Getting my Feet Wet in the Cat 1 Pool
At the end of 2013 after a solid year of racing in Cat 2, I made the decision to put in for my Category 1 upgrade through USA Cycling. For me this was both an exciting and nerve-racking choice for me as I knew I would have to step up the game in my racing. I was happy though when I received my approval for the upgrade as to me this was a huge achievement to make it to that level. After I received my 2014 license sporting the new markings of Cat 1 I began to feel the pressure a little especially knowing that XC Nationals was going to be on the east coast again. And this year and I was going to have to qualify my way into Nationals instead of just choosing to go as a Cat 2 racer. So finally this past weekend I entered into and raced in my first Expert/Cat 1 level race at AFC Sugar Hill in Patapsco state park which is down towards Baltimore, MD. Leading up to this weekend I have been doing a decent bit of riding and training but didn’t