Havasu Havoc, Race #3 MBAA race series

Well I'm ready, at the starting line, warmed up, stretched. My family here to support me, my riding friends are here to support eachother. I'm lined up next to Sherwin, and the count down begins. 5,4,3,2,1-GO. Off the line I pick a fast pace, shifting gears into the first corner and back on the pedals. Doing my best to stay with the pack in the beginning (after watching start video, I started in 10th). Once we crossed the road and finally hit the singletrack I found my pace, and began the first easy climb, I made two passes within the first 3 miles, looking ahead to other riders, I settled in as the faster group rode off but I could keep them in my sight. Once we hit the first big climb the group really broke up and I was holding strong. We passed the halfway mark and I felt good, taking shots of Hammer Heed and Fizz. Going into the narrow wash with a lot of rocks and sand, around one corner I hit a rock with my pedals and I loose cadence and have to clip back in, trying to keep up speed as I know a steep climb is coming up soon which transitions to a steady climb. I made the climbs and now it's rest time as we go into flowy descents, two guys pass me and I look down to see they are in different categories (leg markings) so I don't worry too much. As the second rider approaches a turn her crashes and lands in the trail, I grabbed my brakes and barley stopped in time from running into him. He apologizes, but I check to see if he is okay-off we go again back on the trail. The last steep climb is out of a wash again, I don't have enough speed and I drop the gears but my rear jockey wheel jumps and I have to stop to fix the problem. Sherwin passes by me, ask if I'm good 👍🏽. I get back on and pedal, but that incline made it difficult to start again. I came around a corner and I hear my daughter "go dad" and my father inlaw "good job", another hill and corner there is my wife and mother inlaw cheering, cowbell in hand and taking photos. Come back to the camp section and start lap 2. I noticed I was starting to slow down, i realized the heat is starting to take its toll on my body, I look and see I drank more than usual, and I see the pack I was following moving away from me, at the half way mark I was conserving energy for the last few climbs, then I ran into traffic from the juniors, which made the gap from my group even bigger. I finally found a place to pass them and got back up to speed. The rest of the course was a breeze, but I did have to let up a little, my body was telling me to slow down as I could feel cramping coming on if I didn't ease up. At this point I'm in 10th position, searching for Sherwin, all of a sudden I found him at the bottom of the biggest descent on the course, he had crashed. I stopped to check on him, he had a flat tire and no tools, I gave home everything I had, two guys had passed and he told me to go and he will fix it. I pushed it up the next hill as my legs cooled off while stopping for Sherwin and trying to help him. I made the rest of the course, my family still at the same positions cheering me I as before. I get back to the last section of race course and I am tired from the heat. Pushing to pedal as hard as possible, and make the last feet count. I cross the line my wife and mom is there, a few pics and I wait for Sherwin.