Today I pulled the trigger...

[han-grrl]

Yay for yoU!!

I am planning on doing the same thing, but here in QC.

i have been racing sport for a few years, and well i have a 5 year plan:
EBF - Elite by Forty! (i'm going to be 35 in march).

so step 1 is race expert. i am just tossing myself in there. i am hoping it won't be too complicated...i have started training and yesterday went for my first skate ski on the season...

Ride like a GRRL!

[SalsaMTB]

Good luck in expert!! This will be my first year racing. I haven't researched on training, so if anyone is willing to post their training plans, that would be excellent!!

[rocknrollgirl]

fabulous.....Good for you guys....

I have plans, lots of them...but no strict plan. I looked in to a periodization plan, but it was just too much. I am doing a mix of sport class mt bike races, off road tri's and adventure races, sprint tri's..... blah, blah...The first race is in March.

So I am just woking on base miles right now. Lower intensity, longer distances.
Two runs
Two days off road
One day road
Two lifts
One swim

I also do a short commute to work every day.

Ruth

[tattiefritter]

Good for you! Might as well challenge yourself.

We don't have any mountain bike racing near here and I can honestly say I have never ever been interested in racing a bike, any sort of bike. Until lately I wasn't interested in racing at all but I entered myself in a local 10K running race in November and surprised myself how much I enjoyed it and how much motivation it gave me to train that I'd never had before (just as well with the weather we've been having). I've entered a couple of more runs early next year to keep things going.

Still not interested in short course XC racing but fancy doing some short adventure races and MTB enduros next year (SO doesn't know this yet!).

I'm not sure about "training" as such as I've never trained before, just gone out riding, so I'll be interested in any info that comes out here as I've found following a structured training plan for running has had real benefits.

[madisongrrl]

So it's official, they gave me the upgrade...

My license now says....

Mountain Racer
Categories
Endurance/XC Expert
Gravity/DH Beginner
Mtn Cross/DS Beginner
Observed Trials Beginner Active 12/31/2007

Road Racer
Categories
Road Cat 4
Track Cat 4 Active 12/31/2007

USAC Racer
Categories
Cyclo-cross Cat 3 Active 12/31/2007

I thought I just add on a road license for fun....might try a few road races and crits to try to hang with the roadies.

[SheFly]

Congrats on the upgrade! The road racing might actually be an advantage for you...

My goal for next year is to get a UCI 'cross license after upgrading from a 4 to a 3 (which will take some beggin, but I think will go through), and to actually be competitive in the Elite races. It's going to take A LOT of training.

Base miles already? My race season isn't over until Nationals next weekend....

SheFly

[spokewench]

Yes - be prepared to ride longer hours, more intervals - etc.

I upgraded to expert a few years ago right before I stopped racing. It is a whole different level! The races are generally longer - so you need better endurance - and you JUST HAVE TO BE FASTER!

I found that I could do a reasonable amount of training, that didn't take up too much time to race sport - (I'm in the same boat as most that I work a full time job, etc., etc., so time is at a premium) Racing expert takes that much more dedication if you want to be competetive so be ready - you need to step it up a notch!

[madisongrrl]

Base miles already? My race season isn't over until Nationals next weekend....

SheFly

Good luck at Natz. If I deem myself worthy enough, I might race Nationals next year.