2011 and Still Going

So I wasn't sure what to expect after this winter following the cross season since I was headed into back surgery, but things seem to have worked out for the most part.  I got my surgery done in December, and was laid up for a bit, and then had to take it easy for a while, but I was back on the bike within 5 weeks (I think - pain meds - ahhh).  Then I started, very slowly to ramp my training up with a goal of 10 hours per week of ride time, hoping to bring that up to 12 hours per week by the end of March.

In early February I got a nasty cold that I couldn't shake, and I had to take a few weeks off my training plan.  Good thing I rested up because then the weather broke, the six foot snow banks started to melt, and I got out on a bunch of weekend rides.  Most of the rides I went out on in the 30 and 40 degree days had destinations with warm plates of food.  Which was a stark contrast to all of the hours I spent riding on the stationary trainer, accompanied by boredom or netflix movies, made the outdoor rides seem quite enjoyable.
I went to a Bethel training race in March and had a great time.  There was a huge field, and I felt great.  I even dragged my teammate Lance up the hill to win a prime, and I bridged a gap or two during the race to test myself.  I felt like I didn't lose too much conditioning since cross season, but I was slow to recover from hard efforts...

 

With a bunch of anaerobic club rides and and a decent Expo Wheelmen Time Trial under my belt, I signed up for the 2011 Bennington Vermont Stage Race (AKA: 2011 Bennington Race Weekend, or The Tour of the Dragons.)  I knew going into the race that my strengths would be in the TT and the crit.  The road race had some pretty severe hills, which is something a 200 pound guy usually doesn't specialize in.
I wrote about the stage race from my perspective here:

Now I have one point towards my cat 3 upgrade.  The question is, can I (or will I) get the 19 more points I need to earn my upgrade this season.  I'm not getting any younger ya know...