miles off road, not much of a problem. Any recommendations in how to train for a 42 mile off road race in one month??? Would doing long road rides help, or should I be putting all the miles in off-road?

Salsa,

I think you need both long road rides (to build endurance) and at least one longer off-road ride (to build confidence, knowing you CAN do it.) What I've read (and experienced) is that you can do AT LEAST 25% more mileage in a competive event than you've trained. Your adrenaline and competitive spirit kicks in and BOOM! You just get out there and GO! Do some long road rides. Do some tough miles off-road. You'll be ready to jump into the Sport Category. Have fun!

Annie

Hi,
I read this post this morning, and was mulling over what I would do. I race mt bikes too, so I am a dirt sister.

Now Part One:
Move up...you are young and have many years yet to race and to win. Scope those girls out this season and take 'em down next year. ( can you tell how competitive I am?)

Part Two:
I would be spending most of my time off road. Now in my opinion, as a fellow mt biker... I gotta say, girlfriend, it is gonna be ugly. The 42 miler is the only thing that made me hesitate to scream MOVE UP when I read this post early this morning.
You have to focus on just finishing that puppy. Start adding in a longer ride once or twice a week. Don't worry too much about tearing it up, just pace yourself. Work on your nutrition too. Hydration and nutrition are going to be key.

I hope you plan to keep us posted. I will be anxious to hear how your training goes.

Glad you have come to a decision, Salsa...

Now, as to the long race.
My understanding is that ideally you should not increase your distances by more than 10% in a week.

You have a month to move from 10 to 42 miles...

I suggest you work your rides up to the point of doing a 30/32miler or so a week before the race, then have a light week (active recovery) and go for it on race day