Have fun! I have been getting my butt handed to me at my first three Cat 2 races of the season. BUT I set little goals for myself and try to learn. Example
Race one - 6th out of 7th. But I had a time goal based on the slowest rider last year and I smashed it. I also rode a climb I didn't think I could.
Race two - DFL. Didn't make time goal because a rider hit a tree in front of me and I spent about 10 minutes making sure he didn't have a serious head injury. But I road a drop called Hospital Hill that scared the pants off me in January.
Race three - DFL. I crashed my hardest wreck ever about 1/4 mile in. Rode the whole race with a serious hematoma on my hip and just below my knee. But I finished and am incredibly proud of that.
The best thing anyone told me is "this isn't my day job, so the only a$$ I have to kick is mine."
Amanda
2011 Specialized Epic Comp 29er | Specialized Phenom | "Marie Laveau"
2007 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Road | Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow | "Miranda"
You don't have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to be great. -Lee J. Colan