I really thought there was something wrong with me. I had absolutely no benchmark (and fast group rides don't count) as to my abilities, my strength, or my relative fitness as compared to other women who race bikes. I suspected my inabilities to hang with those young girls and young women had everything to do with age, but I really had no way of testing that until the Senior Games. I was never athletic when I was young, so I had no idea where I stood, ever, as compared to other female athletes. All there was available to school age girls when I was there was "field hockey" and "cheerleading". Neither appealed to me, and besides, I was never "popular' or pretty enough to even consider or be considered for a cheerleading squad. I started all this six years ago, in earnest just last year. I was 60! I just could not understand why I was getting totally gassed and spit off the back of every single race I entered, especially when I knew that I had the speed. Well. I also had the "age", and there the huge difference in recovery that goes with that. With the women I tested myself against this past week, I did just fine, thank you very much. I am normal, after all! I now have a different perspective to racing my bike. I will absolutely continue to enter the Cat 3/4 races, and my goal is still to finish with the field. But, I don't feel the pressure anymore (which was self-imposed). Ex was right, my races are all like the hardest races you fellas ever do, but that's okay. They will make me stronger yet. I know now I can go to a senior race and do well - and have bucket loads of fun doing it!