rbautch

I "competed" my first Cross race today. In addition to discovering my actual VO2 max, I had a blast! Since it was my first race, I entered in the 40+ Masters classification, thinking I'd do well against some huffing and puffing 40-somethings. Turns out most of the group were serious athletes, and I got smoked pretty good. On the bright side, I didn't finish last, I didn't interfere with anyone, and I didn't hurt myself or others. With more practice and training, I think I can compete with this group down the road, but I'm wondering is Category 4 more appropriate for me. Is Category 4 typically less competitive than Masters classification?

flargle

Yes, cat 4 is more appropriate for beginners (of any age) than an open masters race.

thenomad

Yeah, they're not called "masters" because they are old.