Thanks all!
I am not discourage by any stretch. The thing I saw on race day was no other rider seemed to be quite as pudgey as I, at 5'11" & 176 I know I am not fat but I am not thin either. I saw two body shapes, folks that were thin as a rail and those who carried more weight but clearly it was all muscle. So to improve my time I need to get more fit and that is the lesson learned.
The organizers will post pics and I know there will be one of me from about 50 yds from the finish, If they post it I will clip in the link.
BTW - this ride was set up to support brain injury patients of which my riding buddy's sister who while cycling got hit by a car is now one. She is recovering but it is slow.