Covi, I really appreciate you sharing your experience with me! I’ll certainly reach out if I want to pick your brain further 
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hello, i am no longer with velo 360, but i was pleased to see both theia’s and covi’s names on the registration list for the women’s age group race that ran this morning.
i rarely race, but this race fit into my schedule nicely. the race was fantastic and i had a blast. i was able to see all the riders from all the pens, so finding people to ride with was easy. the winning group had riders from a,b,c, and d pens. i rode with people from c, d, and e pens. the volcano climb shattered the riders, but many small groups quickly reformed. the spread of times was large, but there were many women riding. i was a little hesitant to start, seeing the caliper of some of the riders, but i easily found people with which to ride and i had a blast. i am not sure if i will do the other events in this series due to scheduling issues, but i hope the next events are as well attended, too. i have never done a women’s only event; the numbers are usually too small or they require you to be on a team. i don’t really care what people are sitting on, anyway. it was a great ride and despite coming in no where near the front, i had plenty of people to ride with. i recommend it.
-ellis
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@Elliswall so glad to read a post from you! It’s also fun when we bump into each other in Zwift 
I signed up for this week but had a conflict today and Saturday is looking too nice not to ride outside. I hope to make to one of these races, and it will probably be on a Saturday.
It was great seeing you at the race @Elliswall !
The event was great. As you said, easy to find smaller groups to ride with.
I rode as a domestique today for one teammate and it was so much fun. I am just getting back into the groove of training so I was more than happy not to kill myself during the race but it was still a nice steady effort and I felt pretty good.
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Appreciate these posts from Covi and @Elliswall. I love hearing how much fun the event was. Between this post, @Coach_Theia’s wise words, and some other messages I’ve received this week, a switch seems to have flipped for me. This morning, I found myself really feeling (as opposed to telling myself, but not really believing) that there is no pressure. I know, I know, you all have been saying this. But sometimes it’s takes a while for a truth to be internalized. I also know that I’ll likely feel that pressure arise again. But for today – I’m happy to feel a lightness around competition.
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This is wonderful! I am still working on this and still feel a huge amount of pressure with each event but I’m beginning to just get “used” to it. lol As you said, a slow process and a work in progress.
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I participated in a TT with a new team – the Pink Cheetahs – and I had a ball! It felt good to push within my capability rather than previous experiences when I would be in the red zone and still getting dropped. Having said that, I don’t recommend doing the Double Punch workout before TTT 
Especially when it’s Hilly Route X3. But…I figured maybe Double Punch would be a good warm-up? And I wasn’t sure how hard the Cheetahs ride.
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It sounds like the Tuesday race was a success. That is so wonderful. Maybe filling that spot was a good idea for women who have been racing on Tuesday’s all season. I hope the Saturday slot is as successful! Here’s to more women racing!
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Does anyone here know anything about ECRO racing? This new team invited me to join them for the next season (session?) starting next week. I don’t think I’m ready to commit to that when I’m just dipping my toe back into racing. But also – I can’t quite figure out what it is or what the routes are. Seems like there’s a fee, but I’m not sure how much.
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as usual i’m behind - i don’t know much about ECRO but yes there is a fee and its not clear to many of us team managers what people get for paying the fee - most of the info is behind the paywall so unless you get a login and not sure if you have to pay $ right away, there’s little info available
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Yeah, that’s been my experience so far. Can’t find out much of anything on the public (free) part of their site. I think I’ll let that one lie for now.
I know there are alot of folks from my team who are racing on ECRO and I think our parent team has a ECRO team. 
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@Coach_Theia @bkolden @PaleGail and other racers-- I’m seeking advice/experience. I’ve joined the Pink Cheetahs for the June series of ZRL. They seem like a supportive, low expectation group that will be a good way for me to return to the racing experience.
In our harder workouts, I note that when I have some rest time I can return to a hard effort whereas I have trouble holding threshold level when there’s no easing of the pressure. Do you manage to work in a measure of rest during a race? If so, how do you manage that? (I sort of wonder if you do it like the Outperform workout sets.)
I look forward to other’s answers since I am still working on that myself. My initial answer would be it’s all about efficient drafting, not working too hard and that is where your “rest” comes.
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I agree with @bkolden being able to take advantage of the draft is key, I often use downhills where possible also but you have to be careful you don’t get dropped there
@Coach_Theia will have great advice shes a great racer
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I am a master at getting dropped on the downhill. 
I usually am working hard on downhills to not get dropped. 
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@laurasibson that’s a smart observation and a common experience in Zwift racing: no real recovery. In real-time race efforts, the key isn’t full rest, but rather micro-recovery and strategic positioning. Here are a few ways to “find rest” during a race, even when the pace feels unrelenting:
- Use the Draft Wisely: Zwift’s drafting algorithm rewards good positioning. Try to stay in the middle or back third of the front group (without getting dropped). The draft effect can significantly lower your power needs compared to being on the front or in a break. You can practice this in group rides and by riding with the pace bots.
- Cap the Surges: Instead of matching every attack at full gas, watch the group. Often times the group lets small gaps form and then bridge up gradually- that way you can go with them while still in the draft. That costs less energy than constant over-threshold efforts. Positioning is key here, so you want to be 3rd or 4th wheel before a significant change in terrain (hills, descends, etc.)
- Know the Course: If the course has predictable climbs or sprint segments, plan to be towards the front of the group before these sections and as you stay with the group, you will find that they ease off a bit just after those efforts. You can often “surf” a slight slowdown after an intense section.
- Mental Reframing: Instead of looking for traditional “rest,” think in terms of managing red zones. If you go into the red, find the next opportunity to recover—not stop, just reduce power to tempo or sub-threshold. Focus on long exhales.
You’re doing the right thing by starting with a supportive team like the Pink Cheetahs. Use this ZRL season as a way to develop your ability to read the race and manage your energy, instead of aiming for results. It’s like learning when to “float” and when to “fight.”
Go with an apprentice mindset.
As for training, the way to get better at racing is by racing. The workouts develop your zones, and the races are where you practice execution.
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“A master at getting dropped…” Ha! Me too, Barb! On climbs as well
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Whoa, Coach, this is AMAZING! Thank you so much for the tips. I’ll work to incorporate this advice with the overall mesage being "Go in with an apprentice mindset.) THANK YOU!
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And don’t get me started about getting dropped on the flats.
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