Haha Kelowna... I'm kinda like you I guess - I had not really thought about TTs or being competitive - then I started looking at others and riding with others, and then I did my first TT and loved it (despite REALLY sucking at it!)

I like that a TT is about yourself and you do not have to be responsible for others safety like you are in a pelaton.

As a 'relative newbie' you need to ensure you build in rest days - it is too easy to get excited about goals and overtrain.
3-4 intense rides a week is enough.

I do not count S1 - the step-ups - as intense... although your legs fly, my heart rate raraely gets above 125, which is right in the recovery zone for me.
So do step ups inbetween two of the more intense rides.

And well done on being so close to the times set already. Remember in a race situation you inevitably go even faster! I look forward to you writing up your first TT race in the Race Results forum