Race complete.

The day started early. We headed to the start area about 2 hours early so that we wouldn't hit any traffic from those doing the 109 mile distance.

Early on the pace was alright. I tried to stay steady between 20 and 22 mph. That didn't last long as I caught up with a paceline riding about 25. We swapped riders to the front for a bit and then I found myself leading the paceline. Every paceline after that I seemed to be alternating with one other person while 3 - 10 other riders just relaxed in back. It got a bit frustrating that nobody would do any work. I even pulled off and slowed down at one point and everyone just stayed right behind me.

I can't see my graphical data until I got home but the guy I was pulling with and I just started hammering to break the guys behind us off. I looked back after a bit and noticed nobody but him was behind me and he pulled us along at 29 - 31 mph and I paced us at 35. We both stopped at one of the SAG stops and ended up hitting the road at different times or something because I never saw him again.

The crowd support was awesome again. My only complaint is that Tucson needs to figure out how to smooth the last 20 miles of road out because it just rattles everything down to the bone. I ended up cramping in both legs as a result of them being shaken to kingdom come.

I finished in 4:15...14 minutes slower than last year. We did have a steady 10 - 13 mph wind out of the SE so I'm sure that played a part in the slower time. The 1st finisher for the 80 miles was about 15 minutes slower than last year. My finish time last year would have placed me about 33rd place of 540+ this year. Shoulda, coulda, woulda... either way, I gave it everything I had.

On a side note, I did pass 3 crashes sometime right after the emergency personnel arrived to tend to them. None of them looked great and all looked to be on flatboards. I hope they are alright and have family or friends here to be with them.