Race Night

I am starting to get the hang of cycling on the track.  Last night was another club race, I raced 4 events in the B grade.  My legs are getting faster when spinning up the pedals and I am learning some of the race tactics.  We raced a scratch race, a 2 lap handicap, an elimination race and finally another scratch.  The handicap was an exercise in pain, I just went for it from the gun as I was almost at the front with the start.  I took the lead quickly and just buried myself.  I was holding a 10 meter lead with 300 meters to go, but at about 150m to go I felt my leg speed coming down, and I was just about out of gas.  In the final corner I was caught and the race blew by me. 
The elimination was my best race, I manage to do pretty well in these races, even though sprinting every lap is painful.  I rode the race from the back and tried to do only as much as I had to to be ahead of the one rider that was eliminated.  One time I was boxed in on the sprint line and had to punch my way up through the center of the group.  After that I made sure I had room to go around up on the outside of the track.  When it got down 3 of us left the sprint was full out and it took a lot out of me, I managed to stay alive for the final lap, but was no competition for the end of the race.
The final scratch race was fun I think we did 18 laps.  I finally felt like I had some power in my legs and I was able to jump on attacks and stay in the race.  I was in poor position for the finish sprint, but I still came out in 5th place.  I am already looking forward to next week.