Open or Age Group?

So I have a dilemma...what category to race at the Singlespeed State Championships. I have the option of Women's Open or Women's 20-34...both get sweet jerseys if you win. The Open has to do more laps, but it starts at 10 am. The age group starts at 1 pm and does less distance, but with a predicted high of 87 degrees, the earlier start is more appealing. Most of the girls I'd race against in an XC race were in the age group categories last year, with the open not having as many entrants...sigh...

So I'm probably going to end up doing the longer race at 10 am, as my husband will give me all kinds of grief if I race in an age group. He is quite delusional and seems to think I'm still capable of going fast in my old age. Forget the fact that I MIGHT be tired after the 1.5 hour Orienteering meet we're going to do on Saturday..I keep telling him that all I had to look forward to when I turned 30 was racing in an age group division.