LOL...when I was prepping for my first contest, I remember a seasoned vet telling me I would either love it and keep doing them or hate it so much I would never dream of doing another.
Well, 12 contests later I am thinking of doing another soon the middle of next year. Wanted to another this year, but we just moved out of state and I promised my wife we would get "settled in" for a year first. (you now know from doing one how all consuming they are).
Congrats on your first one...you sound like you will improve and knock em dead!