Ok, I know that was long, but wanted to add something else! During the time we did those races my husband did have a coach. I have used this same coach in the past for about a six week time frame, but didn't want to spend the money to go to him again. Since my husband was doing the same races (along with some other things I didn't do), I kind of followed some of what the trainer gave him to do. Doing that training, and doing the actual races, made a faster rider. I may not have stayed with the pack, which was kind of depressing, but my own personal riding got much stronger, and that is part of the reason I did the races. To push myself, and it worked. I was riding the best I ever had during that time. Right after that I developed anemia and then one thing after another has kept me from keeping up with my training and I'm not at the level I was at. But I'm making my way back now.