I was a little disappointed in my 6th place finish in my race yesterday for a couple of reasons - I wasn't giving it 100% during the race because I'm still a bit burned out on racing. I went for a couple of primes and won $50 (later they told me that they didn't have me down for winning a prime, so I was told that I was "fortunate" that they were willing to "give" me $25 plus a $25 gift certificate. My teammate was also told she won one less prime than she did, and they gave one prime to a woman who did not win one at all. This is the last year I will go for a prime in this race.)

On the final stretch I felt good for sprinting to the finish, but got boxed in by two cyclists on either side and couldn't go anywhere, and by the time I could it was a little too late. The other tactical error I made was that I could have caught the breakaway rider in front after the $100 prime sprint, and I rationalized letting her go because I didn't want to endure any pain and suffering during the chase. Moreso than anything else, I'm just frustrated because after all this racing I've done this season, I still don't have any idea what decisions to make during a race. That's because women of all abilities usually have to race together, and my race strategy has been "hold on for dear life until I pop". Once I do have the chance to try something offensively, I can't make up my mind to decide what would work and what doesn't. And that, in a nutshell, is why most women don't stick with racing, because after getting annihilated three or four times, it is completely human for someone to give up on it.

Next year I will try to prioritize races that split up the women's fields, and may have to travel longer distances to participate in races that allow me a chance to get some racing experience with women of similar ability.

In a few years of training I'll probably become competitive with the stronger women in the field, but that is a long time to wait. I tend to give up on things if they aren't working out, so I have a real fear that I may quit this altogether if I have another season full of races of suffering through getting brutalized by some Cat 1 and 2 women. I don't think a lot of men would stick with this sport if the beginners had to race with the pros.

This race was fun, though I am hard on myself and wnted a better result. I had a good time despite my tactical errors. I would have not sprinted for primes had I known they were gift certificates instead of cash. (My team chose to share primes before the race, and gift certificates can't be split.)