Yankee Springs TT Lack-of-race Report

I missed my first big race for this year.  :( 

I was all signed up and raring to go for the Yankee Springs Time Trial, scheduled for April 21.  Last year I raced Sport class and finished mid-pack.  I was pretty pleased with myself, given that I'd signed up last minute and so was slotted at the very back of the pack for the start, then didn't really push it or try to pass much but just followed another girl for awhile, and still finished with a fair amount of gas in the tank.  This year I decided I'd put on my big girl panties and actually RACE.  I signed up in the Expert class, which means two laps instead of one and some stiff competition.  (I googled the other competitors, of course).  And a few days after I signed up, my secret (read: completely unaware) arch-enemy, who beat me in every race we did together last year, signed up too.  But I was excited about it - I've put in almost twice the miles this year as compared to last, and I was ready to suffer. 

Unfortunately, I started the suffering a little early, in the form of a knock-down, drag-out cold.  Or maybe the flu.  I was exhausted and sleeping 12+ hrs a day.  I had convinced myself that I felt better by Saturday, the day before the race.  When the crud moves to your chest and you start coughing, that is a good sign because it means you are clearing stuff out, right?  Josh was not so convinced, and told me I really shouldn't race.  And I finally had to give in to reason.  I would have raced terribly, dug myself into a huge fitness hole, and who knows how long it would have taken me to recover.  (Plus I had a job interview scheduled for two days later - race day temps were forecast to be in the 40s and who knows what that would have done to my throat and voice.  Kinda need a voice for an  interview). 

So I didn't get to race.  I really have no idea how I would have placed.  I haven't really had a good test of my fitness yet this year.  Super secret arch-enemy of course did very well.  Now I'm trying to decide if it would have been better to race and place poorly, so that I can lower expectations and then catch her off her guard later in the season with my incredible pace, or if it was good to not add another notch to her belt and bolster that confidence... 

It probably wouldn't really make a difference either way.  Does anyone else over-analyze wonder about things like this, or is it just crazy ol' me?  :)