Today I pulled the trigger...

[madisongrrl]

So I was going to wait until next spring to upgrade from Sport to Expert (for XC racing). The plan was to maybe do a race or two in May, then decide. But today I said screw it and I put together a race resume and applied for an Expert license from USA Cycling. I should know my new racing status shortly...

So, no excues, no skipping workouts, no screwing around. The next 6 months of my life are now regimented. Base training begins Dec 25. XC racing starts in May.

I know I've posted this before, but I'm interested in hearing about your racing goals and training plans (base, build, peak etc).

[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]

How many hours a week do you think are necessary? I'm guessing in the neighborhood of 6-20/wk depending where you are in your training plan.

[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.

[mimitabby]

good luck and keep us posted!

[SheFly]

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

Thanks! I am by no means worthy enough, but I'm going anyway . I looked at the competition in my field, and expect to finish somewhere near the back of the pack. I'll post a report afterwards.

Good luck to you on the Expert racing! Last I raced MTB, I had just moved up to Sport. I may give a few races a try next summer - good training for 'cross. Although I haven't raced my MTB in about a gazillion years....

As far as training, my season starts again in April (road). I'll likely start base miles after the holiday (I'm taking a break after Natz this year and hanging up the bike until after the new year). For Jan/Feb its fun riding on my MTB and one or two serious trainer workouts during the week. come March, the serious training will start.... Hard to think about right at the moment though .

SheFly

[madisongrrl]

Thanks! I am by no means worthy enough, but I'm going anyway . I looked at the competition in my field, and expect to finish somewhere near the back of the pack. I'll post a report afterwards.

After mountain bike season, my training became pretty spotty during cross, so no nationals from me. My fitness is not worthy of the trip and I'm still not very good at cross....maybe next year.

As far as training, my season starts again in April (road). I'll likely start base miles after the holiday (I'm taking a break after Natz this year and hanging up the bike until after the new year). For Jan/Feb its fun riding on my MTB and one or two serious trainer workouts during the week. come March, the serious training will start.... Hard to think about right at the moment though .

SheFly

Sounds like a good plan. Yup, it is hard to think about next year when you're still not done with your season!

[spokewench]

How many hours a week do you think are necessary? I'm guessing in the neighborhood of 6-20/wk depending where you are in your training plan.

6-20 is a big spread - but that is probably correct. what you really need to do is a lot of very specific training; i.e. I ride the road bike a lot for the endurance training and base training part of my training. A lot of this is just spinning, but then it gets ramped up into different types of training, i.e. stomps, muscle training like longer hard gear intervals; lower gear fast spinning intervals. All of this is to train the leg to be good at all types of riding. It increases the muscle memory for certain types of riding. Then, I also do interval training and sprint training on the road bike (why the road bike, cause it is easier to control the work out on the road, i.e. get adequate rest between intervals, etc.)

I usually ride the mountain bike then just to get the mountain bike (handling experience that I need) and the hillclimbing experience that I need (which always seems very different than training hills on the road). And, of course, I ride the mountain bike cause its more fun than all that specific training on the road!