I started last year, 3 races (twisted ankle middle of the summer prevented more)

1st race circuit crashed 2 min in...bad (learned people swerve randomly esp early in season)
2nd crit dropped and pulled (came back without enough training after ankle)
3rd RR was awesome finished 16th of 50, it was amazing learned the most here. got bumped and whatnot, big crash at the end. makes me look forward to this season

that was my recon year. i wanted to do one of each. next season I will attack it more intensely. The last RR was a big confidence boost. If you find good group rides that push you it prepares you pretty well.