(Hell of the East) Dengie Marshes Tour 'my view

What a race, had my eye on this race for months as it is for me a build up for the Rutland-Melton classic to be held next month.
I had my doubts mainly regards lack of training and this being my first race this year as how far I would actually get in the race.
The day started extremely earlier as the clocks went forward an hour the night before and as the race started at 9.30am in Essex we had to allow 2 hours travel time to make the start. Sam came and collected me in his trusty Volvo 940 estate at 6.30am. All loaded up with our bikes, cycle kit and race food and drink, we made our way across London from East Dulwich taking the Rotherhithe Tunnel to get on the A12, as I say it took a while to get to the race HQ, narrow twisty roads all the way.
Everyone appeared to be here all ready, we had plenty of time to get ready.
I dressed to stay warm as in the back of my mind I was going to have to treat this as training, so I had long sleeve undervest, long sleeve race jersey, Gillet, cap under helmet, leg warmers and neoprene overshoes.
Sprayed the Serotta HSG carbon all over with GT85 and had put some campag lube on the brand new chain, this bike is the bike that has been hanging in our shop since October last year, just set to my sizing with a slight concession in regards my normal drop to bar, kept it 2cm higher and also using FSA wingpro shallow drop bars. This was to be a rough and bumpy day in the saddle and I wanted to be relaxed and in control especially over the farm track that had a layer of ash spread on it.
The race set off at a steady clip as the first part was neutralised from Bunham on Crouch to Southminster, once we turned onto Hall road we started racing, from the off I was rolling a big gear and straight away new that I needed to get to the front as I could see that the race was going to came apart once we hit the rough stuff, what I didn't expect is to actually get to the front within the first half of a lap with about 15 other riders, I was not going to do any work as I felt the distance itself would get me, let alone actually contributing to the break and it wasn't as if anyone attacked, more a case of riders not able to manage the roads and leaving gaps.
The first crossing and proper off road section I managed to go from the back of the group to be 2nd out on to the road for the 2nd circuit, I was surprised once again how cautious some riders were, also using speedplay pedals I could not afford to unclip and get mud in the cleat as I would never be able to re engage, so kept it in big chainring and steamrolled across, pushed through when the bike dug in. Certainly elevated my heart rate so waited for the remains of the break to reform which it did but with only half the numbers, so again set about doing as little as passable which was getting harder to do as there was so few to hide behind, eventually we settled on doing quick through and off, and then I punctured my rear tire, which was annoying and a relief at the same time, although when I saw we had no service car behind and couldn't see one coming I took my rear wheel out, cleaned my mud splattered glasses and ate a Born food bar, folded the wrapper up and put back in my pocket and still no service, at this point plenty of riders had gone past and the biggest group was the one I had been in, Sam was in the chase group which I reckon was already at 2 minutes.
Finally I got some service to be told he had no campag rear wheels, would a Shimano do, I said anything to get me going again, so far down that when 3 riders went past I really had to will myself to get up to speed and tag on the back, which I did. When it came to the muddy bit I left them and managed to catch the next group up the road, worked with them then the next lap I put time into them and decided to go it alone as I could see the flashing lights of a support car, I put in a big effort catching 3 riders and then got them to lift they pace before someone missed a turn and it was two of us going at the same pace as before, I told the other rider we could ease up a little as I was maxed, but no he kept going until he blew up which was Ok, as I was across the mud once again, just this time I seemed to have had all my energy sucked out of me so couldn't get back up to speed,so watched the group that I was chasing stay the same distance and then pull away when I hit the headwind section, I realised that maybe to finish I will need to leave something in the tank as I finally saw were the lap board was and it was showing three laps to go. I got passed by one rider, didn't even try to get his wheel as I could see the group he had left not far behind, funny how every group seemed to be made up of different riders that you hadn't seen during the race, from what I gather they were alot of punctures, anyway I got caught by about 7 riders, we all worked well, railed it across the muddy section and came out and waited for the riders to regroup, my legs were failing me quickly, slight twinge of cramp in calf and arms getting tired. Two riders attacked and no one reacted as I guess everyone just wanted to get to the finish. The last lap went without any dramas, I was hiding at the back ready to attack across the mud section one last time, turned onto the metal drive way leading to the rough section and instantly punctured my rear tire again, put my hand up for service to see the two support cars disappear down the country lane on the other side of the hedgerow, so I thought if I can get across most of the rough stuff as fast as passable before all the air escaped, no chance, rode on the rim, actually overtook 4 other riders making a real mess of this section, came to the end and was calling out for another spare wheel, the reply was we have none left here, will call for a support car to come, 1 minute later I was underway once again with another Shimano cassette, which seemed to work OK, had no issues during the race with gears or bike.
So that left me alone and tired to ride the final section back to the finish which was equivalent to half a lap of the circuit but heading back to Burnham on Crouch, my only problem was it was flat, no trees or shelter and a headwind, my body just wanted to sit up and spin but with the head wind I still had to be crouched into the wind as to my annoyance I could see a lone rider catching me, he sailed past and I thought that would be it, sure I was last man on the road, about 5 minutes later I glimpsed another riding slowly catching me, as he got closer I saw that it was Sam, asked him if he wanted his car keys as I had them as I was certain not to finish, he looked confused at this and pressed on, a few moments later I was caught by the two riders Sam had dropped earlier, I buried myself to get that extra bit of shelter from two riders, I think there had tried to surge past because shortly after we caught Sam, who attacked the moment he got caught, which led to the others giving chase and me tentatively holding on then seeing the finish half a mile up the road and at the top of a railway overpass I sat up as knew I wouldn't get up it if I didn't save what energy I had to conquer this finial stage of the race, so came in 29. eleven minutes down on the leaders, about 5-6 minutes for me was wasted at the side of the road, but in all fairness I feel it was a just result,some riders alot worse off. Sam got 26th. 42 riders finished out of 70 starters.
Everyone had a story to tell and thought there should be more of this type of racing. Fantastic race.
Spent two hours cleaning bike and fixed the puncture so I could ride to work this morning, washed all my muddy kit and went to bed at 6.30 pm for 12.5 hours of solid sleep!