Originally Posted by
carpediemracing
Any race like that is basically a 1-2 race with pack filler 3s and 4s. I watched some telling video of a race I did in SoCal, Red Trolley (Feb? 2011?). The 3-4 race was a lumpy bunch, as you'd expect. The M35? M40? race was single file, it looked like they were on motorcycles.
As a 3 I avoided, and still avoid, M40 or younger races. You're racing against really strong 1s and 2s that happen to have a ton of race experience. They're good at sitting on wheels as well as strong enough to rip your legs off.
Nailed it.. Most Masters races are full of P/1/2 racers with kids/jobs/both that don't have time to get the extra 3% needed to make the podium in a non-Masters P/1/2 field. I raced Masters as a backup when the course didn't suit my strengths or I hadn't been training enough.