Trained for five weeks with a group of other cyclists from the Dallas area. Rode progressively longer rides around the Blue Ridge area. As part of the package, we started in the second group on 2nd street. We started with five in our pace line. We had one slower rider and had to slow down for him to catch up several times. Eventually two dropped out and went on their own. The three of us remained in the pace line until about 10 miles from Hell's Gate. At that point the slower rider was off the back again and couldn't be seen. We discussed waiting for him but decided to go on -- it was about 45 minutes until they closed the gate. We picked up the pace to around 20 mph and made Hell's Gate with time to spare. Once past the gate, we slowed to around 15. Around the 75 mile mark it started to sprinkle. It felt good, but when it stopped about 10 miles later, the humidity was higher than normal for the area. The temperature was in the mid 90's, but the breeze was someone cool. Unlike most years when it's 100+ and the wind is unbearably hot. At one of the rest stops we finally made contact with our third rider -- he also made it though the gate -- but just barely. Said not to wait for him. We held a moderate pace until about mile 90 and then picked up the pace again. Getting to the finish line was all we could think about. We finished about 4:30. On a side note, when we met up with the third rider, he finished in the very last group on the course. They closed each rest stop when they left it. When they got back to Wichita Falls, all the traffic cones had been picked up. They had a police escort of about five cars all the way to the finish line. This was his first time -- he asked if everyone had a police escort. This was the first time I've done the full century since 1985 -- August 24.