Rode with a pretty fast group of about 15 and we stayed pretty much together till 5 of us broke off on a gradual uphill with a lot of loose gravel around mile 105. Weather played a big part today. Forecast was for 30% chance of rain and warming to mid-upper sixties, but even in the dry first part of the ride, it only got to 54 briefly and once it started raining around mile 70 or 80 or something it stayed around 50, and for a good while there it was raining pretty hard. We had to come back on some red clay roads with fairly steep grades, and all the rain worked them over to sticky mud. I had to shoulder the bike and walk through, but thankfully it was only on part of a couple uphills. But by this time I was toast. Three of our group pushed on and rode through it, and I managed to hang on to 4th place, finishing more tired after a ride than i've been in a long time. I can say I didn't leave anything out there. Had a blast and would love to do this one again. Thanks so much to the Blue Goose Bike Hostel in Irwinton for being a great race host and allowing us to hose off ourselves and our muddy bikes as well as offer a hot shower. Post ride meal was appreciated as well.