Desert fun

The weekend was most certainly entertaining. After being in a car for a little over 10 hrs Thurs., we descended on the beautiful West Texas desert for some lung and leg punishment.
The group of racers was huge. In the 100k alone there was just under 200 racers stirring up dust for miles and miles. Luckily the race officials separated out start groups, so we didn't all take off at once.
I was in the 2nd group to leave, 10 minutes after the 1st, so things were nice and spread out. Got another front row cal up, and this time I didn't screw up and slip a pedal at the start. The initial 2 miles are wide open jeep road, slightly downhill, and the guys were a bit chippy. There was a lot of bumping and jockeying for position before we hit the single track.
Funnelled into the single track in 3rd, but was surprised that the pace was not faster than it was. I noticed 1st (Elliot from the Solar Eclipse Team) was starting to get a small gap. Up the first short, and real steep first climb, I passed into 2nd and bridged up to Elliot in 1st. We proceeded to open up a large gap on hte rest of the field, even though we were coming up on slower riders form the first group that started.
Elliot and I took turns on the front pushing the pace, which Elliots turns out front ended up being a bit harder than I wanted to sustain since we still had the big climb coming up towards the end of the first loop. I let Elliot go, hoping I would get him back on "Tres Cuevas".
The Tres Cuevas climb was as hard as billed. Real steep sections, and parts of it were just down right technical with the rock and switchbacks. I passed a lot riders on the first time up TC, but not Elliot. I underestimated his climbing ability big time.
On the descent back through the start/finish, I did see someone I recognized. It was the 3rd lace guy going by me...........what the hell! I had no idea he was there, but as we went back out for lap 2, I committed to riding as hard as I've been training, and was confidant it would be enough.
Little by little, 2nd started coming back. Over the next 10 miles, the time gap was dwindling. Once I got it down to about 10 seconds, I followed for a brief time before I made the pass (through one of the few sand pits we encountered.....not fun).
Made my way over to the start of Tres Cuevas for the last time, and as I was making my way up, I saw Elliot up ahead a bit. I rode as hard as possible for the next few miles to the top, but couldn't make it all up. I got to within about a minute at the top, but on the upper flats and "not so much" downhill, I was pretty cooked and he pulled away.
I did hold to 2nd however, which I was pretty happy with. Ended up finishing at 4hr 36min for 100k of desert fun, 5 min out of first, 2 min ahead of 3rd. Though we were started in waves and at different times, I ended up with the 14th fastest time overall. Mission semi-accomplished.
The wife had crew duties this weekend. I know what your thinking, wow, what a sweet Valentines gift she got! 3 days in the desert and standing in the sun for 4.5 hrs waiting on my ass. She was a trooper though. She had the bottles, Sportlegs, and even the chain lube ready at all times. It wasn't all about me this weekend though, she did get a 3 hr spa treatment in Lajitas on Friday, just to keep peace in the hood.
The state point series gap widened for me a bit too. 1 race to go on March 7th, so I'm closer to goal #1 I set at the beginning of the year......State Champ.!
Camera and Garmin are still packed up. I'll bore you with pics and data details later. I've got to head out for an easy spin to get these legs loosened up.

Farm