BikeJam - M35+ Race...welcome to fast racing

Wow! What a race!? I just upgraded to Cat 4 and decided to step up and race with some big boys. I wrote down some of the highlights.

Here are just a few of the many things I learned today:

1) If you're in a race and there's enough big hitter's in the race to have call-ups, you'd better be ready from the gun.
2) If you start hearing things like, "Navigators Pro Team", "Olympics", "National Champion", "Champion of this or that"- you'd better be REALLY ready from the gun.
3) If the whole team (Kelly) gets called to the front with a stacked team- well, sh!t. It's just gonna hurt really bad. Hang on!
4) A cat 5 warm-up strategy doesn't work when you line up with 1,2,3's.

Things I already know but painfully forgot:

1) If you get unlucky and end up at the back of the field start, get your ass off the back ASAP no matter what your legs are telling you. Hauling ass in a pack, cross-eyed from the effort level is very cool. Lots of interesting conversations go on in your head. But when a few guys crack scattered about in the field, gaps explode instantly. Ticket punched no matter how fit you are if you're in the back.
2) See #1

Things I'm happy about:
1) Stuck it out and didn't quit.
2) I felt like I was getting stronger after about 7 laps
3) Power- I'm sure I set some records, but my PT suddenly stopped working Saturday, so I didn't use it.
4) Definitely built some mental toughness from this little excercise
5) Had a good training day on Saturday. I am happy to be able to race hard on Sunday. GREAT workout!

Seriously, this was one damn fast race. I thought I was doing well slowly moving up during the first 2 laps, but when the pace started furious, I just thought it would settle down and I'd be able to get up without burning my matchbook. NOT SO! I think on lap 3 or 4, the field split as fast as you can snap your fingers. Folks popping all over the place. Dang!

Group 1 (insanely fast dudes)

Group 2

Group 3

It was really weird. With I believe 6 to go, they rang a prime and said to our group, "Last Lap for you guys- free Bontrager tire". We definitely picked up the pace, but not crazy fast until after the final turn. Well, as we are sprinting to the line, we run into the group ahead of us. Huh?! I remember hearing the announcer say, "Well, maybe that wasn't such a good idea." I think I sprinted for 3rd or 4th out of our group. I don't know. It sort of caused a little chaos because nobody knew what to do. Some guys tried to keep going, but I think they eventually pulled everyone except like 8-10 guys who finished. So I guess I'd call that a DNF. BUT, MAN WAS IT FUN!!!