Hi Vicki

this is my first year racing. i am doing an evening series here at the local hills. This is what i have learned.

the race is your ride. forget about placing and how other people are doing. just try your best.

the goal of your first race is to finish only. safely. that means if you feel uncomfortable doing a section get off your bike and run! it is best to keep moving either walking/running your bike or pedalling slowly.

just because you can do a trail in non race mode doesn't mean come race day it will be the same thing. nerves and adrenaline are higher you are trying to go faster, which mean sometime messing up on technical sections you might be new at...but ABSOLUTELY do not doubt your ability if you must run with your bike. A good racer knows when you are better off OFF your bike than riding. i was having trouble on a climb so i got off my bike, some guy came up riding and i was actually travelling at the same pace as he was OFF my bike and feeling less strain in the process.

race is considered high intensity so the next day you should rest (or active rest, zone 1)

as for training: how fit are you? a good "recipe" i have learned from an ex-racer is this:
1-2 days zone 1 days (do 1 day if you have a good cardio base or 2 if you are very fit already)
each of these followed by rest day or yoga
these days should be at LEAST 3 hours of long slow riding, you should be able to talk while doing it pace. this builds up your cardio

1-2 days of intensity (zone 4-5; do 2 days if you are very fit, 1 day if you are just starting out)
each of these days followed by a zone 1 active rest
a real nice intensity work out is doing 1 minute of hard followed by 1 minute recovery, this could be a hill or just going full out. do this for 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1 minutes.

1 day of Play riding, zone 3 having fun ride. you need these other wise everything else will start not being so fun.

Good luck and happy riding!

Hannah