Upgrade attempt part deux

I've been starting to feel the weight of sand in my pockets over the past month or two. Having put in for my Cat 3 upgrade late last year and having it declined (probably because I shouldn't have included any non-USCF races), I figured I'd sit in as a Cat 4 for a while. A total lack of training over the winter left me racing my way into shape this year. Although, I'm rather certain that I would have trained harder had I been upgraded and know the competition that would await me in spring.

My current results are not spectacular; in part due to poor racing strategy in the Race for Alex and in one of the RATLs where I didn't work smart in the break and got dropped. The races I've done well in (2nd - Shreve, 3rd - Mill Creek, 2nd - Mid-Ohio) were where I didn't necessarily race smart, but where I was able to do well by pushing myself. I've been racing in the Cat 4 field in much the same way that I had raced the 'B' field at Westlake: by thrashing myself (and at time others) in an effort to move up to the next level (the A field at Westlake or a Cat 3 upgrade).

While it might be nice to continue to remain in the Cat 4 field chalk up some more podiums, I know that this isn't what I should do or need to do. I feel that I'll make far bigger improvements from a tactics standpoint by being in a field where I have to race smart in order to see results for myself and/or my teammates.

4th 07/17/2008 - Ohio Track Development Series - Criterium - Pro/Cat 1/2/3/4/5 - Elite - 2008-893
7th 07/17/2008 - Ohio Track Development Series - Road Race - Pro/Cat 1/2/3/4/5 - Elite - 2008-893
2nd 07/12/2008 - Shreve Chiropractic Cycling Challenge - Road Race - Cat 4 - 2008-73
3rd 07/10/2008 - Ohio Track Development Series - Criterium - Cat 2/3/4/5 - Elite - 2008-893
3rd 07/10/2008 - Ohio Track Development Series - Road Race - Cat 1/2/3/4/5 - Elite - 2008-893
4th 07/10/2008 - Ohio Track Development Series - Criterium - Cat 1/2/3/4/5 - Elite - 2008-893
3rd 06/08/2008 - Mill Creek Criterium - Criterium - Cat 4/5 - 30-99 - 2008-852
12th 06/01/2008 - Race for Alex - Road Race - Cat 2/3/4/5 - Master - 30-39 - 2008-854 (2nd - Cat4)
17th 06/01/2008 - Race for Alex - Road Race - Cat 4/5 - 2008-854
2nd 05/24/2008 - Mid-Ohio - ABR Criterium - Cat 4/5
21st 05/10/2008 - Races at the Lake - Criterium - Cat 4 - 2008-192
cancld 05/04/2008 - Bull Run Farms - Road Race - Cat 4 - 2008-37
7th 05/03/2008 - Races at the Lake - Criterium - Cat 4 - 2008-192
DNP 04/26/2008 - Races at the Lake - Criterium - Cat 4 - 2008-192
DNP 04/19/2008 - Races at the Lake - Criterium - Cat 4 - 2008-192
11th 09/09/2007 Freewheeler Fall Challenge Peninsula, OH USCF RR Cat 4/5 11th place approx 20 2007-1823
DNF 07/21/2007 Troy Classic on the Square Troy, OH USCF CRIT Cat 4 DNF approx 35 2007-1692
4th 07/07/2007 Ohio State RR Championships Danville, OH USCF RR Cat 4 4th place field 26 2007-283
13th 05/20/2007 Chippewa Creek RR Brecksville, OH ABR RR Cat 4 13th place field 29
1st 05/12/2007 RATL Series #4 Munroe Falls, OH USCF CRIT Cat 4 1st place approx 30 2007-440
DNP 05/05/2007 RATL Series #3 Munroe Falls, OH USCF CRIT Cat 4 field approx 30 2007-440
3rd 04/29/2007 Team Akron Spring Race Series Akron, OH USCF RR Cat 4/5 3rd place approx 30 2007-885
DNP 04/22/2007 Team Akron Spring Race Series Akron, OH USCF RR Cat 4/5 field approx 30 2007-885
DNP 04/21/2007 RATL Series #1 Munroe Falls, OH USCF CRIT Cat 4 field approx 30 2007-440