Workout after Crit
 

I am 90% sure I will be riding in my first crit/race ever tomorrow. I am fully expecting to get smashed. The problem is I only get 3 rides a week and 1 family ride pulling a trailer at best.

Around here Tuesday night has 2 options: the crit series or the sprint night group ride. Sprint night is about 1.5 hrs with about 15 miles at high intensity with attacks and a few sprints. The rest varies from threshold to recovery. On this ride I can usually put in an attack or two and bridge up... IOW I am decently fit.

If I start doing this crit series I will be giving up "sprint night" for a 30 minute workout. While I am expecting to be damaged goods by the end of 30 minutes I am worried that if I just head home for the night I may regret not getting more miles for the day/week. Does anyone do or suggest getting some miles in after a 30 minute crit just to complete the day? (it's about 20 mi to home)

I have to start racing sometime and it doesn't seem like adding another day to my riding schedule will be in the cards anytime soon.

You do?

I would do the crit series if you "have to start racing" and if most of the available racing in your area are crits because actually racing is a good way to get better at racing. If they're practice crits, you will likely have to opportunity to do more than one a night.

It's in my nature. Thus far the "hard" group rides have been my competitive outlet. Something tells me that most riders take on a new level during an actual race. If so riding a few races will let me shed any illusions of significant progress I have made over the last year. IOW I am probably gonna get hammered but I want to know how bad.
I don't know that it's necessarily a practice race. Depending on the night some cats will get two races but for the 5's it's just the 4/5. Results are reported to USAC.

do a thorough warm up before (1 hr) and another complete cooldown (1 hr). You're welcome