Cat's Hill Junior Racers Mentoring Session
and General Warm-up and Mental Preparation Notes

See Tips for Everyone, not just juniors!

Junior Mentoring

On race day - Cat's Hill junior racers and their parents are invited to join Larry Nolan as he offers encouragement and tactical advice for this year's event. Larry currently races for Team Specialized Racing Masters is a former Cat's Hill winner (Larry won the Masters 35+ 1/2/3 races in 1994, 1998, 1999 and 2004, 2007). Larry looks forward to helping the junior racers (and their parents) prepare for this great race.

Time: 
Pre-Race Talks: 9:30am and 11am
Course Walk: 9:45 and 11:15am
Roll out: 10am and 11:30am
Races at: 10:45am and 12:00

Place: Corner 6, Tait and Bachman

Here are the topics he will cover (parents are welcome to listen in)
- getting mentally prepared for Cat's Hill
- warming up for Cat's Hill
- Climbing Cat's Hill
- Descending Cat's Hill
- Things to watch for on the course
- Questions & Answers

The "mentoring" will be held with the Juniors (and their parents) at the 6th corner of the Cat's Hill course. Larry will be talking, providing commentary as other categories go screaming by and answering questions. We will not ride this course nor will we head out for a warm-up ride. As this will be cutting into the warm-up time of the riders, please bring a turbo trainer or rollers with you. You can either finish your warm-up or do your own version of a "spin class" right in front of everyone! Try to stick to your optimum warm-up routine or ask Larry about warm-up routines if you do not already have a solid warm-up routine.

Everyone else: not every junior rider will have a turbo trainer or rollers. If you can lend yours for a short period of time please bring either or both to the corner before either of the sessions.

***

First, a plea from LGBRC:

Racers - Please!

We have received requests from residents to ask prospective racers to observe stop signs when they are practicing on the course, and to stay on the right side of the street on neighborhood roads (Ridgecrest, for example.) Since the race is dependent on cooperation from residents, let's all work together on courteous riding, so Cat's Hill will always be welcome in Los Gatos. Thanks, everyone!

Here are some tactics that apply to all racers, not just Juniors:

1) Setting realistic expectations- Cat's Hill is a great race because it's got a festive downtown setting, it's safe, and it's a great course! The hill keeps the riders honest, but most races are tactical with attacks and breaks. One way to keep riders in this sport longer is to have them set realistic expectations. Simply put, Cat's Hill is not a race like Land Park. Training and preparation for the two are not the same.

2) Teamwork- another great way to keep riders in this sport is to teach them their role in the team. As stated above, Cat's Hill can be a very tactical race. If you work out your team tactics before the race, even the rider that does not finish the race but helps out their team can feel good about their contribution.

3) Training- if Cat's Hill is an important race to you then specificity in your training may have looked something like this: 2 minutes just below AT, 30 seconds above AT, 30 seconds recovery... repeat for as many laps as your race.

4) Warm-Up as this is a "classic" criterium course, and the hills will zap your strength, you will want to warm-up before your race. Use Highway 9 in Los Gatos (towards Saratoga) as your warm up route (complete with bike lanes, but watch for traffic). If you do not have your ideal criterium warm-up routine established, talk to your teammates.

5) Preview the course- get to the race early, register and then walk the course at least once. Walking the course in reverse is best because you can see the riders more often and you can see how the riders take the course.

Good luck to everyone that is racing, especially the Juniors! Come on out and cheer for the Juniors if you have the time (11:15 and 11:30am).

Good luck to everyone that is racing, especially the Juniors!  Come on out
and cheer for them. See Race Schedule for times.

Larry
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